If your hull is glassed on both sides, you can do it with no problem. I just did this not too long ago with my Outer Island. I strapped the hull and deck together temporarily, set the hull on the floor with some foam blocks underneath the cockpit to cushion the hull and distribute the weight, and climbed in. Carpet scraps work too - basically anything that will distribute your weight should work.

Ross

: I'm about to fit the deck to the hull and being new to strip built boats I
: was wondering if it's ok to enter the boat when not in the water. Being on
: the large size I want to make sure the cockpit size is right. I want to
: keep it so it's on the snug side and not too large like my plastic one. So
: I was thinking of starting on the small size opening and then making it
: larger if need be before I fit the coamings. I dont want to climb in on
: dry land to try it and cause stress to the hull if that the case with
: these type boats. I know with my plastic bucket boat,it doesn't matter.
: Thanks,
: Steve