Hi, Dozer. Heck of a nice job you did. Not into polished aluminum or chrome usually but you got me rethinking that!
Anyway, back about post 460 you build some new sides and a step for the walk-through windshield bow access.
I'm working on a '74 Holiday 18 myself (but outboard, and measures, oddly, 18'7" bow to stern) that is currently gutted. Some things I will do differently than you - I will be eliminating that step, for one.
How critical is that step to vertical support do you think? Since I will also plan on eliminating the OEM dash I thought I would just double up 3/4" ply as a backer across the span. I want to delete the step so I can keep sleeping bag use under what will be either a hard or soft cover. Since you've done several and done them well, and just read a gazillion pages of that coverage I thought I should ask here!
Thanks