: I have some very light colored cedar, is there any reason not to
: use it for the stems?

My canoe doesn't even have external stems. Just two layers of 5" wide bias-cut glass and the excess glass from each side folded over the ends of the cedar strips. Use your cedar and enjoy it.

: 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?

Yes, it would. But the difference wouldn't be noticeable for years.

I wouldn't use cedar for the outer gunwale, as I don't glass the gunwales. Cedar is too soft and splinters too easily when you bang it with a paddle. . It is OK for inner gunwales, but keep it thick enough to put in bolts for hanging the seats.

I had red oak inner and outer gunwales for the first set and liked it for 5 years or so, but I foolishly didn't seal my gunwales with epoxy before installing them and they rotted after about 10 years.

White oak would have been more durable, but I saw this really nice board at Menards for under $20 and . . .

The decks were from the same board I ripped for the gunwale strips and they are still good. If you decide against cedar stems suggest you consider cutting gunwale, deck and stem material from the same board. Cut the wider deck parts from the board's end, then rip your gunwales from the remainder of the board. I believe I got all the parts for my decks and gunwales from an 8' 1x8. You may need something bigger if you are going to use some for stems. Or, you might go with thinner gunwales than I used.

For the replacements I'm going with Ash. It was on sale so I bought some for stringers for a SOF project, and ripped some extra for new canoe gunwales . That will match my store-bought thwart and cane seats, and should be a pleasant contrast to the original decks.

I think I paid $2.50 a board foot for the ash, which was cheaper than clear pine, and only a few dollars more than construction-grades of Spruce/Pine/Fir. Apparently in order to slow or stop the spread of emerald ash borer beetles there are a lot more ash trees being cut for lumber instead of firewood. The beetle eggs are under the bark and transporting the firewood spreads the pest. No problem with lumber. That seems to have made this species more available at lower prices.

PGJ