Cost of a Dodger

[Navicula]

I built this one last year...i and my wife are really please and its held up really well in some 40 knot plus winds....
there is an aluminum track that I made then I fiberglassed it....once the frame was made I made a mould out of sheetmetal and wood for the curved plexi....I bought three sheets of 9 mil tinted plexi (Acrylic) and made my own oven out of some duct work...I heated it to 400 degrees with propane and layed it on my mould to made the bend...
I inserted the plexi into the track and I used dow 295 black to fix it into place

it was really kind of easy and it would be even easier to do it a second time if I had to....I had a fun time doing it and I have recieved may compliments and interest...

so how much did it cost???.....probably as much as it would have cost to get a soft dodger built....the plexi alone was 750 dollars.....plus caulking...aluminum track....west system epoxy and cloth

[SVTatia]

Originally Posted by chouliha

LOL Bang head here —— didn’t look at how old the thread is.

Check https://www.jacarandajourney.com/other-good-stuff Then under “Cruising Ideas and Tips” choose #9 Building a Hard Dodger.

Cheers

Chuck

Well done Chuck. Looks really good and our boat (actually all Allieds) have a relatively narrow beam which makes it a challenge to arrive at a good design. You nailed it.

[deluxe68]

Originally Posted by jump12k

Does anyone know where to go for a dodger frame and canvas near Annapolis, MD.? I see some of the costs involved here...Are we talking just the canvas or frame as well?
I am starting from scratch....what's the ball park total for stainless frame and canvas?

I got an online quote from "The Canvas Store" in NY for $1800 just for the canvas replacement. But got no reply from them when I asked about a warranty. They insisted they specialized in customers mailing in the old canvas so they did not have to visit the boat.

I only got one preliminary quote for a different outfit coming to the boat and installing a new frame/canvas and it was $6,000. I read somewhere that the average time for a shop to sew up a new dodger was 40 hrs machine time.

[Group9]

I priced out a dodger for a 42 Catalina a couple of years ago at the place down here that is generally considered as the one doing the best work. They wanted $3200, but after they looked at my dodger, felt my Sunbrella was in good condition and priced it at $1600 for new Eisenglass and stitching, and repair.

We went the cheaper route, and it came back looking brand new.

[thomm225]

I had my dodger replaced this past Spring.

It was $1200. I think it would have been $1500 if I had them replace the old aluminum frame with stainless but I stayed with that old frame

This on a Bristol 27. VA Beach area.

[Poche]

I replaced the dodger canvas on my 33 foot Cheoy Lee a couple months ago. The one inch diameter stainless frame was just ok but I used it.
Canvas was Recacril, equivalent to Sunbrella. About $300 for the top and covers.
Four half width zippers about $7 each.
Used a medium priced plastic window material with no middle roll up, $130.
Pattern material, $30.
Painters tape $5. Special solvent to remove tape glue left on the windows $30.
Fasteners about $30.
Strap webbing and fittings about $30.
Marine grade naughahyde about $25 for the aft trailing end.
Labor about 50 hours at $15 per hour $750.
That's about all I can think of.
Total $1358 does not include shipping costs and sales purchase taxes, so probably around $1500.
Also, does not include parts chasing, ordering time and research.
My rough guess is that a good quality custom canvas shop would have charged me $2500 to $3000.
Add another $100 for Strataglass.
I would not attempt it without an industrial machine or Sailrite walking foot. Add $1000 for the Sailrite machine but you could recoup probably eighty percent by selling it after the project.
I would definitely do it again. In fact, my neighbor is having me do his.
The Tenara thread is a good idea but I didn't use it because I can easily re-stitch it myself in the future. Add $40 for the Tenara, probably.
Labor time will come down, of course, doing another.
I've been sewing canvas covers for 20 years off and on, non-professional. I would not recommend for someone starting out.
For a wild comparison, Sailrite has a kit for a smaller dodger, about $800 just the canvas part.