New Bow Stem

[Sphelps]

Hi folks ! New member first CC restoration!
So I have this 62 CC Holiday with the bottom off and installing new stem . The question is on the original stem at the stem splice the side supports that are fastened to the stem are cut short where it doesn’t cover the splice cut .. Is there a purpose for it being set back ? Should I cut the new supports back like original ? The only reason I can think that it would be cut back would be to maybe allow water that may run down the lift ring pass by without possibly getting between the supports and the stem ?
Thanks guys .. Any thoughts are appreciated..