To dodger or not

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nimrod1230

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We, SHMBO and I are trying to decide on dodgers or not on the new to us boat. Pottering around the river over the weekend we realised that most of the bigger boats say 43+ seemed not to sport them where most smaller boats do. We being in the bigger category now wondered why they seem to stop at a certain size range and would be interested in your collective opinion.
 
I would think that probably in bigger boats the cockpit is far enough away from the action that you don't get salt spray in your G & T :D
 
We noticed that in the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark very few boats of any size had dodgers so we tried last year without them. It made no difference to the amount of spray, most of the time, and was noticable how our windage decreased. We are less identifiable at a distance, without our name on the dodgers. We won't bother with them again.
 
nimrod1230 said:
We, SHMBO and I are trying to decide on dodgers or not on the new to us boat. Pottering around the river over the weekend we realised that most of the bigger boats say 43+ seemed not to sport them where most smaller boats do. We being in the bigger category now wondered why they seem to stop at a certain size range and would be interested in your collective opinion.
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I was going to get dodgers for Jumblie until I realised that if I fitted them my crew - aged 4 - wouldn't be able to see anything out of the rather deep cockpit. He's getting quite good at helming, but really needs to see where he's going!

On the few occasions when I've got splashed the wet stuff has come over the top from the front and not over the side, so I don't think dodgers would have helped. Might be good for shelter from the wind, but they're not very high up my list at the moment.
 
Depends on the configuration I think

I had a

19' boat where I never bothered,

34' centre cockpit where we were very glad of them

If you look at pictures of old ships, you'll often see dodgers around the wheel and compass positions!
 
Dodgers - none on the slug

I could do without the windage

they block the view

don't look nice

might change my mind by thetime I get to Scotland though

might even change the boat - who knows

images of slug sans dodgers on the front page of website



d
 
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Didn't have them on the last boat - would've liked them as the helming position is right up against the wires ...
Do have them on this boat -
discernable difference to wind in the cockpit - no ...
does it stop the odd bit of spray - yes
does it offer a little more privacy in the cockpit - yes
Am I identifiable from a distance - yes - the name is on the side.
Am I happy with the Dodgers - overall, yes ..
 
The boat I crewed for many years had dodgers, but when they deteriorated to the point of tatty looking the owner stopped fitting them. By then we had both come practically to the end of serious sailing so it did not matter but I think if we had continued I'd have bought new dodgers myself if he did not.

They'd serve no useful purpose on my little boat but they sure do offer some protection on a 30ft boat cruising offshore.
Maybe not necessary on a really big boat, like eveyone has these days, I would not know.
 
AliM said:
We noticed that in the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark very few boats of any size had dodgers so we tried last year without them. It made no difference to the amount of spray, most of the time, and was noticable how our windage decreased. We are less identifiable at a distance, without our name on the dodgers. We won't bother with them again.
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So what or whom are you hiding from? Easy identification seems a BIG plus to me. No AIS or DSC so my name on the dodgers is the only way people will know who to shout at if I get in their way. It also encourages fellow forumites to drop past & say "hello". I'll never forget Haydn's hail "So you're the famous Searush?" Which I met with a completely blank response until he added that he was MF off the MoBo forum. :D

I also find that Dodgers make the cockpit a LOT more sheltered as well as keeping a bit of spray off. Not noticed the added windage, but I do have a big main sprayhood plus a smaller one on the aft cabin so the dodgers won't add much, especially as the cockipit sides come halfway up them anyway.

I take them off over winter, to minimise damage, but I do miss them.
 
another thread on this a while back....
I 'm a convert to dodgers. BUT, only on up to June or if crossing the channel or further. Back on end Sept'.
Mine have windows along the top half so you can still see out well.
In a bigger boat (e.g. a Moody 38 with central cockpit)they might just help to keep the cockpit a bit cosier as the weather gets cooler but less likely in a high sided caravan like that to get too wet?? :)
 
dylanwinter said:
I could do without the windage
they block the view - don't look nice - might change my mind by the time I get to Scotland though - might even change the boat
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Er, might I suggest....

hebridean1.jpg


:cool:
 
Ubergeekian said:
I was going to get dodgers for Jumblie until I realised that if I fitted them my crew - aged 4 - wouldn't be able to see anything out of the rather deep cockpit. He's getting quite good at helming, but really needs to see where he's going!

.
Click to expand...

You can get transparent ones. we had a set on our current boat when we bought it and they were fine, providing good visibility and shelter. They suffer from the same problems as sprayhood windows in that they scratch easily and over time begin to go opaque. Aesthetically the boat looks better ( I find that standard canvas dodgers can create a "blocky effect" and spoil the lines.
 
Scotty_Twister said:
another thread on this a while back....
I 'm a convert to dodgers. BUT, only on up to June or if crossing the channel or further. Back on end Sept'.
Mine have windows along the top half so you can still see out well.
In a bigger boat (e.g. a Moody 38 with central cockpit)they might just help to keep the cockpit a bit cosier as the weather gets cooler but less likely in a high sided caravan like that to get too wet?? :)
Click to expand...

On my last boat which had a miniature spray hood over the companionway dodgers were almost essential, but on our present centre cockpit with full tent they are but a good way of both showing our name in big letters, and stopping the dog escaping through the gate ways which are not easily covered with netting.
 
Terminology Alert: In many parts of the Anglosphere, "dodger" refers to what is known here as a "spray hood".

What is referred to here as "dodgers" looks to my perhaps unitiated eye to be a rather useless item of canvas, useful perhaps only for shouting your boat's name across the bay (why?). I have never seen them used in other parts of the world and have often puzzled over them.

Do you really have too little windage on your boat, such that you would really want to install these small windage-enhanching sails? [scratching head in puzzlement]
 
I have a 22' boat, which once amazed a ( National Champion dinghy racer owner ) Rival 34 by beating her home after a beat into a solid F6 in the Solent and across Hayling foreshore.

I wouldn't dream of having a sprayhood or dodgers; if in port for more than a short stay a rudimentary boom tent gives privacy and keeps the holiday rain off.

I often think that if sprayhoods and dodgers were GRP, people would sneer at such boats as windage inducing motor-sailing tubs; but as these things are canvas that's quite alright then !

The only advantage I can see is having the name more visible.
 
Picking through these answeres it appears the need to advertise the yachts name is a good reason for some to sport dodgers. In my case the boat has come with the name displayed prominantly in 10inch high gold letters on the hull below the cockpit. Shelter again doesn't feature as a good reason. Increased windage is sighted as a distinct disadvantage but this to me would be far more significant on a smaller boat than a large one? Privacy could be a good reason for fitting if being open to the world worries you. One of the reasons I/we are considering them is the close proximity of the water when healed making the crew nervous and out of sight out of mind may just be worth the effort. Thanks for your thoughts.
 
I don't like dodgers when sailing as I think they look horrible and offer minimal protection as the wind and spray tend to come more from the front when you are moving.

On the other hand, once in port, or at anchor, there are times when the weather is such that you want protection from the sides and the stern. The best thing for this IMHO is a full cockpit tent, ideally with some windows and the ability to leave the leeward side open.

They still look horrible, but well worth it for comfort, protection, a place to dry wet stuff etc.
 
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