Hey Paul,

I read your posts whenever I see 'em, and value your opinion as very much the quality of thinking I admire (like this post for instance, a great blending of all the factors involved and taking cost effectiveness in to account as well .... So could I get your opinion on ocean cockpits? I have a thread going under "Really need to know cockpit size?" To sum it up: I think a "tighter" cockpit is better for me (can't see a "larger" cockpit being more "roomy" if one is "fixed" in place by the skirt anyway). I propose to build my cockpit no larger than to allow me to raise my knees up fully from a fully seated position, taking into account depth between hull and coaming and slope of coaming from front to back. I am pretty flexible and figure that if I can get out ok like this from a fully seated position, I can get in ok. I am working with a model sort of now and am geting close to casting the veneers in epoxy, so I thought I would check with you for your comprehenshive take on this whole subject. It is such a basic feature of a boat, I think it should be better understood. I know no one has time to answer every question posted on this BB, so I hope you don't mind me hoping to get you to answer me specifically. Thanks for the past info.

Joe