I would vote for the middle ground here. If you hit anything really, it will probably be while going forward. A wave could launch you into a rock, etc. So the bow is likely to be the point of first and greatest impact. The epoxy fillet is strong of course, but it is also brittle. I like the idea of a hardwood inner stem, for both its strength and resistance to impact failure. It looks like kayak design in this regard has taken a leaf out of the canoe book. Those boats get whacked around pretty good and still get people home. Despite all that, I always carry a roll of duct tape.

> I am setting up the forms to build my second boat (the Return designed by
> Redfish Kayak) and the plans call for an internal and external stem piece
> in the bow and stern. (Nick describes these on pages 69 and 100 of his
> book). I did not use either an internal or external stem piece in my first
> boat (Laughing Loon's Georgian Bay) and have been happy with it's
> durability and appearance.

> Building the stem pieces seems like an added step that will not add very
> much strength (assuming I use a fillet on the inside and bias cut cloth to
> reinforce the outside).

> Any thoughts???