Fixing on dodgers - how?

[Scotty_Tradewind]

I have some dodgers, which I dislike using, but want to attach/unattach them to stanchions and wires quickly without using elastcated ties with knots.
What fixings would be advised to go through the dodger eyelets and onto the wires and stanchions?

 

[FullCircle]

We take ours off once a season, and use tie-wraps.
Doesn't really answer your question, but i am trying to increase my posting rate.

 

[Evadne]

I just use string. 5 minutes to put up, 30 seconds to remove.
Or you could use the U clips that you get on sail slides.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

quality not quantity so my wife tells me! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Gwylan]

Cheapest possible cable ties - then you can break them off easily if it becomes necessary

 

[FullCircle]

[ QUOTE ]
Cheapest possible cable ties - then you can break them off easily if it becomes necessary

[/ QUOTE ]

And then strong winds will carry away your expensive dodgers, when you arent on the boat.....

 

[Lakesailor]

Don't use them then.
Just ensure the crew is on the windward side.

 

[fireball]

[ QUOTE ]
but i am trying to increase my posting rate

[/ QUOTE ]
That's a down right dirty trick .....

 

[smeaks]

i use cable ties with no problem, alomst lost a dodger once using nylon 4mm line. also find they give rather than the doger when severly overpressed! once the pressure is off the submerged part of the dodger the remaining ties held fine.... with twine the dodger ripped last time.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

i've used string for years, but have gone with cable ties this time..... after a good few hundred miles, no problems to report!

 

[Evadne]

Sounds like you got the good ones. We bought some cheap cable ties (for work), from CPC, and they went brittle after being left in the sun for a few weeks. You can get re-usable ones, and some that are labelled as weathering resistant, but the best of all are the American Ty-Wraps, which have a stainless steel tang.

 

[saxonpirate]

As with many things to do with sailing there are numerous ideas/methods of securing dodgers. I think I must have tried them all. Single line, double line, cable ties...bungy. I think it depends a lot on the sort of sailing you undertake. For offshore work where there's more than a possibility of catching a green one, I now use a light single line through the top eyelets and a single bungy line through the bottom eyes. The theory being that if you do catch a heavy one, the line will break the bungy will stretch and you wont carry away your lifelines, stanchion bases and just about anything else that's attached to them. I speak from experience because that's exactly what happened to me once off the coast of NW Spain. The single line method is quick for removal too, just undo one end and pull it through.

 

[Gordonmc]

Plastic shower curtain rings from B&Q.
Better that cable ties 'cos you don't need a knife to remove them and there are no sharp tails.

 

[oceanpilgrim]

hi i use 4mm bungy,when it gets to windy thay blow out letting the air out,but back to the question..camping and general at canvey island do stainless clips that work great i belive thay are for fly sheets on tent's,

 

[Miker]

I've used a single line for over ten years without any problem. I switched to cable ties this season and have replaced ones at each end already. The ties broke at the clip end. I might try larger ties wrapped around twice, when I get around to buying some.

 

[Seafort]

Single line here too.

Hard pressed is the toerail under. Dodgers, SWMBO would kill me.

P.S.
If you use cable ties, cut the tongue off with a Stanly Knife (wear gloves). Side cutters leave a nasty edge which just happens to bite you eventually.

Dave

 

[Cornishmuttley]

My dodgers are a complete pain near the stern. The winches are outboard of the cockpit and the dodgers prevent use of the genoa. So the dodgers get tied up out of the way when we sail! SWMBO likes them as they keep the wind off!

 

[Spyro]

Black cable ties are more resistant to UV and don't go brittle and break. Rather than nipping off the excess end with wire cutters use a stanley knife and cut the end flush leaving no sharp edges.

 

[alahol2]

Our dodgers (homemade) are sewn with a 'tube' along the top edge. Onto the lifeline goes a 1" dia poly pipe. Onto the poly pipe goes a length of 3" pipe insulation wrapped every foot or so with gaffer tape. The dodger then slides on over the top of everything. Result is a dodger that can't be lost unless you cut the lifelines and a very comfy backrest to lean against. The other corners are tied with black cable ties, as Spyro says, they don't get brittle in the UV. They only get taken off/on once a year.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

I know what you mean about getting a big lump of the green stuff into the cockpit and one thing a Twister is not and that's a dry boat.
After your comments I will probably not use cable ties all round. Perhaps along the top edge but elsewhere it sounds as if I need ties that will give in the event of the big wave which seems to happen every time I go accross the channel at least once in a trip.
Never having used dodgers before I had a 'number dodger' fitted for the Round The Island race recently and boy are they horrid. So to at least see the sea a bit I decided to have the top half of the full dodgers 'see through'. I have also had a big space made available with a cutout portion for the genoa sheet so it is all a compromise for comfort v. liking. I can see that during those cold evenings with a chilly wind on the beam it will be of use. SWMBO will surely like it so needs must.
One other thing I'm having fitted is a slide in see through pocket to fit my laminated SSR no. into so I don't need to paint it on the boat and the boats name is stencilled on too. After all the agro a few people have had going to France without boat ID being evident, I felt I should comply. No need to invite the frogs to wish to see all my papers . /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
I do like Alans comfy sounding piping affair, but you can go so far and things get too permanent and most of the time I can see thay will be rolled up and stowed, coming out just on the long trips. I'm a fresh air and a clear view freak i guess as i cannot stand the spray hood up until there is a real need.
Gordons shower rail thinghys may do for the bottom fixing or the thin bungy as they may come off or give way reasonably easily. I will drop in to B&Q and looksee.
Thanks all for your suggestions.
scotty