As generally happens with "internal" versus "external" and a few other topics, it turns into one of those debates where no-one is really likely to change anyone else's mind.

What happens is that different builders have different tools, different materials to work with, different skill sets and different working conditions. So, as with so many aspects of the kayak building process, what works for one builder might not be ideal for another.

Some of us use internal strongbacks, some use external; some use staples, some build stapleless; some use rollers, some use squeegees.

When a new builder asks for advice, there will often be a variety of opinions about the best approach. There is no problem with that.

However, what we need to avoid is trying to give the impression that our method is so clever that we should question the sanity of anyone who uses a different method. Exaggerating the problems with an alternative method whether we have tried it or not is not helpful. This forum becomes a less useful resource if we become so focused on proving how clever our approach is that we give misleading information about alternative approaches.

Just because you have trouble with something does not mean that others haven't been able to get it to work well. I freely admit that I can't get rollers to work as well as a lot of other builders. That may be because I am using a different brand of epoxy or it may be because my technique is wrong. However, it doesn't matter because I get results I am happy with using squeegees.

There are plenty of people who work very successfully with both types of strongback. So there is no question that both of them can be made to work. They can both be convenient, accurate, quick and simple. That doesn't mean that everyone will be able to get any particular system to work as well for them as it does for others.