How to fasten dodgers

White cable ties, just remember to cut the ends off flush with a sharp knife otherwisw you'll cut yourself on the sharp edge left if cut with pliers.
 
Shamaya said:
How to fasten dodgers neetly and properly?
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If using cord the best way is to pass the cord through one of the holes from the outside, loop it around the guardwire and then back out through the same hole. From there it then goes along the outside of the dodger along to the next hole. Looks very neat when done this way. It then simply gets lashed with a round turn and 2 half hitches at either end when pulled tight.
 
ctva said:
White cable ties, just remember to cut the ends off flush with a sharp knife otherwisw you'll cut yourself on the sharp edge left if cut with pliers.
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not happy with cable ties: they degrade very rapidly in UV light.
 
Second the bungee method; there are those who have bent stanchions in heavy weather when a sea has come aboard and hit the dodgers.
 
TiggerToo said:
not happy with cable ties: they degrade very rapidly in UV light.
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As I take the dodgers off every winter, I've never found this a problem. Infact, I've some white ones that have been outside for a few years and still function. Mind you we get less UV in Scotland! :)
 
ctva said:
As I take the dodgers off every winter, I've never found this a problem. Infact, I've some white ones that have been outside for a few years and still function. Mind you we get less UV in Scotland! :)
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Agreed. White ones last a whole season even in the SW. Easiest and neatest solution. The traditional way with line takes ages and then the tension is always wrong somewhere. Shock cord at the bottom & corners sounds a useful idea.
 
I have used cord and cable ties for the top edge at different times and they both have advantages and disadvantages as mentioned already. Along the bottom edge, the builder fitted lacing hooks along the gunwale and rubber tent guy tensioners (mushroom head one end, ring the other) are used to attach to them.

After the winter weather and associated gales had (mostly) finished, half the cable ties had snapped, but I wasn't too surprised.

Rob.
 
I made my own dodgers. The top edge is a large folded over 'pocket' which sleeves the top guardwire. On the guardwire is split 1/2" PVC pipe and over that about 3" pipe insulation. Makes a very comfy backrest when sitting on the coamings. Sides and bottom corners are terylene tape loops held to the stanchions with black cable ties. Never had a cable tie fail.
 
Hermit said:
If using cord the best way is to pass the cord through one of the holes from the outside, loop it around the guardwire and then back out through the same hole. From there it then goes along the outside of the dodger along to the next hole. Looks very neat when done this way. It then simply gets lashed with a round turn and 2 half hitches at either end when pulled tight.
Click to expand...
Cable ties - are a dodgy way of dealing with dodgers. I think it looks naff - but each to their own.

The lacing method as described is good, but an even better way is to pass the cord back round itself before you move onto the next eye. The cord stays on the one side of the dodger, except where is passes through each eye and round the guard wire and then back behind itself before moving onto the next eye. Top edge done in that way, and then put bungee on the bottom edge in case of heavy weather. I have had waves sweep the deck and rip a dodger in the past, and bungee on the bottom edge is a very good idea.
 
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