Which type of dodger is best?

[coopec]

Not being able to fold the thing down is like owning a sports car and never lowering the hood. I can't understand the obsession with fixed windscreens. To my mind, they just take up deck space and are something else to fall over when you are flaking the mainsail. Plus they look pretty grim too.

Ducks for cover (behind canvas!)

Well I can't "fold the thing down" because my car has a steel hood and I prefer it that way at 100 kph! .
Everything is a compromise I guess,

 

[dunedin]

Not being able to fold the thing down is like owning a sports car and never lowering the hood. I can't understand the obsession with fixed windscreens. To my mind, they just take up deck space and are something else to fall over when you are flaking the mainsail. Plus they look pretty grim too.

Ducks for cover (behind canvas!)

I see your problem - need a stack pack to avoid wasting your life standing flaking the mainsail

 

[RunAgroundHard]

I have seen hard tops with roll down sides and front screens, also hard tops with soft plastic screens at the front which roll down, and roll down sides. I have a similar boat to the OPs, same deck layout. Currently have a spray hood which I fold down when needing better visibility, or if it is dry and warm. If folding down, check the overlap with any cockpit shelf mounted instruments. The cloth folds on mine foul the plotter and require a sail tie to pull clear. Also, consider how you will tie the spray hood down. I have seen mine raise itself in very strong winds, when I took it down to reduce windage at anchor. The sail ties I used to tie it down were stressing the pop studs, better to have had a dedicated fixing on the deck and cockpit to tie it down with. Mine has heavy, tubular stainless frames.

On my own boat I would upgrade (not a priority): a windscreen that can fold down, a hard top that extends back to just in front of the wheel pedestal, soft sides, soft aft section enclosure. The middle strip on the hard top would have a clear strip to see the masthead windex.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

The Scandinavians have this down to a fine art - a fixed windscreen, which is easy to see through in all conditions when on watch, with a foldable canvas sprayhood above. If cruising southern latitudes add a Bimini, in northern latitudes convert that into a full cockpit tent.
I would certainly not venture to sea in a boat like the OPs without a good sprayhood at a minimum.

PS, For the OP, in UK terms the word “dodger” tends to be used more for the canvas panels put along the sides of the cockpit, and the canvas at the front of the cockpit referred to as a “sprayhood”. Like most of boating terms, there are exceptions and disagreements, but that is probably the common usage.

And the solid version also under discussion is usually referred to as a "doghouse" .

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

In my experience of the Caribbean the last place you want an opening is in the top. We spend all our time trying to stay in the shade. Any opening in the top will let the sun in.
That hard sprayhood will provide no shelter from the sun. You can't sit under it. All it is doing is stopping spray and rain from going down the companionway.
We find our long sprayhood fantastic on night passages. You are out of the wind and weather. I can sit on a beanbag with my feet up and read whilst still being able to see the chartplotter all in full shelter.
Lots of boats sail about at anchor. This exposes the cockpit to wind from one side then the other repeatedly. Sitting out in the evening with a drink gets tedious being buffeted by the wind. Even in the Tropics good shelter in the cockpit makes a big difference. We see so many cruisers making for the hot saloon when it rains because their cockpit sprayhoods are poorly designed. You have the opportunity to get this right now if you consider how you intend to use the boat. We rarely see a production boat with a well designed sprayhood allows you to live in comfort in the cockpit. Our Trintella used to have a fixed window like the HRs. We removed it 10 years ago in favour of a soft sprayhood and have never regretted it.

There will be those who will say that you need to be able to see more than just the plotter

 

[geem]

There will be those who will say that you need to be able to see more than just the plotter

We have windows?

 

[Refueler]

There will be those who will say that you need to be able to see more than just the plotter

Memories of the old days .... RAC :

Radar Assisted Collisions

Surprised that AAC is not bandied about yet ....

AIS Assisted Collisions ......

 

[thinwater]

Have you ever found a sailor with a hard top that wishes it was canvas, or weak enough to blow off? Even after storm experience? Seriously, not being sarcastic.

I didn't think so.

 

[geem]

Memories of the old days .... RAC :

Radar Assisted Collisions

Surprised that AAC is not bandied about yet ....

