Spray Hood - Up or Down?

[BlueSkyNick]

We seem to be in the minority in that we keep the hood folded down all the time we are on the boat, except for 2 occasions this summer.

The first was while in the marina to keep a short spell of rain out of the cabin with the hatch open for ventilation. The second was because we had no option but to motorsail into a F4 but with the tide. (won't bore you with the details)

All the rest of the time we prefer to keep the hood down, mainly because

1. it is easier to communicate whilst coming alongside or leaving the pontoon, marina lock, picking up a mooring, or anchoring.

2. We enjoy the feeling of the wind when we are sailing, rather than hiding away - its all part of the reason for going sailing.

3. It is easier to see where we are going, particularly in confined spaces, and SWMBO's only little.

4. Being of larger than normal dimensions, I find it easier to get up and down the companionway steps.

So I don't understand why most other boats are sailing around with their hoods up in light winds, and under sunny skies.

Is it me?

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[Mirelle]

Can I vote for DOWN!

Actually, we don't have one at all. I actually ordered one, and paid for it, but what with one thing and another it never got made and after a couple of years I cancelled the order!

There is one point that I would like to add - if the sprayhood is up, it reverses the normal flow of ventilation in the cabin - not normally a problem, but don't try to light a stove, or a cabin heater, at sea with the sprayhood up - the cabin is an area of relative low pressure with the hood up and it will fill with smoke that should have gone out of the flue!

Lying at anchor (in normal type places!) we have come close to being sideswiped several times by boats motoring with the hood up and I am sure this is most people's experience!

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[tony_brighton]

Re: Can I vote for DOWN!

We sail with ours up on hot sunny days because it provides a bit of shelter from the sun. We only tend to drop it when coming alongside for reasons of visibilty or to reduce windage.

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[dulcibella]

Re: Can I vote for DOWN!

A friend with a new-ish boat won't put the hood down for fear of creating hard spots and ultimately cracks in the window. I'm taller than him and still need to stand on the locker to see over the thing. When I see him coming, I get out of the way.

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[Aeolus_IV]

Not down, gone!

We took the spray hood off the boat when we bought it - was rotten anyway. I prefer the cleaner look of the boat, and the fact that I can now sit in the cockpit and see along the boat and ahead clearly.

Jeff.

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[DavidBolger]

Up for cruising, down for racing and coming alongside

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[Metabarca]

verdict...

1 sprayhood bad, no sprayhood good!
Now how's that for a bit of yottie snobbishness; the sprayhoodbeclad yobbo doesn't even know he should feel inferior as you zoom past, the wind tousling your hair!


P.S. no sprayhood on my boat, no siree!

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[jimi]

I keep mine up all the time except when mooring up in strong wind. If sailing downwind then the extra windage can only help and if upwind, when it does adversely affect sailng performance, quite frankly I'd rather have the shelter.
Never found it a hindrance to communication and stops you faliing down the hatch when zipping up the stac pac cover!

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[jimi]

I keep mine up all the time except when mooring up in strong wind. If sailing downwind then the extra windage can only help and if upwind, when it does adversely affect sailng performance, quite frankly I'd rather have the shelter.
Never found it a hindrance to communication and stops you faliing down the hatch when zipping up the stac pac cover!

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[tome]

This weekend was fairly typical. Hood up to windward or raining, down off the wind. Down if SWMBO is helming in a tight spot (she can't see over the top), always up in port. Stowing the main is easier with it down but I don't always bother. I prefer the look of the boat with the hood down and can then see what looks like acres of uncluttered teak (just threw this in for snob value as we don't have a blue ensign).

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[Twister_Ken]

Up

Up, unless hotnsunny.

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[Evadne]

I bet if you look back 20-30 years in the yotti press you'll find exactly the same sentiments expressed over dodgers, and even guardrails. Personally I wouldn't entertain a sprayhood as it spoile the lines of the boat and probably makes her sail much worse, but I wouldn't give up my dodgers, which are nearly as bad, doubling the freeboard as they do.

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[bedouin]

We have ours down most of the time in the Solent for reasons of visibility. If you ever see us coming towards you with it up then I would advise you to get out of the way since the chances are we can't see you.

The two occasions it is essential are when it's raining - to enable us to keep the hatch open without getting too much water in the saloon - and when going to windward in heavy seas when it provides some protection from the odd wave that comes over the top

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[Aeolus_IV]

Re: verdict...

Never realised we were snobs, besides, to make what remains of my hair flow in the breeze reqires a veritable gale /forums/images/icons/smile.gif.

Jeff.

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[Twister_Ken]

Dodgers, now there's something I can't abide.

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[Evadne]

Re: dodgers

Ken, are you're sure you're not confusing the little bits of canvas with the name of the boat on with the tight sods who never pay for their round?

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[graham]

What you need is a deck sweeping genoa and a nice pair of dodgers ,then you cant see to windward or to leeward.But at least your hairdo wont get ruffled.



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[sailorman]

here,here.
it seems that if u have the hood up u must have your fenders down.
or is it the new fashion or people new to boating or perhaps from the norfolk broads

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[sailorman]

if u also have the rubber-dubber "inflated" up the transon/backstay that keeps the wind out of your neck & u can hide from everybody

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[andy_wilson]

Always down unless

Moored up to keep the weather off the hatch or beating into a load of crap.

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