Hard Dodger (Sprayhood) Illustrated Guide - Examples, Tips

[jhulmer]

It's been a while since there was a post here so I will try and revive the thread.


This is my dodger project started over a year ago with inspiration from this thread.
I first shaped the dodger to my liking out of 1/4" marine plywood and then glassed over the whole structure. I used foam core under the top ply and on the side posts for strength. There is a formed wireway in the underside of the top running across the top and down each side.

Still a lot of work to go but it is looking nice to my eye. I will gelcoat it to match the boat and plan to heat form 3/8" thk Cast Acrylic for the windows. the middle window will be operable for ventilation. There is also a small hatch on top to add ventilation and visual aloft. I plan to put solar on the top.
The boat has been launched after a long refit and now awaits it's dodger!

[jhulmer]

I finished the dodger just in time to sail the Bahamas for the last two months. Sprayed with gelcoat to match the boat, sanded and polished. Wish I could have tilled the windshield more but the winches for the staysail wouldn’t allow the angle. However, worked like a charm for the Bahamas cruise so far.
Now for the hard top Bimini.

[Sos]

Very smart and a great finish!

[Greatest Lakes]

That really looks good. Well worth the effort.

[sanibel sailor]

ratcheting winch handles are available

[Sos]

Originally Posted by sanibel sailor

ratcheting winch handles are available

Hi,


I have looked but nobody seems to make ratcheting handles anymore - any links?

[sanibel sailor]

I have seen them in consignment shops and on eBay.
4 or 5 available on eBay right now. At least one in the UK
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...temCondition=4

[Sos]

Originally Posted by sanibel sailor

I have seen them in consignment shops and on eBay.
4 or 5 available on eBay right now. At least one in the UK
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...temCondition=4

I thought you meant new ones but I will have a look on Ebay

[Wandering1]

Interesting thread.
We have started building a sprayhood in epoxy/glass and core. We are modeling it off our sunbrella sprayhood, with the intention of it being as close to an exact replica as possible.
We are patterning the panels off the existing sunbrella panels. Two panels made so far. The third panel with the front windows, will be made this week. We will then put the boat (44ft) in the shed to do the flange where the sprayhood will bolt to the boat. We will then assemble the panels by tabbing them together in place before we remove the whole thing to add additional core to the inside to stiffen the structure and insulate again the tropical sun. I will post photos in the next few weeks as we progress to assembly

[Wandering1]

Originally Posted by Wandering1

Interesting thread.
We have started building a sprayhood in epoxy/glass and core. We are modeling it off our sunbrella sprayhood, with the intention of it being as close to an exact replica as possible.
We are patterning the panels off the existing sunbrella panels. Two panels made so far. The third panel with the front windows, will be made this week. We will then put the boat (44ft) in the shed to do the flange where the sprayhood will bolt to the boat. We will then assemble the panels by tabbing them together in place before we remove the whole thing to add additional core to the inside to stiffen the structure and insulate again the tropical sun. I will post photos in the next few weeks as we progress to assembly

Ok,
Basic sprayhood is constructed. We need to add foam core to the remaining parts of the interior. It's quite floppy at the moment. Very happy how it's turned out so far. It is a perfect replica of the old canvas sprayhood. We used the s/s 3 tube frame to lay the panels over. We cable tied the panels together then tabbed glass and resin in between the ties. Next day we removed the cable ties and finished the tabbing along the whole length of the panel joints.
The front centre window will be opening, top hinged. 6mm acrylic. The side windows will be 4mm acrylic, fixed with 3M tape and the gaps filled with Geocel Works.
[ATTACH][ATTACH][/ATTACH][/ATTACH]

[newhaul]

Working on designing one for my boat only problem is where my starboard sail winch is located .

The stbd winch is almost touching the companionway hatch.

[bcboomer]

Electric winch?

[sanibel sailor]

Looks like a really old winch. A replacement with a smaller base may allow it to be moved outboard, giving room to swing at least an 8" handle. Keep the drum pretty small, so you will still get decent mechanical advantage.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by bcboomer

Electric winch?

Barlow 17 single speed . The starboard winch is just really tight .
My companion way is offset on the defender.
Winch base is almost ( about an inch outboard of ) touching the companion way hatch.
The port side is shown in the pictures.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by sanibel sailor

Looks like a really old winch. A replacement with a smaller base may allow it to be moved outboard, giving room to swing at least an 8" handle. Keep the drum pretty small, so you will still get decent mechanical advantage.

Old barlow 17