Keep the Dodger ?

[Jim Cate]

G'Day Butler,

A dodger, especially on a relatively low freeboard, wet boat like yours, is as near to a necessity as anything. Yep, they can interfere with vision and with access to the companionway, but protection from the elements and from the occasional greeny that comes over the bow are easily worth the inconvenience.

Further, since they are custom made and fitted to each boat, the chances of selling it are pretty slim.

So, another vote for keeping it!

Cheers,

Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II lying Morning Cove, NSW, Oz

[slomotion]

Also, when anchored in the tropics, you spend most of your awake on-the-boat-time in the cockpit. You want it to be as comfortable as possible. Not only does a dodger help keep the rain out, but it also enhances your shade protection. You may want to cover the windows now and then, but that’s easy to do. A Bimini alone is not enough. Without a dodger you will either be jury rigging tarps or very uncomfortable and probably burned.

[Butler]

itsempaticalyunanimous! Keep the Getinthewayer! Glad I asked, probably would have been an expensive lesson. Thanks everybody!

[MarkJ]

We hate them! Mind you we don't have one. If we did we would love it.

But they need to fold down when its nice

Even in the trpoics the trade winds in anchorages can be too much for comfort for cockpit cocktails.


Mark

[hummingway]

I was out sailing with a buddy today. He hates them too. Calls them aquariums. I froze my ass off. I think he would love one if he had one too. Mine folds up in various stages as required. I think I'll keep it!

[seandepagnier]

call me crazy but I dont have one and I sailed nude in January in the rain in 35knots. I took some brine to the face as well, but after a few hours I got a little cold


I'm curious to try one anyway, because I want to convert the front half of my cockpit into a greenhouse, and I need it to protect the plants from salt spray. I am thinking about using clear plastic or plexiglass, and it would have sides so waves from all directions would be blocked. I have never seen a clear bimi, does anyone make those?

[barnakiel]

Sure get rid of it! It is unsightly and un-seamanlike too!

And then get sunburnt, cold & wet, all at the same time, all in style.

I would (rather) not go offshore in a boat without one.

barnie

[Minggat]

Originally Posted by geckosenator

I'm curious to try one anyway, because I want to convert the front half of my cockpit into a greenhouse, and I need it to protect the plants from salt spray. I am thinking about using clear plastic or plexiglass, and it would have sides so waves from all directions would be blocked. I have never seen a clear bimi, does anyone make those?

A canvas guy can build you anything you want. A good one would probably try to talk you out of that though.

You want to go from having no dodger to having a greenhouse? Unless you never plan to leave the dock, I'm thinking that going to the effort to build something to protect plants from salt spray would seem ... a lot of trouble... to say the least.