I went with an ocean cockpit but raised each of the forms leading from about the front hatch to the coaming rim successively by 1/4" per Jay's suggestion (i.e., I cut the template at the midpoint (shearline) and added 1/4", then 1/2", then 3/4", then 1"). That gave me a nice fair curve on the deck, a little easier entry into the cockpit and a bit more room for my knees (I'm 6'2", 220#, 34" inseam). Doing so will make the bend from the foredeck to the aft deck even more severe than in the stock plans, so prepare your loved ones with appropriate ear protection when you use heat or steam and a few choice words to bend the strips into place!

Would it be feasible to raise the deck by adding a 1/4 inch strip to both the deck and hull at the sheer line? The deck at the cockpit area around the feet would only need to be raised about a 1/2 inch.This would reduce the amount twist and bending necessary at the transition zone from fore to aft deck stripping . I am thinking of trying this on a current petrel build.The deck of Petrel is flexible at the bow and stern the 1/4 inch strip could be tapered in those areas to almost nothing to reduce lost of the elegant lines of the petrel. best rh