Dodger Considerations

[eb1smith]

I just got mine done on my CD-31.

[bottomscraper]

Melissa did the hard work of making the dodger, I did the easy part the french hitching and turksheads.

All the parts came from Sailrite, they now have an even larger selection.

Grab rails before and after french hitching.




<img width="540" src="http://www.sailmahalo.com/picture_colle ... Nemo_3.JPG">

Sailrite Dodger Hardware:
http://www.sailrite.com/Categories/stai ... %2C20%2C33

[Jeff Barnes]

Here are a couple of pics of the dodger on JAZMAN CD36. The straps in the second photo (not a great shot of the dodger) are normally snapped up out of the way. They are used to hold the center window section when it's unzipped and rolled up.

Jeff

<a href="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll49 ... .jpg"><img width="600" src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll49 ... 3.jpg"></a>

<a href="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll49 ... .jpg"><img width="600" src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll49 ... 5.jpg"></a>

[Boyd]

Here are some pictures of the dodger on Tern. This is dodger v3.0 as they only seem to last 5 years max in Fla. Each time I have a new one made I incorporate what I learned from the last iteration. This version has pretty much everything. The dodger is made of a completely waterproof canvas that has a vinyl backing as opposed to the normal Sunbrella which is just water resistant. I hate drips. The bimini is V2.3 and is still Sunbrella. Its about a year out of replacement. My next iteration will have some sort of rainwater collection system. Thats still under development.

<a href="http://s533.photobucket.com/albums/ee33 ... ger001.jpg" target="_blank"><img width="600" src="http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee33 ... ger001.jpg" border="0" alt="dodgeroutside"></a>

Note the opening portion of the windshield roll up OUTSIDE and ABOVE the dodger and not inside. The last one rolled up inside and the roll was exactly at eye level. I spent a lot of time hunchbacked looking under it. The Bimini is tall enough to clear my head by a few inches and just barely clears the boom.

<a href="http://s533.photobucket.com/albums/ee33 ... ger003.jpg" target="_blank"><img width="600" src="http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee33 ... ger003.jpg" border="0" alt="dodgerinside"></a>

This is the inside view. I prefer the "powerboat" type of windshield because I think it gives the best view. The little tabs hanging down in the middle are velcro straps that hold a 12v worklight. This light is very handy for dining at night.

<a href="http://s533.photobucket.com/albums/ee33 ... ger004.jpg" target="_blank"><img width="600" src="http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee33 ... ger004.jpg" border="0" alt="dodgerside"></a>

I gave up on the side round windows in favor of these very handy self draining pockets. They are made of that open weave fabric with bungie cord retainers. These hold things like lines, binoculars, laptop computers, etc. Note the zippers on the back edge of the dodger and the top edge of the binimi. I have full bug screens so that the cockpit can be occupied at night in skeeter season. This is Florida and we have skeeters as big as chickens down here. The cockpit is the "backporch" while at anchor.

Boyd
s/v Tern
CD30 MkII
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

[mahalocd36]

Boyd, that's a very nice looking dodger, great job!

[Carter Brey]

Boyd,

Great dodger! I agree about the powerboat style window. Looks great.

The instrument/speaker pods are amazing.

If you want your dodgers to last longer, just move on up here. We can guarantee you plenty of those cloudy cool days that are so good for canvas and varnish. They just last and last...

Carter

[Dean Abramson]

Thanks, Jeff and Boyd. Nice dodgers both.

There is a lot to consider, and all of this input is much appreciated.

Dean

[Bill Cochrane]

Dean,

One modification/alternative you might consider is a hardtop dodger with sunbrella side curtains/window frames.

I don't have any good photos of it but we've installed a "Wavestopper" hard top dodger on Phoenix and really like it. The top is a sheet of fiberglass that can be produced in any color gelcoat; ours is white, which keeps the heat down, with brown sunbrella fabric framing the windows. The "windshield" part is a separate piece that unzips at the sides and rolls up for when more air is needed.

Here's one link to the folks who did ours, in Annapolis, but there are dealers in most areas I believe.

[mahalocd36]

Dean, something came to me as I was working on our new bimini yesterday, that I'm not sure has been mentioned in this thread. You can buy a dodger "remotely" from someplace, and you install it yourself, you get some choices, but it's not really custom. It may work out well especially if they have built one for a CD31 before. You can also buy locally from say, Hallet's, and they can come build a frame on the boat, and then they put a pattern (paper or plastic) on that. You should be there. You can check the height, window placement, length (how far aft), etc. You can try getting in and out of the cockpit, check the visibility, comfort sitting under it, access to traveller, winches, etc. They can make sure the cutouts for all the lines are in the right place (the boat should be completely rigged). Then they take the pattern back to the shop. (If there's an option to use Profilen or similar thread, take it, it'll be worth the difference in price. On our previous dodger the "normal" thread deteriorated far before the sunbrella did. )

Also if you plan to put an awning or bimini on at some point that can be designed then as well - if you get a bimini we have found it useful to have a connector piece between the two for rainy days.

[Dean Abramson]

I appreciate all of the input on this. I am sending in my down payment on the dodger today, to Hallett, who made my sails and are located right where the boat is moored.

All of the excellent ideas from you folks will be considered as we move forward on this.

Thanks,

Dean

[Steve Laume]

[quote="mahalocd36"] You can buy a dodger "remotely" from someplace, and you install it yourself, you get some choices, but it's not really custom. It may work out well especially if they have built one for a CD31 before. You can also buy locally from say, Hallet's, and they can come build a frame on the boat, and then they put a pattern (paper or plastic) on that. You should be there. You can check the height, window placement, length (how far aft), etc. You can try getting in and out of the cockpit, check the visibility, comfort sitting under it, access to traveller, winches, etc. They can make sure the cutouts for all the lines are in the right place (the boat should be completely rigged). Then they take the pattern back to the shop.

This could well explain my dodger. It seems to be very well made but it looks like "the new guy" fitted it to the boat. Some of the cut outs are wrong and the snaps are poorly placed.

I still love the thing but it could be improved upon, Steve.

[Dean Abramson]

It will be about a month before anything actually happens on our dodger, so I have plenty of time to obsess about details...

The thing I feel most concerned about is height. I want to be able to see over it, but if I have it made short enough for my wife also to see over it, I am worried that it may be a nuisance (for me) when going to and from the cabin. The difference in our heights is 6 1/2 inches.

One sailor has told me that since he is tall, and the dodger is more suited to his height, they have a platform which his wife stands on when she is at the helm. Does anyone else go this route? If so, what is your platform like, and moreover, where do you stow it when not in use. (My stern rail is already starting to look like a nautical flea market.)

Thinking low-tech, I told my wife that she would look great in spiked heels, but she says that they are not USCG-approved.

To those of you who went from no dodger to dodger: do you feel like you are consciously ducking when coming or going from the cabin? I like the look of a slightly lower dodger, but practicality needs to govern.

I am thinking that Neil's idea of having the middle arched up a bit more (for me), and let the Second Mate look just to port or starboard of the centerline may be the most simple/practical route. But the 31's companionway is not centered on the centerline.

I would be interested in getting any feedback on this issue.

Dean

[winthrop fisher]

i must say you guys and gals have some nice looking boats...winthrop