Cockpit dodgers

[zoidberg]

Another controversy?
Who likes 'em - and why? Who doesn't.....?

 

[PetiteFleur]

We like them, gives privacy in centre cockpit, boat names on dodger, wind protection, what's not to like?

 

[Clancy Moped]

I've dropped a few things in the past that would have ended up in the drink if were not for them, and as above, bit more privacy.

 

[Stemar]

Another vote in favour. Shelter from wind and nosy people. On a cruising boat, unless they hamper sight, I can't think of a downside.

 

[ashtead]

Only the price I guess - do those who are prone to seasickness find it causes an issue I wonder?

 

[geem]

Don’t like the look of them. Our name is on the bow and stern so dont need them for that. We have a sprayhood that keeps the spray off. They seem to be a British thing. Rarely see them elsewhere

 

[Tomaret]

As the average size of new boats increases, have them become less necessary? I had them on. 24 footer and a 31 footer, and they regularly got wet, protecting me . On my 36 footer I don’t get wet sat in the cockpit so don’t need them.

 

[MoodySabre]

I think there is a safety aspect too. You pass a boat and see its name. If you then heard a Mayday or Pan pan from a boat with that name you would know they were not far away. Names just on the stern are usually hard to read except close up.

 

[ashtead]

Maybe solar panel cockpit dodgers is an idea ?

 

[zoidberg]

Maybe solar panel cockpit dodgers is an idea ?

Perhaps need to sail 'on yer ear' to get max efficiency.... one side at a time.

 

[sarabande]

One can get a friendly sailmaker to put pockets on the inside. Useful for monocular, HB compass, anti-whale grenades (see posts passim), flares, steamer scarer, pilotage notes, cockpit quick-use knife, relaxing copy of 50 Shades, even those wonderful encapsulated charts from HO, cans of beer away from compass.

They need to be quickly releasable for MOB, though. Sharp knife, as above.

 

[dunedin]

As the average size of new boats increases, have them become less necessary? I had them on. 24 footer and a 31 footer, and they regularly got wet, protecting me . On my 36 footer I don’t get wet sat in the cockpit so don’t need them.

I would agree it is in a large respect a boat size (and freeboard) thing. A modern 40 footer with plenty of freeboard is massively drier than an old 20 something footer, or even a low freeboard 30 something footer.
And you don’t need pockets on the sides of your dodger if you have a cockpit table with stowage within and on it.

 

[sarabande]

But you do, if you don't have a cockpit table, as many smaller boats do not have space. Which is why I suggested it, knowing the OP's boat, and that others might like the idea.

 

[Tomaret]

I think there is a safety aspect too. You pass a boat and see its name. If you then heard a Mayday or Pan pan from a boat with that name you would know they were not far away. Names just on the stern are usually hard to read except close up.

And if I’m day sailing the name on the transom is usually blocked by fenders (trained by Sunsail)

 

[duncan99210]

We’ve got them and made them ourselves out of unproofed acrylic canvas. Single length does for both sides, hemmed, tunnel hem on the top side to slide the guardrail through, eyelets as required to tie off and tension them. Sewing the name letters on was the most difficult bit. Cost about £45 for materials.

 

[WoodyP]

There have been occasions when having my yacht's name visible was a disadvantage ?. I find that they don't stop much spray splash, but do give a bit of respite from the breeze.

 

[Pete7]

Useful having the yachts name on them, means you get 15 seconds notice of someone coming alongside you, certainly in the days when Weymouth tried to help as many folk as possible.

Pete

 

[mattonthesea]

We’ve got them and made them ourselves out of unproofed acrylic canvas. Single length does for both sides, hemmed, tunnel hem on the top side to slide the guardrail through, eyelets as required to tie off and tension them. Sewing the name letters on was the most difficult bit. Cost about £45 for materials.

Same here; ours are UV proofed. We bought the vinyl letters and sewed them on.

Plus: shelter from wind mainly but some spray too. Look nice. Pockets.

Neg: hmmm

 

[Greenheart]

We like them, gives privacy in centre cockpit, boat names on dodger, wind protection, what's not to like?

Just what I was thinking even before reading your post, Petite Fleur.

Zoidberg, isn't this one of those questions that didn't need asking?

 

[LittleSister]

I don't much like them (for my own use), and have removed them from several boats (all small or small-ish) I've owned.

I like to see the sea going past. Among the things I like about sailing are the sense of open-ness, staring at waves, wake and ripples and the endless change of the sea surface. I like to see the nearby wildlife - seals, birds, fishes and other people . I like to admire and/or cast aspersions on other's boats and boat handling .

All these things and more are reduced by having dodgers in place. I've usually carried dodgers stowed somewhere below, in case I want additional protection from the wind or additional privacy, but rarely have I ever bothered to rig them, either for the winter or a day, or wished I had.

In a small boat in a harbour they don't offer much privacy as most others, ashore and afloat, are looking down on the cockpit as much as across. I think they often spoil the look of a boat, especially small boats. One could say much the same, I suppose, for spray hoods, but at least they keep much of the spray off.

I can see the advantages though: my current boat has fixed dodgers and a fixed sprayhood - generally referred to as a wheelhouse (with a heater ), but I also have an open cockpit, sans dodgers, where I can feel the wind on my face and almost touch the passing waves.