[Amgine]

I'm tracking down rigging, talking with the local loft for new sails, and suffering sticker shock for the new shaft/propeller... but in the back of my head I'm trying to figure out how I'm not going to die from cooking by the sun, and incidentally I'd like a dodger too.

So what does the community think of dodgers? Home design or hire professional/loft to build it?

Same questions about biminis.

What about hard/rigid dodgers/biminis?

Should a bimini be used while sailing, or an only-at-anchor design?

Here in the PNW a lot of the dodgers seem tumorous: they start out small and covering just the coach roof. Soon they're stretching back a foot or two, and two or three adults can huddle under them. Then
a bimini structure grows, and most if not all of the cockpit is covered, quickly followed by a complete surround of transparent material, and only the temporary nature of structures differentiate the boat from a pilot house without a cockpit.

Two years ago I kinda sneared at this, now I'm respectful, and I'll prolly move on to envious this winter.

I'm just wondering if I should simply plan for the whole thing now and skip the intermediary growth stages?