Is a dodger a necessity?

[dori47]

We are in the PNW ( Vancouver Island) 27 ft Catalina. When my husband races, he takes the dodger, bimini and bridge off. When we cruise, it goes back on. It cuts the wind, the rain and the splash. We bought the boat with a dodger. We replaced it ( canvas was old and torn) and added the bimini and bridge a few years ago. Cost a bit, but we have the most expensive cheap boat on the planet with all the upgrades that have gone into it .