: How much cockpit area reinforcment were you going to do? I've never done a
: plywood boat and I'm not sure how much is necessary. I was planning on a
: 3" wide 3/4" thick aft deckbeam right behind the cockpit and put
: the rear bulkhead underneath it for bracing. That should handle the weight
: of sitting on the back deck for entry and spread out the load somewhat. I
: am using 1/8" luan.

My Cape Charles has deckbeams that are about 1-1/2" x 1", laminated of five layers in fir. They are quite strong, I'd suggest a narrower but thicker deckbeam. I'm thinking of a layup very similar to the Redfish, with two layers of 4oz inside and out in the cockpit, one layer inside the end compartments, one layer outside the deck, and two layers outside the hull. I'll add a third layer around the inside of the coaming. The bottom will be painted, so I'm considering playing with a little poly for abrasion resistance on it.

: For the front deck I was going to do maybe 2 curved deckbeams between the
: cockpit and front bulkhead and one in front of the bulkhead halfway to the
: bow since there won't be much load up there. Then glass inside and out, 6
: oz in and out on hull and 4 oz for the deck in and out.

: I might do the whole deck in cardboard to get the shape figured out first,
: that would give me an idea of how much footroom I'll have etc.

: Hoping to get it finished by the end of Sept.