I am a first time builder who needs a little help.

Where I am at: I bought Nicks book. I selected the Great Auk. I have lofted the forms, found a cool way to make the internal stems, built the box beam and stand, cut the forms, made a ton of reference lines on the box beam and forms.

I see reference in the book to breakaway tops to the forms in the cockpit area. It looks to me that it needs to be the tops of form 8 and 9.

MY QUESTION: How far down from the deck peak...or up from the shear should the cut be made? Is is critical? It looks from photos that it is about an inch or two above the top of the strongback cutout.

After we solve this, I need to solve where to get decently clear cedar in South Florida. The stock at Lowes and the Depot don't look good.

Thanks very much for your help.

Jay