: I built up my cockpit ring last nite and, let me tell you. You can not have
: enough clamps in your shop! I decided not to steam the strips (3/32nds
: thick) and ended up with 60 clamps to close up the gaps! It looked
: comical, but worked.

Hmmm. I only needed 22, but it was a small and made with a steam bent hoop.

: I started building up the lip but wasn't too sure how big to make it. It's
: about 3/8ths tall and about 3/8ths thick right now. Is that enough to hold
: a skirt on or should I rip some more strips?

I made mine 1/4" tall and 1/2" deep by laminating two, 1/4" x 1/4" strips. 3/8" deep should work, but it may not hold the skirt securely enough. Most commercial coaming lips are 3/4" or more deep.

: Stuck all the stringers on the frames last nite to take a look. It's starting
: to look like a boat!

You're at the most fun stage of construction now. It looks like a boat and you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Exciting, isn't it?