I am in the planning stage of getting a dodger made for my boat.
I will do the metal work myself but would like opinions as to the best material to use for the cover
It will have a clear window section as per usual but i would like the remainder to be in white as its only a small boat and i dont want it to stand out too much
I was advised by the trimmer that the light colored sunbrella can mark very easily and difficult to keep clean
I will ask about something more waterproof and easier to keep clean but just wondered what the more experienced would suggest
The boat , being a trailer sailer is normally kept on its trailer in a shed and under a tarp so that may help to keep it clean and protected from the elements 99% of its life
Any other ideas would be great

I had a light coloured dodger. It was badly stained by the seagulls. It rotted away so I have a dark blue new one.

Find a canvas worker that deals with Herculite products, absolutely brilliant products and I think you will find the same. Many years ago we used one of their products to make trap harnesses, unfortunately the name of what we used escapes me at the moment.

Light colours also attract mold or should I say, shows the mold. Mold is even worse when under cover in cold climate. Stick to blue or grey.
John

Thanks for the input and seems the Herculite range would be great
I suspect i am not a fan of the open weave acrylic canvas " sunbrella" type materials and prefer an upholstered soft and supple material such as marine hooding pvc , vinyl polyester backed fabric
something waterproof that can be scrubbed and has the right amount of stretch for a smooth and wrinkle-free fabrication
At the same time i dont want a material that will harden and fracture over time , but i doubt this would be a problem with a good quality material given it sees less than 350 hours of sun per annum the rest of the time it is covered , aired and dry
I have a few days to think it over so any thoughts , experiences would be appreciated.

Hi Madmission. Lately around here there's been a spate of advertising awnings being stolen off
fences etc, very annoying for the folks that paid for them but I often wander
if the people who pinch them are making up dodgers and biminis and the like.
I'm not suggesting that you become one of the 'night people' but they must
be using them for something.

sam with due respect i am building a dodger not a dodgy

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madmission said..
sam with due respect i am building a dodger not a dodgy

River runners sam Ha Ha

I think what you are making is actually called a spray hood. A dodger is the t flat cloths tied to the lifelines next to cockpit. For a trailer sailer a spray hood can make access to the foredeck tricky due to narrow side decks. Also, few t/s have a hatch garage, so the front of the hood needs to be supported somehow over the hatch.

Mates had no trouble with his material Mad mission

Thanks HG
I do like that white upholstered look
Unfortunately after building an appropriate bender and rigging the boat and offering up a sample to check clearances it seems my somewhat low boom is going to restrict the functionality
So i have decided to build a sample one from aluminum tube and a reinforced woven plastic sheet we use in greenhouse construction to see if it is viable to have a professionally made cover made
my options may be
1. build a taller mast and lift gooseneck (loosechange do you still have that stingray rig ?)
2. Invest in some better wet weather gear
Unfortunately i cannot change the conditions i sail in and only have time to sail may - december

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madmission said..
Thanks HG
I do like that white upholstered look
Unfortunately after building an appropriate bender and rigging the boat and offering up a sample to check clearances it seems my somewhat low boom is going to restrict the functionality
So i have decided to build a sample one from aluminum tube and a reinforced woven plastic sheet we use in greenhouse construction to see if it is viable to have a professionally made cover made
my options may be
1. build a taller mast and lift gooseneck (loosechange do you still have that stingray rig ?)
2. Invest in some better wet weather gear
Unfortunately i cannot change the conditions i sail in and only have time to sail may - december

As far as I know that Stingray mast is still at my old place.

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LooseChange said..

madmission said..
Thanks HG
I do like that white upholstered look
Unfortunately after building an appropriate bender and rigging the boat and offering up a sample to check clearances it seems my somewhat low boom is going to restrict the functionality
So i have decided to build a sample one from aluminum tube and a reinforced woven plastic sheet we use in greenhouse construction to see if it is viable to have a professionally made cover made
my options may be
1. build a taller mast and lift gooseneck (loosechange do you still have that stingray rig ?)
2. Invest in some better wet weather gear
Unfortunately i cannot change the conditions i sail in and only have time to sail may - december

As far as I know that Stingray mast is still at my old place.

My old sting ray is in Townsville some where great sail boat

HG02, your dodger looks great. How do you get on operating the handle on the winch?

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HaveFun said..
HG02, your dodger looks great. How do you get on operating the handle on the winch?

this photo is a mates H28 not mine Have fun . I guess he half winds Ill ask him next time I catch up

Where the winch is located is located would be the original position when first sold back in the 70's and hes fitted a self tailing which as a replacement . One mine its much the same and has a cleat astern of the winch . If I ever replace mine Ill moveit further back after you brought that up thanks