Hello, I built my guillemot with an internal stem piece and no external stem piece and I am very happy with it. The internal stem piece gives you some extra gluing surface while installing the end strips and adds a little reinforcement. I didn't use an external stem piece because I went through a fair amount of effort to get good end joints and I didn't want to hide all that work behind a stem piece and to me the kayak looks cleaner without one but that is just a matter of personal taste. Kenny> 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???