: Hi everyone,

: I'm cutting strips for a Guillemot. I've got 75bft of beautiful wrc and awc
: that I've planed down to 3/4" and ripped into strips. I ripped the
: strips to slightly over 1/4" thick so that I can run 'em through the
: planer and get 'em all perfect(consistent). So, I started thinking (always
: dangerous) that maybe I should just plane them down to 3/16". Other
: than using a bit more wood than I should have, I'll have thin, flexible,
: light and consistent strips.

: I experimented with a couple strips and tried to put a bead on them on the
: router table. But with a 1/4" radius bead and cove bit, I obviously
: couldn't get a nice round bead on them. I assume the cove will be more of
: a nightmare. My question is, is the less than perfect cove/bead onthe
: strips going to be alright? Or do I need to find a 3/16" radius flute
: and bead bit? What do you 3/16" strip people do? Or should I just
: forget the whole thing and use 1/4" strips as originally planned?
: Thanks for any advice

: Rob, who might be paddling by November!

I've never built a boat with anything but 3/16" strips.

That's 25% less wood weight. I don't know how much the average wieght is
for a deck and hull, probably something more than 8 pounds for 1/4" strips,
so if I save a pound I'm happy, and I save more everywhere I can.

I use 1/4' C & B cutters and just center the 3/16" strips in the cut.

3/16" strips are more flexible and easier to use.

Take all the time you need to ensure each strip is aligned with the next.

All the best,
Rob