: It is for a canoe, I guess I should have mentioned that.

: My cedar strips have all been the real dark milk-chocolate color
: and I want something to "trim" them out with. I also
: want to make sure whatever I use for stems will hold up to some
: abuse. I don't plan on using the boat hard, but I don't want
: something that is going to dent and ding with every little bump.
: I have some very light colored cedar, is there any reason not to
: use it for the stems? My intention is to install the stems and
: then glass over the entire hull. If the stems are reinforced by
: the fiberglass would using ash, spruce or any other hard wood
: wear any better than the cedar?

: Thanks
: Toby

I prefer hardwood too for external stems, but if they are glassed in place, the glass will take the punishment first before the wood.
Still a hardwood under the glass will resist damage more than a soft wood would. (lots of wood sounding words )

Bill H.