Hard dodgers and covered cockpits

[Ajax]

It's interesting how we all have different interpretations of the benefits.

To me coming from northern Europe it keeps the wind and rain off, and the more complicated indoor steering positions could possibly be heated.

To many of you it keeps the sun off, and the more complicated indoor steering positions could possibly be air conditioned.

Just shows the problem in differing requirements that the designer has to cope with.

Then, think about circumnavigators like Estar, who have to deal with BOTH!

My understanding is that he put a lot of work into insulating his hull, which not only kept the the boat warm in cold regions, it also kept the interior tolerable, in spite of the boat's aluminum construction, in the tropics.

I can handle extreme heat without air-conditioning. I grew up in south Florida, and did a tour in the UAE. It's the cold that kills me. I do suspect that I'll have a dodger eventually, to hide from the wind when sailing in cold weather.

 

[blackjenner]

I like your solution to get out of sewing. But how do you get the lashing to keep from bunching up together in the middle?

If you mean stopping wrinkles in the center, it's a function of tensioning the lacing properly to pull the material towards the corners. I could also run a separate tension line too, if it were necessary. I do get the smallest amount of bunching but, it's minimal. When we install the side rails, we will eliminate this entirely.

 

[blackjenner]

It's interesting how we all have different interpretations of the benefits.

To me coming from northern Europe it keeps the wind and rain off, and the more complicated indoor steering positions could possibly be heated.

To many of you it keeps the sun off, and the more complicated indoor steering positions could possibly be air conditioned.

Just shows the problem in differing requirements that the designer has to cope with.

Then, think about circumnavigators like Estar, who have to deal with BOTH!

My understanding is that he put a lot of work into insulating his hull, which not only kept the the boat warm in cold regions, it also kept the interior tolerable, in spite of the boat's aluminum construction, in the tropics.

I can handle extreme heat without air-conditioning. I grew up in south Florida, and did a tour in the UAE. It's the cold that kills me. I do suspect that I'll have a dodger eventually, to hide from the wind when sailing in cold weather.

We have no illusions that we will ever be like Estar, but we learn as much as we can from everyone possible. Cruising in warm, tropical climates is a dream, sure. At the same time, our boat can go many places, not all of them warm. Hence, we are not tearing out the Dickenson Newport heater. I don't like being cold either an I don't like getting roasted by the sun. Cold makes you stupid and the sun will give you cancer. Warm and shade, when you need them, are a godsend. On our last long cruise the bimini really made a difference. Having that shade literally was relaxing. The protection from the sun just made the whole trip much much nicer. It's well worth it.

 

[blackjenner]

Here's an interesting data point from another list. It speaks to some of the issues raised in this thread about problems with dodger installations.

" I have added a hard top dodger to my Tashiba 40. This dodger gets in the way of the winch handles even more than the soft top dodger that came with the boat. So I am moving the cabin top winches, i.e., the port and starboard staysail sheet winches and the main halyard and mainsheet winch. These are mounted on a sloping mounting plate to give the winches the right angle to the sheet/halyard. I had great difficulty removing the plates. They must have been glued down with 5200! I would love to know what was holding them so tight. Any ideas?"

 

[py26129]

Totally agree with Black regarding the beauty of having shade in the cockpit.

Another beenfit of having a bimini without a permanent dodger is the fact that we benefit form every little breeze on those scorching , almost windless summer days.

 

[Black Jack]

I really, really dislike hard, total enclosures that completely cut you off from your environment.

I think it reduces your "feel" for what the boat is doing, in weather which in turn, inhibits your response.

If you have to have a full enclosure, Py26129's zip-in, modular configuration is the way to go.

While there is truth in this response, there is room for expansion:

* If the weather is cold rain or worse, I'm OK with being cut off from that.

* Skin cancer. Sunscreen is good, but shade is better. If it runs in the family you cannot understate the importance.

* Feel. That is actually only something you need to adjust to. Unless the hardtop is combined with a complete enclosure (I don't like those well either, unless motoring in cold conditions, and even them I wind I like to be able to poke my head out for better visibility and to listen) you can still hear everything and still feel a percentage of the wind. Just as sensation is reduced between a dingy and a cruiser, the information is still there, just damped. My first hard top through me for a few months, now I am completely accustomed.

* Time. A full enclosure can really slow deck access.

Though side panels are available for mine, I have no interest in them. On the other hand, if I lived aboard they would come out at dock when the temperature dipped to a certain point.

Most wise. I agree except for the fact of time. The more you reduce your exposure and chance for melanoma - the longer you can sail. remember it is not skin cancer that kills you... It is the cancer it triggers to the brain, gut or testicles.
It may be the difference between sex with or without a condom. We always can pick our perferred poisons with our passions.

 

[dylan winter]

this little mobo I spotted in Littlehampton has a fine extension and patio doors

what is not to like?

 

[TQA]

I like my current dodger and bimini set up. I suppose you can call my dodger semi hard as the top is fibreglass sheet with removable front and side panels. The bimini is soft.

I sail in the Caribbean and sailing without shade is an invitation to skin cancer. Also on a day when the Christmas winds are blowing and you are reaching up from St Vincent towards St Lucia in 30 knots with a 3 metre swell and a metre or more of wind chop it gets pretty wet at times. It is good to be able to go and hide from that stuff.

 

[blackjenner]

I like my current dodger and bimini set up. I suppose you can call my dodger semi hard as the top is fibreglass sheet with removable front and side panels. The bimini is soft.

I sail in the Caribbean and sailing without shade is an invitation to skin cancer. Also on a day when the Christmas winds are blowing and you are reaching up from St Vincent towards St Lucia in 30 knots with a 3 metre swell and a metre or more of wind chop it gets pretty wet at times. It is good to be able to go and hide from that stuff.

I like it, especially how the end of the bimini lines up with the transom.