Good day to stay out of the bitter cold. I've started building my new cockpit. Designing has been a history lesson. The original built in 1960 was also done outside the boat. The same sized well was built on horses. Mahogany sides-dove tailed corners- the well was more of a project in 1960. The teak decking was applied to the sole before installation.

But they had no cockpit when it was time to install the well, just the cabin back and glass decks all around. The 1960 well was lowered into 6 notched posts. The 6 posts (I'll re-use) have 3 athwartship cross beams bolted to the posts; the beams support the sole base. Once fastened to the 3 cross beams, the builders in Denmark would begin building - in place - the cockpit benches-aft seats-bridgedeck, to the well.

Then the coamings were placed on top of the seats-screwed through from below and through bolted to the flange in the glass decks. Done.

A few differences in 2016, my sole and well are 3/4" marine fir ply and will have 1/2" decking applied. 1960 Denmark used 1/2" ply sole with 3/4" decking. My sole will be stiffer(needs it). The quality of wood they used in 1960 isn't available or affordable-I'm using plywood and cloth to paint the well sides. All of my horizontal surface will be strip decked over 3/4" ply with caulked seams. My seat/locker tops will be stiffer than the original.

I'm coming from a different angle(and time) and will build the seat top-bridgedeck-aft benches-onto the cockpit well, in my shop. I think I'll save time and pain doing nearly everything at a nice standing height. I plan to suspend the works from ropes for easy raising and lowering.

Sometime in or around April, the whole thing will be lowered into the void between the cabin back and port-starboard and aft coamings. It could be a little heavy and cumbersome,... but I think it will work.

Everything so far is assembled dry. Next - unscrew side and sole, cut out ignition panel recess and an aft locker door out of the well side pieces. Apply glass cloth to 4 well side pieces-fill weave-reassemble with epoxy, and so on. I'm still a little perplexed on my pattern and details for the extensive decking design.

Stored overhead are the parts of the cockpit template. Once the well is finish assembled I'll need that for marking and cutting the seat/bridgedeck level above.