James, I understand your frustration. I would recommend planing your strips down to 1/16 to 1/8 of inch thickeness for aid in bending. I was able to bend maple about 70 degrees only using a heat gun and a spray bottle of water. I started on the hull bottom side, and would use the heat gun on the area just before the bend and on the bending area of the wood. Of course clamp, tape or nail/staple as you go. If you feel like it is ready to break, don't force the additional radius, but continue to bend the best angle you can. Again, taping clamping along the way. Once you have the stem strips dry fitted and secure along the hull, even though it may not be perfectly resting on the hull, leave it over night, this will help relax the resin in the wood. The next day remove tape/clamps and you will notice the strips should maintain a curve. Now re-install the keel strips a second time, using your heat gun and taping clamps along the way, and it should be easier to make your tight radius bends in the strip. I will still let it rest for a half-day or so, before permenantly gluing the finals strips. Also, do not clamp or tape the free end of the strips as you bending, because these strips will bend or slide against each other at a different rate as you are bending them.