Soft Dodger or Hard Dodger - Pros / Cons

[Duke 48]

Thanks to all who responded to my thread. The admiral and I really appreciate the input. All things considered from our prospective it looks like we will go with a hard dodger.Again many thanks.
Duke

[Seahunter]

Good choice.

[Duke 48]

Thanks to the feedback from this forum, our boat will soon have a hard dodger.
Duke

[barnakiel]

Fantastic.

I too want to convert to hard screens with perhaps a soft extension - HR style. I can make my own soft sprayhood for less than 100 bucks but I hate how the soft windows get less and less clear over time. I also found that hard windows give way better visibility in rain/spray flying.

Cheers,
b.

[SabreKai]

I'm of a mind to make a solid frame from stainless with a permanent top and removable side and front panels. While I like the shape of the soft top I have now, I need a good solid set of hand holds on back edge and the flexible frame just wont cut it. I have a curved wave breaker just forward of the cockpit, and that curved dodger in the photo album with the developed cad patterns would be a nice second choice if I were to go all solid.

[Duke 48]

It wan't that difficult to make. If you decide you need more info let me know.
Duke

[Charlie]

Duke yours looks great. I am making mine and have been for 6 months. Life keeps getting in the way. I think that the perfect material for a hardodger is starboard. I used 1/4" over the bows of the previously installed soft dodger. It took two pieces of 1/4" and one piece of 3/4" I have not completed it yet because other more urgent items keep on interfering plus I don't like cutting the materials at the dock because it is plastic and I don't want the tailings to go into the ocean. Here are some pix of mine https://picasaweb.google.com/1100267...CMjZrqvWsZmCCw

[estarzinger]

our dodger . . .

[gbanker]

as past owners of an HR53 we found the hard dodger/bimini hot at anchor in the caribbean but were happy to have it when passage making.

[Jimbo485]

Now THAT is a dodger, Evans!!!

[Duke 48]

Charlie,
your dodger is looking good. I'm envious.
Duke

[Charlie]

Originally Posted by gbanker

as past owners of an HR53 we found the hard dodger/bimini hot at anchor in the caribbean but were happy to have it when passage making.

I am planning on having the middle window of the dodger be operable. This makes a big difference in the comfort during warm weather but it complictes the build considerably.

[Sabbatical II]

I've been trying unsuccessfully to upload the photo a 42' boat my friend has just bought new with what I think is a really hot one piece dodger / binimi that flows into the rear arch with huge solar panels on top. I did manage to upload it to the photo section however under Monohull Sailboats. Tell me what you think of it. The caption says Gallery Large 420rs 38 1 (becuae that's how its filed on my PC)

[Duke 48]

Eleebana, This is definitely different from any I have seen before. It gives me some ideas for what I might do later on. However, one of the issues I have is the traveler is mounted on the bridge-deck. So, it would be impossible for me to make a solid connection between the dodger and the binimi without relocating the traveler.
Duke

[Sabbatical II]

Originally Posted by Duke 48

Eleebana, This is definitely different from any I have seen before. It gives me some ideas for what I might do later on. However, one of the issues I have is the traveler is mounted on the bridge-deck. So, it would be impossible for me to make a solid connection between the dodger and the binimi without relocating the traveler.
Duke

Your correct although the same company that built the yacht in the photo will also build boats with the traveller mounted on an overhead arch with some similarities to the set up seen on some Hunter yachts. Being custom build they can do whatever you want. However as a retro fit it does give you more work to do.

Greg