The problem with writing a book is it captures your ideas at one point in time. Since I wrote the book, every boat I've built I used a interior stem. I've used softwood, cedar or pine works fine.

> I've gone throught (most of) the archives and can't seem to find pros and
> cons to leaving hardwood stems in the boat vs. leaving attached to the
> forms.

> Nick's book kinda brushes over the subject as a 'my brother sometimes does
> it' but most of the BBS discussion leads me to believe that separate
> 'leave in the boat' stems are more prevelant....Then I read about Spidey
> using duct tape on the beveled end.

> I'm planning on 1/2 plywood forms, If I choose 'leave in the boat', would
> simply cutting the end forms at the bevel line be OK or should shaped
> hardwood be used?