
The keel doesn't run the length of the boat uninterrupted because the centreboard needs to drop down through the middle of the boat when sailing to further maintain direction when the wind wants to push the boat sideways. So a gap (centreboard slot) needs to be incorporated. I cut the slot in the keelson a while ago. Basically I just cut bits of the Australian Oak to go around the slot and shaped them so it will look smooth.
At the front the keel becomes the outer stem as it turns up. This is a second piece of laminated timber (I used the inner stem as the pattern). The join between the outer stem and keel is stepped to increase surface area glued. Wow its all getting a bit dry. Just look at the pics and it will make sense. Once it was all glued it was planed/sanded until it was all rounded and smooth.
This picture shows that stepped join. The Aus. Oak keel is on the left and the laminated outer stem on the right.

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