: Hi,
: Last summer I finished an Outer Island. The boat is great.I built it with the
: ocean cockpit but I think I'd like to change it over to the keyhole
: cockpit. Does anyone have words of wisdom for this concerning the size of
: opening.(or any other pointers) My current plan is to just by a spray
: skirt that fits the Impex production Outer Island and "eyeball"
: the dimensions.I don't have any template for the opening so I'm a little
: nervous about the operation.

One way that's fairly easy is to get the skirt with the size you like and make an oversized blank of the cockpit shape on say 1/4" scrap plywood, then gradually cut that blank down in shape until the skirt fits it well. Then you can cut out the center leaving the lip width and have a template for marking the deck so it can be cut out to match.

Only thing that is really required is that the width of the new cockpit opening has to be just slightly wider than the orrigial cockpit so you don't have to add material to the deck. The length will be longer automatically. It's obviously a heck of alot easier to cut out wood/glass than it is to put some back

Bill H.

Bill H.