new spray dodger

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jiris

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My spray dodger was due for a replacement for some time already and a recent hailstorm finished it off for good. Anew one needed fast. I contacted a few Australian suppliers and ended up with quotes I could easily take for phone numbers if there wasn't the "$" sign in front them.
I heard some people had the job done by some Asian manufacturers, much cheaper and of very good quality. Anybody can recommend?
 
Sadly will probabally not be a standard item ,
If you can't find the original manufacturer ,who may have the pattern still. then the better route,
would be best to get one custom made.
Alternatively ,You could always make a pattern yourself, it's quite simple to set up the frame and use double
sided tape and polythene .
Draw the panels along the bars with a felt tip marker..mark Windows and fixings etc .Provide enough info for someone to cut and create a new one .
That way you have a choice and can send the pattern to another manufacturer to make up the dodger.
 
In the UK a spray hood with frame will cost between £1-1500 depending on size and complexity. Just the canvaswork fitted to an existing frame would be a bout 70% of that.

Making one is skilled work and very labour intensive and to ensure that it fits properly needs to be made and fitted individually, although if the person making it has made one exactly the same before to fit the same boat and frame there may be saving in measurement and fitting.

Personally I would not buy from Asia (or anywhere other than locally) as any savings in labour are likely to offset in quality and fit, never mind the difficulty of buying remotely. However if the Asian company has an agent where you are who will do the measuring and fitting locally it might be worth a try.

If you really want to do it on the cheap, buy a suitable sewing machine and dIY using the best materials you can find.
 
I assume you have the old cover which can be used as the pattern for the new.

You could use this as a basis for a new cover made in Asia, Lee Sails in HK comes to mind, but consider also Pryde (also in HK). Mention to both, or either, you have the basis for a pattern. I would not end them the old cover, but make paper pattern to send. I assume the climate did not destroy the frame.

We would make it ourselves, Sunbrella is freely available from importers and they usually stock thread and things like press studs and eyelets (and the one we buy from (Botany) is free with advice. You do need a decent sewing machine - and our best one is an old fashioned, hand, Singer dated 1937. Making a spray hood is not particularly big job.

Jonathan
 
Tranona said:
In the UK a spray hood with frame will cost between £1-1500 depending on size and complexity. Just the canvaswork fitted to an existing frame would be a bout 70% of that.

Making one is skilled work and very labour intensive and to ensure that it fits properly needs to be made and fitted individually, although if the person making it has made one exactly the same before to fit the same boat and frame there may be saving in measurement and fitting.

Personally I would not buy from Asia (or anywhere other than locally) as any savings in labour are likely to offset in quality and fit, never mind the difficulty of buying remotely. However if the Asian company has an agent where you are who will do the measuring and fitting locally it might be worth a try.

If you really want to do it on the cheap, buy a suitable sewing machine and dIY using the best materials you can find.
Click to expand...

+1 yes it is very expensive , I appreciate your in Aus but for comparison in price it might help you compare my new hood fitted this summer cost me £1700 this included X3 travel expanses of £250.
The hood was specialized to my boat ,but the craftsmanship was beautiful and well made and fitted , so I suppose it will always come down to quality or cost, and there is a curve , when the quality one will out last the poor second and then you have to pay for another .
Hee Hee not much help but a conundrum for you
 
Just looking for a new sprayhood to go on our frame and so far have been priced between £750 and £1000. 3 bar frame on a 35 footer.
 
Try looking at C J Marine website in UK, they have a database of sprayhoods they have patterns for.

I am ordering on for my Bavaria 38 Holiday based in Med!
 
Thanks for the link! The bimini photo he has on his listing looks very much like mine and the price (including both postages) is less than 3/4 of the best quote I got in Australia. Also, it looks like I can have it faster! Looks almost too good to be true, I contacted the guy already and waiting for answer now.
 
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