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I have a 1966 Nauset 16 and am building a rear seat with blueprints from this site. Does anyone have thoughts as to why the seat side rails are 47 inches long? Is it structural, pretty or what? I was thinking of shortening them down to around 25 inches or so. This will allow access to the rear attachment for the Flying top and also the small inside mounted cleat.

Thanks in advance for any and all thoughts,
Camano mike