: So by removing the top little bit of the split forms (2 each on the bow and
: stern on this design) I will not end up with strips that taper in too
: quickly to the internal stem?

Hi Ethan. Mount your split forms untrimmed. They will poke up about one inch on either side above your enform. Now look at those little pieces and the hollow slot between them. Your inner stem will occupy the space where the two protruding tips are now and also the blank space between them. In other words: the stem itself will become that part of the form. You may be able to notch those station molds instead of lopping them off but, in my case, they were too small to notch.

Here's another shot of mine. The stem isn't fully trimmed here but it may show how the station mold ends and the stem picks-up on its line. If yours looks similar to these pictures then I would just take the leap; you always have the option to yank the mold entirely if it ends up being unfair.