making the stem

One option that Vivier provides is to purchase all the ply components of the boat pre-cut with a CNC router. After much deliberation, I went with this option as I decided that the extra cost was worth my time. It is estimated to take an extra 200 hours to cut all the ply parts. I believe it as there are many pieces. Also, this method ensures a much higher accuracy than hand cutting (at least my hand cutting!).
Once receiving the kit there are lots of things that must be done before hull assembly can begin. All the parts must be precoated with epoxy, the centreboard case must be assembled, the building jig or strongback built and the stem and false stem made.
The stem - the piece of timber that continues on from the keelson forwards and "accepts" the planking at the bow end, is laminated from 8 pieces @ 50mm by 5mm.
I used regrowth swamp gum/mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) which is very strong, relatively light and glues very well. I got a load of this timber from a sawmill in Huonville. It was already airdried but I airdried it further. As it was all roughsawn, I had to square off a piece before rough ripping the laminates on a table saw. These were then reduced to 5mm thickness on the thicknesser.
The kit comes with a template for many of the components that are curved, including the stem. So, it was a relatively easy matter to slap epoxy onto the pieces and clamp them against blocks that formed this curve.

Once the glue went off, which was a good 24 hours given our cool winter temperatures here in Tassie, I cleaned it up in the thicknesser and got it to the final thickness of 48mm



After this, the stem is used as a mould for the false stem. The false stem is glued in front of the stem once the planking is complete. This is seen on the finished boat and makes it look traditional. I made the false stem also with 8 5mm laminates and these are now put aside ready for the planking.