: I am building a cedar strip Guillemot, and am considering putting a
: hand-hammmered copper external stem (mainly because I think it
: would look nice). Has anyone tried something like this? Thoughts
: on whether the copper stem should be attached before
: fiberglassing (i.e. glass over the metal stem) or attach after
: 'glassing? Is this a really bad idea for reasons I haven't
: thought of yet?

Depends much on if you're planning on using it on fresh or salt water. Copper is really pretty corrosion resistant though and is a standard metal for boatbuilding, used often for clinch fastening, like for wood canvas canoes. I'd attach with bronze screws, which you'd have to buy in a marine store or order from someone like Janestown Distributors (they have a web site). Btw, the bronze screws are a fairly close match in color to copper and are a much harder metal and very corrosion resistant. Remember that old sailing ships had the bottoms covered with copper to prevent marine growth before the invention of bottom paint.

I'd definately put it on top of the glass, no point in having a metal rub strake that's under the glass. Using something like 3M's 5200 as a bonding and sealing medium should attach it well and prevent water from getting in thru the screw holes. I think i'll look great :)

Bill H.