For a fairly large boat with relatively gentle curves like the Winisk, the cove and bead offers little. You probably would not have to do much beveling of the square edge strips to get tight joints. The cove and bead does help align the strips between the forms.

I have built many kayaks without cove and bead strips. I currently prefer cove and bead, but the non-C&B boats came out fine.

> I recently purchased plans to build a strip canoe design by John Winters -
> the Winisk.

> I have a fundamental question before I start.

> I have run into a guy I was going to buy my cedar from here in Australia
> who swears black and blue that “bead and coving” the strips is a waste of
> time and wood and that canoes turn out just as well and more quickly using
> plain flat strips.

> All the books I have read recommend the bead and cove, but this person is
> adamant and claims to have built many a fine canoe.

> I’d really appreciate some responses from others who have built using this
> method before.

> Steve