Stem day has finally arrived, I've been lazy lately, but figure I better get a move on. I use fill epoxy to glue them on. In this case it's system 3 general purpose. I use system 3 clear coat for wet out, it's probably the best wet out epoxy out there, thin like water. Great for coating externals like gunwales too. For any Canadians, I get my stuff from
http://www.compositescanada.com/. Cheaper than Noah's, and nicer to deal with in my experience. I moved to mixing cups instead of pumps for the last few builds, I find it faster than pumping. My mixing cups are left over from Friday night's party, some cheap shot glasses. I have learned over time that one shot of tequila is somewhat pleasant, but that several shots is no good for any form of humanity.
Anyway, I thicken the epoxy with sawdust I grab from the collection bin, I haven't spent money on epoxy thickeners, ever. The sawdust impregnated epoxy tends to fill all gaps and holes with something resembling the colour of wood. I put a coat of clear epoxy on both surfaces first, then slap the sawdust pudding on.
A couple of tie down straps and strategic screws and the outer stem is on.
I think of this as the ugly stage of the canoe. It's rough looking with clunky stems and gaps and glue everywhere. Tomorrow if I get time, I will plane the stems fair and start sanding, start to transform the ugly duck into to something not so hard on the eyes.