I don’t know how the tape will work (never tried it). I just screw a couple (two) drywall screws through the stems and into the mold (one at each end). As I strip up I remove the screws before I get to that location. The strips will hold the stem in place. From time to time I have to put the screw in a different location, usually while I am shaping the stem to hold it in place.

It works fine for me and in a kayak no one will ever see the hole it produces.

Jason Given

PS: this is for in internal stem, I never used an external stem.

: After taking the summer off from the boat, tomorrow I start again. I have
: forms aligned on my strong back ready for the strips I pick up tomorrow.

: here is my question. I have attached the intenal stems to the end forms with
: spots of hot glue. I saw yesterday a pic of stems held in place with
: ducttape.

: Im I going to be able to separate the stems fromteh forms once built?
: If I take the deck off first, I think I should be able to break the hotglue
: bond of the hull portion.

: Is tape secure enough to hold inplace untill a few strips have been
: installed?