Everything seems ok but the birch part for stem. Birch tree will follow the sun twisting to place the best side towards the sunlight. This creats interest grain pattern to wood when plain saw. This is great for turn furniture but we prefer straight pattern for the stem - for obvious reason.
Unless you want a sawn outer stem, you need to bend the wood. Twisted birch would break when bend. Birch are great wood, just save it for your furniture.

: I am a first time builder and my buddy and I decided to try the Little Auk
: for simplicity, etc. We have never fiberglassed or worked with wood It
: would be helpful to see someone else's project and perhaps to show off
: ours. We are currently aligning the forms on the strongbacks - we have two
: kayaks being built side by side. Next we are taking our purchase of North
: American Red Cedar and stripping 1x6x12 into our cedar strips (we have one
: plank of white birtch which we intend to use for the outside stems and
: sheer strakes. Any tips would be helpful. I think we look pretty good
: although we may have to sand a sectional form or two so that everything is
: in alignment. I live in Westminster, work in Laurel and Baltimore and am
: building the kayaks at St. Brigids Church in Canton (on Ellwood Ave off
: Boston St). Would love to hear from some Marylanders. Thanks. John Keydash
: & Rev Joe Bochenek