LOL, Mike I made a concession only cutting away as much as I did - initially I was going to take it back another 6" or so, but that would've involved the lockers and locker drains and such, so I am holding it just forward of there for 'testing'. Initial impression is that it is enough, interior-wise. Half of this project though is that I wanted less area in the footwell, a good seaworthy attribute, and one which I'd bet the Old Swede would have made himself, had he not had to bow to consumer requirements to "Sail 6, dine and sleep 4".
Here's a shot showing the hole getting filled back in. How exciting!
BTW - The gray stuff all over the place is high build primer, a somewhat-failed and thus far abandoned attempt to fill in all that crazy gelcoat crazing.