Did you try using ash? Ash bends really well. Red oak seems bendy too but
might splinter. I used 1/4" x2" wide red oak from home depo on the coaming riser which was a pretty stiff bend.

: I'm now into my third attempt of building the stern of my (future) firestar
: but it seems as I will again fail.
: I have tried with steam, have used smaller strips, tried with heating but I
: am not at all satisfied with the results. There are always plenty of caps
: to be filled, the strips (at least the ones which do not break) do not
: twist as desired and I start to loose confidence that I really can build
: it the proposed way. Maybe I reached my skills level?

: So I am thinking about alternative methods to build this BEAUTIFUL boat.

: 1. Shall I inreace the dimensions of the two small side pannels of the stern
: to make the radius of the strips smaller? This way the stripping process
: for the stern may become easier. Will this change the behaviour of the
: boat?

: 2. Shall I build a foam core, then use a veneer layer before applying some
: layers of glass to still gain the wooden touch and have the required
: strengths? Is this idea completely off the shelves?

: 3. ???

: Looking forward to hear your thoughts, comments and ideas.

: Regards Roger (a hobby builder living in Switzerland)

: PS: It is not my first boat, have already build two CLC S&G boats and a strip
: built bob special and all worked out very nicely.