: This an example of how one thing gets twisted and distorted into
: something else.

: Ted Moores introduced the separate internal and external
: "stems" method in his book "CanoeCraft" to
: solve a problem
: he had with glassing. He found when he used a second layer of glass
: for seam reinforcement, like you would over the stems,
: This second layer of glass would be visible as a definite lighter
: colored area. For purely aesthetic reasons, he used internal and
: external stem pieces to eliminate this glass stem reinforcement. I
: repeat, he DID NOT ADD A LAYER OF GLASS OVER THE STEMS.

: This was carried over into his kayak building also resulting in
: "sheer clamps" to join the hull and deck of a kayak
: WITHOUT an external
: glass reinforcing layer.

: Few people seemed to understand this and made internal and external
: stems AND added a second layer of glass reinforcement over them.

: Why? Well having a break of your glass at the stems and seams just
: seems wrong, right?

: Anyway, a lot of people like the "look" of contrasting
: colored external stems. So be it.

: Is making and working with internal and external stems easier than
: simply joining strips at the stems. It's another hoop to jump
: through before you can
: start stripping your boat.

: I think it's more work and added weight. And I love a lightweight
: boat.

: I've built over 70 boats without stem pieces and have had no calls
: with problems.

: It's your choice!

: All the best,
: Rob

Hi Rob,

Well...not everything is as it seems. With all the books I've read, Ted Moores' isn't one. I came up with using internal/external stems with partial sheer clamps because I like to do it that way and for me it's easy. Personally I don't have to have a guide/book to lead me to a way of doing things, I'm perfectly able to do it myself :)

Bill H.