stems

Before taking the canoe off the form, I need to make the outside stems. Normally this would be done before stripping, at the same time as the inside stems. I soak and steam some 3/4 x 1/4 ash pieces and bend those around the end of the canoe over the inside stems and strips. I could glue the pieces together and screw and glue them to the canoe at the same time, but I want to be able to cut a joint on the laminated stem piece after it has dried. This joint will over lap with the keel. So I screw the first piece of ash to the canoe and then glue the next one to that and repeat with the third allowing them to dry in between.

The result looks ugly with some spaces between the laminates. I can't get enough pressure over the entire surface of the bend to get a good seal between the glued pieces of wood. I will try to use a solid piece next, but will need to build a form to bend the wood using clamps and straps to hold it instead of screws.