I will probably make cardboard templates first, then begin ripping.
I was going to bring this topic up in another thread, probably in another forum and I still will, but a quick post here first.
When we had the large "window" in the cockpit professionally replaced a professional shipwright also did the interior teak work. A brief description at
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f55/fiberglass-to-fill-big-window-openings-40900.html#post453516
When we got down to the boat on the weekend I found short strips of thin 1" wide plastic material and a glue gun. I couldn't figure out what they were for and I still may not have, but they gave me the idea for how I'll create the templates even if I'm wrong
I'll get similar thin plastic strips/battens and very lightly glue them inside the frame where the new veneer is going using booger-glue or maybe a glue gun. I'll use permanent glue to overlap the joints in the strips and do any shaping needed to make sure that they fit snugly against any trim. Once the outline is completely traced by the strips I'll pull it off and I'll use that as the template for pre-cutting the veneer, maybe leaving 1/16" or 1/32" to be sanded off when putting it in place. In addition to giving me a good template, that process should let me create a template with the old portholes in place so I can take the template home for the veneer cutting without having to first remove the porthole.
I can't wait to see if it will work
On reflection I think that might be how Lew figured out the complex cuts needed for the ceiling liner. He left me a "frame" that would show me where to put screws in the ceiling liner in the head for a shower curtain but maybe that was also the template for the ceiling panel as well ?
-Sven