Frank,

Just 2 points to consider. I know Kurt is considering this for Katie Marie also, so you might pick his brain on it too.

In considering this mod sitting aboard Katie Marie with a mocked up box where it would go (small area of the cockpit well forward). I personally sit pretty far forward unless the boat is heeling. Sitting forward with my feet in the well allows me to take maximum advantage of the dodger in foul weather, as well as putting me farther from the stern.

I appreciate Carl's drawing such a stout bridge deck, but it does become something of an obstacle when going below. It limits how far aft the aft bow of the dodger can be, due to the necessity of climbing up to go over it. It seems to me that a cockpit mod like Atom has would be somewhat tougher to navigate aboard an Ariel... especially with less spry crew (no similarity to anyone reading this thread other then myself intended).

I would suggest Kurt's method of mocking it up and stepping over it for a while before you go for it. Might wanna mock up a dodger bow to through in the mix also.