AIS Assisted Collisions ......

With coastal sailing it is essential to keep a constant look out but when you are 100s of miles from land or shipping lanes it becomes less relevant. At night you can't see much anyway. Lights from ships are easily spotted but you wouldn't see a sleeping whale or a half submerged shipping container. From my experience few boats have AIS transpoders in coastal waters. It would be foolhardy to sit behind a sprayhood and not maintain a watch. Fortunately we have large windows and the inclination to get up every 15mins to do a 360 degree eyeball session even 1000nm from land.
We have come across tankers with no AIS on passage

 

[Refueler]

Have you ever found a sailor with a hard top that wishes it was canvas, or weak enough to blow off? Even after storm experience? Seriously, not being sarcastic.

I didn't think so.

Strange - my 'canvas' sprayhood survived the UK Hurricane ... while my Holiday Home on Hayling Island lost its entire roof.

 

[Refueler]

With coastal sailing it is essential to keep a constant look out but when you are 100s of miles from land or shipping lanes it becomes less relevant. At night you can't see much anyway. Lights from ships are easily spotted but you wouldn't see a sleeping whale or a half submerged shipping container. From my experience few boats have AIS transpoders in coastal waters. It would be foolhardy to sit behind a sprayhood and not maintain a watch. Fortunately we have large windows and the inclination to get up every 15mins to do a 360 degree eyeball session even 1000nm from land.
We have come across tankers with no AIS on passage

As an ex Senior Watchkeeping Officer of 17yrs on all manner of ships, 700 to 440,000 ton ..... please tell me about it.

 

[dunedin]

Have you ever found a sailor with a hard top that wishes it was canvas, or weak enough to blow off? Even after storm experience? Seriously, not being sarcastic.

I didn't think so.

Well I think there are a LOT of people who would not want a solid hard top. Most people tend to cruise in coastal waters and in moderate conditions. And many drop the canvas sprayhood frequently to maximise space and enjoy the fine weather.

Very different if (daft enough to be) doing something like the Vendee Globe, hammering through the Southern Ocean at 20+ knots, or going down to Antarctica.
But most folks don’t do that. And even on an Atlantic crossing, we had the sprayhood down all the way, and the Bimini up during daylight hours but down at night,

And most hard tops reduce the space in the cockpit and ease of getting in and out of the cabin, which interferes with sunny day relaxing.

Boats for purposes……

 

[geem]

As an ex Senior Watchkeeping Officer of 17yrs on all manner of ships, 700 to 440,000 ton ..... please tell me about it.

Why? Can't you remember??

 

[Blueboatman]

I like the Amel dodgers

Anything canvas needs restitching and new windows every 4-7 years

 

[geem]

I like the Amel dodgers

Anything canvas needs restitching and new windows every 4-7 years

Mine is 10 years old. Original stitching. Dark colours resist UV best. Stitching can be Gore Tanara. 15 year warranty. Our will be good for many years yet.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

I like the Amel dodgers

Jammie are my favourite ?

 

[RunAgroundHard]

Groan! (-:

 

[Refueler]

Why? Can't you remember??

Ha Ha ....

 

[coopec]

Have you ever found a sailor with a hard top that wishes it was canvas, or weak enough to blow off? Even after storm experience? Seriously, not being sarcastic.

I didn't think so.

No I haven't. Maybe all lost at sea?

That's a worry

 

[coopec]

Well I think there are a LOT of people who would not want a solid hard top. Most people tend to cruise in coastal waters and in moderate conditions. And many drop the canvas sprayhood frequently to maximise space and enjoy the fine weather.

Very different if (daft enough to be) doing something like the Vendee Globe, hammering through the Southern Ocean at 20+ knots, or going down to Antarctica.
But most folks don’t do that. And even on an Atlantic crossing, we had the sprayhood down all the way, and the Bimini up during daylight hours but down at night,

And most hard tops reduce the space in the cockpit and ease of getting in and out of the cabin, which interferes with sunny day relaxing.

Boats for purposes……

I'm with you. Here is an article from Yachting Monthly

Heavy weather sailing: preparing for extreme conditions



Heavy weather sailing