Monday, August 27, 2012

Dodger Phase I Complete

If I haven't mentioned it before, our dodger is being built with a three-bow dodger kit from Sailrite. We bought the kit because it was cheaper than buying all the pieces separately that we needed, but the resemblance stops there. The Sailrite kit has a single window that goes around the front with no openings, and we wanted ours to have three window pieces that completely zip out so that you could have just the free-standing top up, the top and the side windows, the top, one side and the front...well you get it. The only problem is that there's no pattern for that design that I've been able to find for our boat. So basically we're designing it from scratch with a little help from our friend Thorsten and his trimaran, Greyhound. Thorsten has the perfect dodger with the panels just the way we want it so I've been burning a path down Jost Van Dock between our two boats, taking copious amounts of pictures, measuring, and taking notes. I finished the sewing on the top this weekend, so I'm declaring that phase I, and declaring it complete. What do you think?

































The folding struts from Sailrite give it the added advantage of being able to fold either back, for loading on provisions from the side ladder, or forward, although I'm not sure why we would need to do that, since in a large storm we would probably take it off altogether.






This weekend is phase II, the front window panels. I admit to being only cautiously optimistic about completing that phase without having to purchase something to replace a screwup on my part. Cross your fingers...and maybe your toes too?

















6 comments:

Bill K said...

When I fold mine forward there is a cover that goes around the bows and material and then zips closed.

Bill Kelleher

SailFarLiveFree said...

Looks great! Is the gap between the two tops for the mainsheet? Also, looks like you left a viewing window in the aft bimini to check the sails, right? I've thought about replacing our unframed bimini with something more substantial. I'll have to check out SailRite's options.

Deb said...

You're right, the gap is for the mainsheet. We're going to sew a bridge to zip in there when we're at anchor. The aft bimini came with the window already in it. We did do the rigid bar conversion to get rid of the straps which made it much sturdier. We hope someday to have the time and money to make a whole cockpit enclosure. Time...money...yeah that may be awhile.

Robert Salnick said...

I sure hop you are using that expensive lifetime teflon thread - the other stuff last about 8 years - and that's here in the cloudy, rainy PNW. It's really disappointing to have all the thread failing when the fabric and the windows are still in really good condition.

And zippers - any zipper that is exposed to the sun will be shedding white dust each time it is operated in about the same time. That dust is the teeth disintegrating...

bob

Deb said...

Bob,I'm using V-92 thread and YKK#10 zippers. Re-stitching dodgers and biminis is just a part of sailing life. You usually have to do it 4 or 5 times in the life of the canvas. That's another reason I wanted the three removable panels in the front, to make it easier to re-stitch the window panels.

Unknown said...

Deb,

It's Jacob from Yacht Blogs. I saw your recent comment on Taru and Alex's blog. Can you send me an email? Jacob@yachtblogs.com.

Thank you.