People here have been so helpful with my question, I thought I would post just a little of what I got out of it. I

think I know now that the size is up to the paddler. He/she can make it what they want. I want a smaller

"tighter" cockpit for reasons of my own. I think the factor for me is: I still would like to have the room to

raise my knees up all the way from a fully seated position. I am making a little model today to determine

just that point. It looks that the cockpit will still (and just) cover my knees when they are extended, which is

also one of the factors I want to obtain. I think that if I can lift my knees from a sitting position then I will be

able to get in ok because the depth "beyond" the cockpit will enable me to step into this space and that will

make for more room at my entry.

I WAS thinking exactly the same about having a commercially available size of coaming for spray skirt availablility. But, after fiddling around with this subject, I finally decided to make the cockpit the size I want it and just see how it goes from there. If I can get one standard great! But if not I'll make it myself or have one custom made. Not as good as getting one off the rack, but better than having a cockpit that is less than what I want. I am building this thing just to please myself, one of the very few places in life where that is true. Also and by the way I haven't found a good source for "ocean cockpit" skirts, any one know any cause I could still make small modifications and I really would like to have my cake and eat it too: a good size for me and an off the rack skirt.

Thanks, Joe

Thank you all for letting me find out more of this