Hard dodgers

[MidLandOne]

Keeping the rain out of the companionway has been mentioned which we also find useful, especially at anchor. We also find that lying at anchor with a forward hatch open the dodger produces quite a strong venturi effect helping a good air flow through the boat - obviously only of use on hot days though .

While I have an empathy with many of Jeff's comments it would seem from them that we have a rather poorly designed boat - on a number of occasions we have had spray over the boat as high as the lower spreaders, must be time for us to get another but better one built .

[Giulietta]

Originally Posted by MidLandOne

While I have an empathy with many of Jeff's comments it would seem from them that we have a rather poorly designed boat - on a number of occasions we have had spray over the boat as high as the lower spreaders, must be time for us to get another but better one built .

Nahh...he's just grumpy today....

[sailingdog]

Of course, on smaller boats, with lower freeboard, the tendency to get some spray, especially in rougher conditions headed to weather, is pretty high... I know my boat has less than three feet of freeboard, and gets quite a bit of spray aboard—however, it does get far less than the Corsair 28 or 31, from what I've seen.

[Faster]

Hard dodger or soft... I know I'd have trouble getting my first mate out in the off season without one....

It rains here every once in a while, it's nice not to have to scramble and close up the boat for every shower.

We have an opening center panel that nicely funnels air through the dodger on hot days - if the breeze is there - and even if it's not the extra opening vents more heat. For the calm hot days I think the tradeoff for shade is worth it.

We had a windy rough crossing this past summer, my wife found it quite amusing to be sitting dry behind the dodger, watching me catch a shot of spray every few waves at the wheel.

[Giulietta]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

I know my boat has less than three feet of freeboard, and gets quite a bit of spray aboard

Therefore...its a bad design...

see bellow....

Originally Posted by Jeff_H

In my mind, and in that case, the dodger becomes a bandaid for an inferior boat design and one that I would not purchase.

For a good design, with a dry dodger, please see bellow:

Not one drop of water in the dodger!!! And this is no 28 foot thing...its a 42 foot mean water cutting machine!!!




Thanks Jeff...mine is a good design...

[sailingdog]

A fat 42'-long water pushing machine...

[Giulietta]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

A fat 42'-long water pushing machine...

Here...push this....and see if you can do that....

[MidLandOne]

Yes, clearly a very dry boat as doesn't even need any freeing ports or deck drains to clear water off the deck

(But to be serious, a very nicely thought out boat it is too )

[Valiente]

I don't like dodgers generally, but I understand they are a compromise. I like the little "hood" type, because they keep rain out of the companionway and yet allow access to the cabintop winches and lines.

Strangely, having a full pilothouse hasn't changed my viewpoint...I will have a bimini/arch, but the fact is that we will be "outside" most of the time and a low bimini is needed for shade and a place to put solar panels away from the boom shadow, but otherwise it will be quite open.

I have seen VERY elaborate enclosed dodger bimini combinations, and I think "man, it must get hot and humid in there!" But then I don't understand gazebos either, because they seem more like failed sheds or tents designed by committees than something under which I would like to sit.