The Artful Dodger

[boredinthecity]

The Artful Dodger

I have a 26’,beam 8’4”, draft, 4’7” yacht that suits me in most ways, as I only want to cruise coastal/islands on the Queens land coast. (warm to hot & high rainfall) I am advised, and have decided, to install a dodger but can’t make up my mind whether to go for a canvas or solid dodger.

The design of the yacht is not all that common so I am not sure if I will be able to buy an off the shelf product or not. If not then I will need to work with material that I have little experience with.

So my preference would be to build a glass (form cored) dodger but I am concerned that I will be adding weight above the COG and increasing windage.

Please have a look at photo (My boat 2, in mono hull gallery) and give me advice an the choice that you would make and any related issue.

[Alan Wheeler]

I couldn't find my boat 2, but did find my boat 1.
I would suggest a canvas dodger. I think it will look far better than a solid one. You are going to need some SST work to support the dodger. Any canvas/sail maker worth his salt, should be able to handle the project with ease, and I wouldn't expect it to be tooo expensive.

[boredinthecity]

Wops
Sorry Wheels - bad naviation skills, photo now in stated location. I wish i could do the same thing on the water!

Paul:

[Talbot]

My vote would be for a canvas system as well, possibly linking up with a bimini as I understand that you occasionally see some sunshine at your location

[boredinthecity]

Sunshine one day flooded the next.

Well I not a Queen slander so I wont tell you that they have sunshine all the time. In fact the house that I used to own had about a 1.1meters of water in it last night. Dam, I always wanted a water front house. Just imagine you could tell your wife “I told you that the new dinghy would be useful”l!!!

Paul

[harryrezz]

Have to agree with wheels and Talbot. A hard dodger on a boat your size would look, IMHO, a bit awkward. In fact, most of them don't look all that great even on larger boats - with a few well designed exceptions. Canvas will be lighter, less expensive and much more flexible.

[boredinthecity]

Thanks to all for the advice so far (which I will take). Which I chose to interpret as spend time sailing instead!!

At the risk of exposing my lack of experience with yachts further there are 3 related issues that I would pick your brains on,
(1) how far forward of the aft cabin bulkhead should the dodger go?
(2) what is the best way of leading the various control lines through the dodger?
(3) Is it better have a free standing rather than relying on the boom (in part) for support i.e., a stainless steel frame of some description.

Any one got some happy snaps of a good set up?

Thank Paul

[Talbot]

Dodger size really depends on the boat and what you are trying to do with the dodger. It is normally rigged so that you can sail with it in place, and provides protection from rain and spray within the saloon, and also a position to hide from the spray when in the cockpit. However, it should also allow good access to the winches and other sail controls, and not impede access forward on deck. Your jackstays should be accessible from behind the dodger, and a lot of them also have a grip rail fro people moving in the cockpit. The bimini should also be rigged so that it can be used when sailing. Here is an example:

[boredinthecity]

On the subject of jackstays are there ant resources around than:
http://www.cruisingresources.com/Ful..._Jackstays.asp
Thanks Paul

[pjfsail]

You might check out: http://www.tartarooga.com/ for some ideas. The old idea that all hard dodgers are ugly is not true. You may pick up and idea or two from the photos. Regards, Peter

[GordMay]

Some additional reading:

Rigid Benefits - The case for the hard dodger ~ by Blue Water Sailing Staff
http://www.boats.com/content/default...contentid=1052
Offshore Canvass: The best in cockpit protection http://www.bwsailing.com/PDFs/Canvas_bws0696.pdf

Dodger? Rodger! ~ by Ron Chappell
http://www.perfectpocketyacht.com/dodger.html

A veteran marine fabricator offers a new entry into the familiar field of dodger fabrication ~ By John LeMole http://www.geminicanvas.com/articles.htm
http://www.geminicanvas.com/cuttingedge1.htm
http://www.geminicanvas.com/cuttingedge2.htm
http://www.geminicanvas.com/foldingstrut.htm