Mike,

I went with the taped seam so I can't comment about the butt blocks, but I can tell you that the reinforcement material (3 1/2" wide plywood) doesn't add more than a 5 or 6 ounces to the weight of your boat. The way I look at it, it's a small price to pay to avoid a broken deck that could have been easily avoided. Also, let's face it. Given the weight of a clothed kayaker (150 - 200 pounds), I don't think that a few ounces one way or another makes any appreciable difference.

Best of luck (I'm working on the deck of my Arctic Tern),

David