: I have a feeling that an inner stem and a light brass outer strip would end
: being lighter than an end pour...

Got more guts than me, my wood boats stay in deep(er) water, I use the glass boat on rivers with it's "new" graphite bottom. Btw, that graphite bottom did exceptionally well this past season, tried to scrape it off intentionally dragging it over gravel etc., has a few scratches but nothing thru more than the outer coat. I'm sold on that process.

Bill H.