: I am going to put stems on the bow and stern on a strip yak. I've
: read up on doing it. I've never seen a kayak with a stem. Never
: been out paddling and seen a wood kayak in my parts. And I can't
: find a pic of a stem where it ends on the hull. Seems to be
: something taken for granted all of us are supposed to know. Is
: the end tapered? Ends abruptly? Imbedded?

: Thx
: Kim

Hmm...coulda sworn I'd answered this already....

What I do is match the taper of the sides of the boat into the external stem then take it to a fairly small radius at the end, perhaps 3/8" round over. I tend to taper this radius, larger at the deck to a very small radius at the waterline, though this is much trickier to shape. Mine are laminated hardwood, I like alternating light and dark wood, looks pretty. I make the individual pieces whatever thickness that'll easily take the bend, try both species of wood if you use more than one as not all woods bend the same.

Bill H.