I would be reluctant to cut the cockpit down much more if you are not wearing a spray skirt. Without seeing the boat it is hard to make specific suggestions, but try cutting the recess opening as drawn. See if this doesn't make it easier to get the strips to go where you need them.

: The problem is in the rear corner of the area to be cut out for the coaming
: recess. The strips that run from the front deck around the side of the
: cockpit do not run at an angle that is compatible with mating with the
: strips run parallel to the centerline on the rear deck. Since the rear
: deck is relatively flat, the strips running around the cockpit area
: approach at a higher angle (they are also at least 1" wide so they
: don't bend that well). This is strictly due to the stripping method I
: chose and the width of the strips. 1-1/2" lower, the strips that I
: ran parallel to the sheer are fair. I'm sure that I can fill in the gap
: somehow (probably a scarf of some sort), but if I cut the recess lower or
: possibly an inch or two farther back, it will be cut out and will not
: detract from the look of the strip design. If I had paid more attention to
: the size of the cutout, this could have been avoided. Most of the paddling
: I do will be on flatwater, so I won't be using a spray skirt in those
: conditions. That is why I am questioning how much lower I can go. Maybe
: the more appropriate thing to do is cut the recess about an inch or two
: farther back. I'm guessing that moving the recess back an inch or two will
: not affect the placement of the actual coaming. If you don't think I
: should alter the size of the recess, then I will fix the problem. Thanks
: for your input.

: Kurt