Dodger frame with solar panel .045 or .062 thick?

[SanDiegoChip]

We are working on a dodger. We would like it to support a solar panel. W also would like side handles and a rear handle the length of the top.

We got a quote from a company here in San Diego that came down and took the measurements for what we wanted.

$2,500.00 for the complete dodger

$1000.00 for the frame only.

We only want the frame. Not sure if the quote includes the solar panel bracketing.

We have made our own bimini on our 30' Catalina and it came out grate. I had handles welded on the sides of the existing dodger frame and they were less than a $100.00 bucks if memory serves me.

The SS tubing he was going to use is .062 thick I think it was, close any way it was at least .060.
I see a dodger frame kit from Sailrite for $485.00, does not include shipping and is .045 thick. It does not include any handles or solor panel bracketing.

Will the .045 thick stand up to weather and would it support a solar panel?

What are others using?


Chip
s/v Elegant'sea IF36-B #29

[chef2sail]

Elegant,

Check Sailrite

We bought the tubing and made our own doger this year for a far cheaper price. They also have the handle kits for the sides and the back of the doger also. The canvas is far harder to figure out than the doger

When you make the tubing buy some of the wraooing tape so you can frame it up as you go along.

Our new dodger cost us about 1000 all told to make and is really another bimini with panels which zip out for air flow in the summer. Our windows are made of strat glass a superior product to most other glasses.

Dave

[SanDiegoChip]

Dave,
Do you have a solar panel on top of the dodger?
What thickness of tubing did you use?

What do you mean by making the tubing? Did you bend it yourself? Pipe bender form Home Depot?
I was thinking of having a shop put in th e bends. Also does yours have a crown (Another slight bend at the top)?

[Maine Sail]

I would strongly suggest using Taco Metals tube in 1", .065 wall in 316 stainless and not the 304.

My good friend is a canvas guy up here in Maine and has done a number of bimini's that support solar panels. There is a substantial difference between the Taco .049" wall and the heavy wall .065". I can do chin ups in the center of a .065 wall dodger but not so much with .049 without bending it. Some companies are now importing cheap stainless tubing from China, perhaps where the .062" spec comes from, but it is not generally good quality stuff and can and will corrode quickly.

[chef2sail]

Elegant,

Mainesail is right on in what he says about the grades and thickness. Ours are 1 ' tubes. We do not have a solar panel attached to ours as we like the freedom of being able to fold it up in the spring and fall. The sail rite tubes come pre bent and have an adjustmet ceneter piece with a crown on top. The center tube slides inside the ends of the strut tube. Check out their on line catalogue for info. Not sure of the type of stainless.

[mitiempo]

I'd guess this is heavy wall tubing.
Brian

[SanDiegoChip]

Originally Posted by Maine Sail

I would strongly suggest using Taco Metals tube in 1", .065 wall in 316 stainless and not the 304.

My good friend is a canvas guy up here in Maine and has done a number of bimini's that support solar panels. There is a substantial difference between the Taco .049" wall and the heavy wall .065". I can do chin ups in the center of a .065 wall dodger but not so much with .049 without bending it. Some companies are now importing cheap stainless tubing from China, perhaps where the .062" spec comes from, but it is not generally good quality stuff and can and will corrode quickly.

Thanks,
I am going to go to a metal shop in a boat yard here in San Diego to see about the .065 dodger frame. They welded handles on our last dodger frame on our previous boat. I want to get a quote from them on the bending and welding.
Seems the way to go the .065 - 316.
I’ll post the result.

[SanDiegoChip]

Brian,
Thanks for the pix. That is exactly the handle we are looking for.

[mitiempo]

Here's where the pic came from. Lots of other great ideas there.
Brian

Dodgers Built by Iverson's Designs