Joe,
What I did on the last stripper that I built was to use the closest form that was larger than the bulkhead would be and traced it on some cardboard. Then I fitted the cardboard, then cut out the bulkhead. If your hull and deck are pretty true in width, you can do a lot of fitting before you join the halves. But wait to install the bulkheads until after you join the hull and deck.

2. Make the joint as tight as you can. I had to plane and file some places. You can also use a pull saw in the joint to true it up. I still had to fill a small amount. My deck and hull didn't match, the deck spread and the hull pulled in a little, but some old motorcycle hold down straps pulled them back to shape. As Nick says, you can apply a conciderable amount of pressure here. Use reinforsed strapping tape to hold everything in place.

Ronnie