We need to add an outer stem! See that notch in the keel? That's where the outer stem fits against the keel and follows down the inner stem to the top (remember it's upside down) of the boat.
The outer stem, just like the inner stem, is made by laminating strips of cedar and then bending them around a form that matches the inner stem perfectly. In the photo below I set it in place to see how everything lines up and the next step is to use epoxy glue and 1/4" stainless bolts to fasten it permanently to the keel and inner stem.
In the next picture I have the front stem attached and it's been shaped to come almost to a knife edge except that I've left a flat where a half oval brass molding will be added.
I used a countersink to put the stainless bolts slightly below the surface and filled them back in with epoxy mixed with wood flour. Wood flour (from sanding the hull) was mixed with epoxy until it was about the consistency of peanut butter and filled in the holes. I also used some of the epoxy/wood flour to fill in a few low spots and faired it back later.
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