Dodger height

[Steve Laume]

I am finally working on building a fiberglass dodger for Raven. Last year, I only put what was left of the canvas on the frame once I was well off shore and out of sight. I used pretty much an entire roll of duct tape on it just to get some shelter. It wasn't pretty and didn't work very well. I got rid of the frame and scraps last fall so I would be forced to build a new one.

I am now well into framing up the forms for a strip build, fiberglass dodger and it is proceeding slowly but well so far.

I am trying to keep it low, to reduce windage and make it easier to see over the top of it. Since I am still in the framing stage, I could change things and I am a little concerned with the height.

If anyone, or a number of people could give me a measurement from the bridge deck to the bottom of their dodger, it might set my mine at ease. It will be fine for sitting and standing behind it but it is getting into the companionway that concerns me. Right now I have so much framing and bracing in the way that I can't try it out.

Thanks in advance, Steve.

[jbenagh]

Steve,

I'm just having my first dodger built for Christine C (CD30 269). We went for 5' 0" to 5' 2" above the cockpit sole to accommodate two crew members who are 5' 4 3/4". They can stand on tiptoe to see over. It's lower at the sides of the cockpit. It will be a bit low getting out of the companionway.

I hope to be able to let you know about the finished product by this weekend.

Jeff

[Steve Laume]

I am at 4'-11" from the cockpit sole and 45" from the bridge deck. I may have to come up an inch or so. I am not getting more flexible as the years go on. I could always do a bump up, like the Volvo boats but things are already complex enough.

Any other measurements from any CD with a bridge deck would be appreciated, Steve.

[Jim Walsh]

My dodger is 5'2" from the cockpit sole and 3'9" from my bridgedeck. A replacement would be at least two inches higher when the time comes.
Post a picture when possible, I'm very interested but don't see myself as talented enough to pull it off.

[tartansailor]

Hi Steve,

I'm doing the same for my CD 25 and decided the height to be 3 inches below of the boom.
This should allow for furled sail.

[Steve Laume]

Three inches below the boom puts my dodger somewhere in front of my shop. I am not rigged so the only measurements that are relevant are from the cockpit sole or bridge deck.

I am moving along slowly. I worry about the shape and am just getting to the curved section at the forward end. Cape Dory did not make this an easy project with the offset companion way, traveler, and those bump outs for the cockpit combing. The original winches are also way too far forward.

Fiberglass work is kind of fun but the shape is challenging, Steve.

[Jim Walsh]

Will you be molding custom speaker boxes for your stereo system?

[Steve Laume]

I was thinking of reading lights and a chart pocket but will be lucky to finish up the basic dodger before my summer cruise. I doubt I will get it gel coated so there will be an opportunity to make refinements and additions.

I don't need stereo speakers in the cockpit. I can just blast the inside ones until the boat starts vibrating like some cars these days. I am sure everyone in the anchorage or mooring fields will love whatever music I chose to play. A VHF speaker would actually be a pretty good idea.

It's hot out there, Steve.

[JD-MDR]

AH(1).jpg

I can't wait to see your progress. I have dodger as one of my priorities along with auto pilot. As soon as my sails are paid off I think I will make a deposit to be on Iverson's waiting list(14months). I like the hard dodger. I'm thinking about it. I also want to have a drop down curtain or something so I can be enclosed for the trip north to Kodiak. I don't like those totally enclosed cockpits. I'm having the splash guards (or whatever they are called) made now. I want the sides to be fold down over the lower lifeline easily for when the weather is nice. When up, they really restrict visibility. I am working on the running rigging now, a little at at time. I can do most of that myself. I still have 3 yrs to prepare for my trip to Hilo and Kodiak.
I 'm having good luck getting home improvement jobs. I can't believe I have been able to pay for this all. I've been going out to Santa Cruz Island almost every weekend. I've explored about 3/4 of the coast. I think I will get a landing permit so I can go hiking. All the people I talked say you don't need the permit. It's $70 for a year and you can have 10 passengers. I think I want to support the cause. It's mostly marine sanctuary. Sometimes it feels like I'm back at Alaska. There are a lot of fossils of early natives and also the museum has pygmy mammoth skeleton. Can't resist attaching a photo of my crew

[John Ring]

Tiara's Dodger.jpg

Steve,

I had Tiara's dodger made low & curved to reduce windage. At center, it's 44" above the bridge deck (60" off cockpit sole). The outer sections curve down to 37" above the bridge deck/seats before the bows start to bend downward/forward to the cabin sides.

As you may remember from Bermuda last summer, it's a bit of a squat & twist to get through through to the companionway, but I really like this dodger. There is plenty of sitting head room for most people, and when Tiara is heeled over going to windward there isn't much windward corner on this dodger to slow her down.

Hope this helps,
John Ring

[jbenagh]

Here's a picture of Christine C's. It's 50in from the cockpit sole to the top of the aft edge of the dodger.

[JD-MDR]

I applied to be on Iverson's list for a new dodger. Its a waiting list to be on their 14 mo waiting list. I think I want it to be like "Tiara's". I have plenty of time to prepare. Today I'm going to take the mainsheet traveler down to Garhauer for a new one.I also want to be able to reef the main from the cockpit so I need to work on that. The rebuilt windlass is fine. I guess I just have to baby it. I don't understand why they can't make them strong enough to pull the boat and break the anchor loose. They make winches capable of lifting 200 tons of fish up the stern ramp of trawlers. Why do so many of you prefer manual windlasses?Do you have to pull all the slack rode by hand?

[mgphl52]

Why do so many of you prefer manual windlasses?Do you have to pull all the slack rode by hand?

For me, it's the simplicity... no extra battery forward or extra heavy wiring.
Besides, many times I don't even use the windlass...