> Any good ideas out there?

Turn canoe upside down. Make an L shaped pc of 1/4 or 1/8 ply or lapped 1x4 with the short side to the ht of the stem and the long side to the length desired. Make the angle betw the legs acute or obtuse to match (or mostly match) the return of the stem. Hang a weight or rock or something on the end of the short stem, tie the intesection to a rafter above, and rest the long end on the ctrline of the canoe. Or just clamp it to a sawhorse at the correct location. Or have a very still partner. Or some little blocks.

Take a roll of masking tape and go from one leg to the other just kissing the profile of the stem. Repeat as many times as the accuracy of the profile you wish. Voila, trace onto some ply and you have your perfect form.

Also, I think Lee was talking about using cards to make an inner form. The process could be the same here with using strips of card or wood from the 2 legs to just kiss the present stem. Use as many as you wish. Trace and you also get a form.

Another idea is to take some stiff wire and bend it to the profile and lay out on the form ply.

Another idea is to put the canoe in the dark garage and at night put your flash light way back cast the shadow on your pc of form ply. Car headlight at 50' is prob best.( tape over all except one)

Another is to put the canoe on its side on top of the form ply and drape a plumb bob around the profile of the canoe w/ a friend marking its location. It can only perfectly follow the contour.

-mike