as you can see in the red and cream colored car there are 2 styles of cut transitions AND some are sewn in the split area to actually transition over the lip and others are just cut(90% of them), pull the side panel down and make sure you to NOT cut past the pull down area and tack strip(you don't want it showing when you drop the top). I only cut mine 2.5 inches or so. and it drains the water nicely along with letting the top fold down without stressing the fabric, but mine and the last 2 I did were Ez-On tops