I couldn't imagine a more pleasant way to spend the day as a snowstorm howled outside, yesterday. Warm, bright, the work at a comfortable height, sharp tools, nirvana. Contrast that with stick building a cockpit inside a boat hull. Add winter, a flapping cover overhead--shoot me.

My wife brought me out of my trance, remarking, "How are you going to get that thing down to the boat?" I dismissed the thought and went back to work.

I used Douglas Fir for my channels. They're a full 1 1/2"x 1 3/4" wide with a 1"x 5/8" channel plowed out. I shaped a spreader to form a smooth filet in the base of the plow adding more strength.

Trying to bend the stout U channels, I was pleased with how stiff the little beams are. Tedious but pleasant work to figure and fit miters in the trapezoid corners, band saw the drain ends to fit the cut outs in the well side(with a 1" Fein blade), dry fit - perfectly - and screw, then bed it all in epoxy - tighten down to dry.

As drains I'm pleased with how they came out. I'm already redesigning the 'dry' locker space below for next season. The drain/beams are also structural supports for the deck area aft of the locker lids(a known soft spot now stiff) as well as strong frame that will support the lids on all four sides. Every inch of this cockpit is used as 'floor' when the boat is in use. I'll appreciate the stiffness as I jump up and down on it this spring.