: Merry Christmas everyone..... I wonder if you builders of the
: expodition Gilly are able to get your wrc beed and cove strips
: to bend to the forms without using cheater strips. I have been
: using a heat gun but still having a lot of trouble. My strips
: are 1/4 inch. I am wondering if I need to use steam and am not
: sure of the best way to get it. I am resisting cheater strip
: because it looks like it would be difficult to use with the beed
: and cove strips. Any thoughts? Joe

Hi Joe, I personally like cheater's I think when you contrast the cheaters it gives a personal touch to the boat. Most builders use the "cove up"method when building, I find building with the "cove down"reason bieng you are then cutting your cheaters at an angle on the bead side which is much easier to shape rather than cutting a
groove at an angle. Here is my method: when you are ready for a cheater lay a strip on the hull and let it extend an inch or two beyond the bow, now find a piece of scrap about 1 or 2 in. place this scrap on the lower strip just beyond the bow, bring upper strip down to fit on scrap piece and secure upper strip. You now have an
empty wedge, find another scrap this time about 18" long and taper it from just below the bead to the bitter end of the cove it should be slightly narrower than a regular strip,Now insert this long scrap into the gap and mark it at the bow holding it down on the lower strip.Cut a length of wood to the length of the mark and taper
it from the top of the bead to the end of the cove glueing both sides and insert.Be careful when pressing this cheater home that it doesen't splinter off inside the boat because the rails are very thin, I hope this helps good luck and post pictures we all love them Best, Nick R.