: I am about to start my first strip built kayak project and have
: read hours and hours of instruction and some of it is contrary
: to each other.

Each builder has their own method of work based on their level
of experience and who they're looking at for information.

Writing a book is no guarantee an author knows what they're
doing. Many people follow the leader and never think about
or question the difficulties they are running into.

Solutions to problems are easy. The trick is to come up
with a solution that doesn't create THREE new problems!

More important than "to B&C or not to B&C" is to
use 3/16" thick strips instead of 1/4" thick strips!

Using 3/16" thick strips makes stripping MUCH easier
and the addition of a heat gun, to bend strips anywhere
you need more persuasion, will allow you to make a perfectly
fair hull, which needs NO fairing.

Yes, you can B&C 3/16" strips even though only 1/4"
cutters are made. Just center the strip in the cutters.

I cut a 3˚ bevel on ONE EDGE of all my strips, on the table saw,
and hand bevel to increase the bevel more, as needed.

For more guidance please see my "Shop Tips" page below and
go onto the "Hand Beveling" page too.

http://www.laughingloon.com/shop.tips.html

All the best,
Rob