What are the cloths called laced inside the stanchions

[Companion]

I was always under the impression that the canvas cloths laced inside the stanchions were called lee cloths, but apparently not...what are they called ? Anyway, I'm busy making them for our next Pacific cruise and am looking at various designs. has anyone made them before and could give me some advice ?

[Wotname]

They are lee clothes to me but maybe they are known as something else in other parts of the world .

[David_Old_Jersey]

If I am thinking of the same thing as you!, in the UK they are called "Dodgers" - no doubt as that term is used in the USA for something else! (a sprayhood) likely another term used.......but nonetheless should help with your googles.



BTW they are attached outside the stanchions (and wires). Lee cloths are what stop you falling out of a bunk / seaberth!

Never made any though!

[goboatingnow]

the term lee cloths and dodgers seem to be interchangeable. Though as DOJ said this side lee cloths are generally on bunks

Ive made a few over the years , Ive used good quality acrylic canvas, in general without the PU coating ( no need for full water proofness)

Ive generally used good quality stainless grommets, put on with the anvil tool. fold and stitch the edges either one or two folds. When attaching them I have used cord and tiewraps, if using tiewraps ensure the sharp edges are safe. The drawback with tiewraps is if you need to remove them, its a one way trick with a snips.

If you have small lee cloth rails , that aids things, otherwise youll have to consider how the bottom edge ( and top edge) is supported/tied down, this often requires deck fittings, with all thee issues of penetrating the deck.

Ive seen some done by using a stainless steel wire in the top and bottom and that attached to a convenient stanchion. It can put a lot of pull on a stanchion though , many are just tied to the lifelines in whatever way is practical . I dont like them that much where they are just supported by stanchions and lifelines,

At sea they can get a lot of abuse from boarding water and I remain of the view they are best removed.

dave

[barnakiel]

In our boat, the ones inside the stanchions are called trunks. The ones outside (see David's) are called leeclothes.

@David: maybe dodger is the sprayhood over the companionway, elsewhere it is just a sprayhood (I think).

Now for the design:
- use quality canvas (Sunbrella type) and they will last,
- if you expect plenty of downwind sailing, consider making yours in 3 parts - to form a wrap-around for the whole cockpit area (= also from astern),
- in our ship, the side ones extend about 3' forward of the cockpit's fore end - this gives good protection when an odd wave comes from an odd angle,
- total overlap of our dodger / leecloth is then some 4 feet.
- you may like some pockets added on the cockpit side - our furling line is on one and a winch handle in the other,
- rescue orange is good choice for any small craft.

Dry, quiet and snug, that's the way we like it.

Cheers,
b.

[goboatingnow]

In our boat, the ones inside the stanchions are called trunks.

Never heard that , always thought they were mens attire!

Dave

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

In our boat, the ones inside the stanchions are called trunks.

I am curious as to what "trunks" look like - and what purpose they serve (instead of or as well as a Dodger / Lee Cloth?).

A Google for "Yacht Trunks" reveals a lot of swimwear!

[Companion]

Thanks so much.... We have a solid stainless top rail and a timber toe rail..so I thought I could lace to stainless eyelet fittings screwed into the toe rail and lace all round (once I've finished the sewing and the hole punching).... take your advice about removing for the ocean passages though, although we don't seem to get too wet in the aft. Any idea of how far apart I should punch the eyelets ?

[goboatingnow]

I cant think if Ive ever seen dodgers fitted to the inside of lifelines and stanchions

dave

[FSMike]

In the states I always heard them called weather cloths.
Like David, I heard lee cloths were to keep you in your bunk.
And in the states we call spray hoods dodgers.

[zeehag]

lee cloths are fro beds for crew to keep em in when rough seas bounce ye out of em,
weather cloths, for privacy..lol...and keeping the wind in cockpit down ...
dodger, aka spray hood....

[goboatingnow]

In the states I always heard them called weather cloths.

actually that was the term I was trying to think of, not lee clothes. Round here though they are all dodgers.

dave

[Jim Cate]

My name for them is weather cloths, for the ones that matter are on the weather side of the boat, keeping spray off the deck/cockpit area. Lee cloths are for bunks and are useful on the leeward side, keeping the occupant off the deck.

We have weather cloths running from the stern up past the companionway, hung from stainless tubing rails. We've found that using light bungy cord for at least the lower attachments reduces the damage done to them if a big boarding sea should strike. Like most things, they have good and bad characteristics: they do keep much spray away, but inhibit visibility to windward when heeled. They also give a bit of privacy when at anchor... say for showers or whatever in the cockpit. Good place to mount sheet bags, too.

Cheers,

Jim

[monte]

its good practice to secure the lower section but fix the upper with breakable line in case of taking on seas

[boatman61]

In the UK they are known as Spray Dodgers... idea is to keep any splashes into the cockpit to a minimum when sailing... also great wind breakers and excellent for nude sun bathing...
They go on the outside...
Spray Hood... self explanatory... goes over the top to protect from high flying spray...
Lee Cloth's... what you use when you have drawn the short straw on a very long tack...