Cost of dodgers?!

James W

James W

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I got a quote for some dodgers today and I'm starting to think now that they have been a touch on the pricey side...

Westerly Storm 33, copied directly from old ones, standard marine canvas, no lettering......£160.00? I haven't bought any for a while so I might be out of touch. Can anyone offer any comparison from having had some made recently?

Thanks!
 
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I made our dodgers, about 54cm wide and 2.5m long. I bought 3m of acrylic canvas for the job at a cost of about £45 delivered, plus a few eyelets for mounting them in place so call materials £47.50. The job took me two hours for a sailmaker I'd say less than half of that time as it's a simple job and they're not embarking on a voyage of discovery as I was. So you're paying say £110 for labour costs and profit margin. No idea if that's fair and the only way you'll find out if you're being taken for a ride is to get another quote or two for the job.
 
As you are in Essex you might not have same service but we find our local chandlers able to undertake smaller canvas work such as hatch covers and rope bags etc to bespoke. Size projects such as this fairly reasonably so if you are planning a trip to Gosport you might find a better price or Maybe they would make up if you have measurements and mail you.
 
Ready made from Force 4 are around £75 for small pair or £95 large. However will not be the same quality as custom made and maybe won't fit your space.
 
James W said:
I got a quote for some dodgers today and I'm starting to think now that they have been a touch on the pricey side...

Westerly Storm 33, copied directly from old ones, standard marine canvas, no lettering......£160.00? I haven't bought any for a while so I might be out of touch. Can anyone offer any comparison from having had some made recently?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Covercare, http://www.covercare.org.uk/ , charge £20 per metre if under 600mm high. That price is stated on the website,
.
 
I had some made to measure by some one plying their trade on eBay. I had to provide the dimensions on a template and the material wasn't best quality, but they are still serviceable 3 years on and only cost 65 quid.
 
James W said:
Will do, thanks :encouragement: If anyone has a figure though for 32-35 footer, it would at least give me a rough idea. Thanks!
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When they did ours it was part of a package including sails, stackpack and cockpit hood so I don’t know the true cost of dodgers alone. I do know they were far and away the best deal on cost and the quality/aftercare was excellent.
 
We are about to have some made for our current boat, the quote is for sunbrella fabric and lettering for a 28 footer and is £250. A bit expensive but very good service and quality. They have already made the spray hood and it's excellent.
 
last set I had made for a 32 footer were £75 inc vat and delivered. No lettering. I can't remember the guys name but he's retired now anyway. £160 is a bit expensive but not over the top. £250 is OTT.
 
I agree, 250 is a lot. Unfortunately it seems to be the going rate in this area. Part of the problem seems to be demand outstripping supply. Some people have told me they have waited months for canvas work and eventually canceled the order. Our onsite provider of such services wanted that price plus a fiver per letter for our 22 footer. That would have added a further 90 quid.
 
C&J do off-the-shelf ones which are good value. It'll also give you an idea of what you should be paying.
 
As Duncan says, make your own. My wife has made up covers using a domstic sewing machine. even allowing for buying one you will be quids in. Dodgers are pretty straightforward to make as the stitching is all straight lines. Have a practice first on some scrap material and then go for it. As you get more skilled you will be able to make covers for all sorts of things and save yourself a fortune.
 
Having a hand crank sewing machine on a sailboat can save you a fortune in sail repairs and reinforcement costs.
Many experienced cruisers who have had soft dodgers destroyed by the elements, end up eventually going for a hard dodger. The soft ones are very rarely taken down.
With beaches here littered with broken plastic boats, there is a good source of materials for a hard plastic dodger. One can cut the parts out of an old hull, and stitch and glue the edges together, then build up the fibreglass on the inside, to the thickness of the sides. With a nice, smooth gelcoat already on, it minimizes the grinding needed, as well as the cost.

This also works for other fibreglass projects ,like ice box liners ,etc.
 
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Brent Swain said:
Having a hand crank sewing machine on a sailboat can save you a fortune in sail repairs and reinforcement costs.
Many experienced cruisers who have had soft dodgers destroyed by the elements, end up eventually going for a hard dodger.
Click to expand...

Over here, what you call a dodger is a sprayhood, dodgers to us this side of the pond are on the guard wires - what do you call those?
 
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