The longer you cruise, the more important crew protection becomes. This applies to cold and wet, and to sun.

Trade offs include:

• Access to running rigging and winches.
• Headroom inside.
• Sightlines from external helms over/through the cockpit cover.
• Heavy weather capability.
• Aesthetics (placed last for this discussion).

There are lots more details in our Offshore Cruising Encyclopedia. A few photos follow of different approaches observed in Lerwick, Shetland Islands.

The preceding photo and this (above) show a dodger integrated with a fixed windshield. This is a favorite Scandinavian approach. Works well in cool areas, but lack of air flow is a detriment in the tropics.

Another dodger/windshield combo.

Both have side and aft access. The blue fabric will be extremely hot in the tropics.

A more sea-going affair, with basic protection for two crew. Note the rolled up awning section at the aft end of the dodger which secures to the radar arch.

The companionway hatch shown above is found on a lot of French yachts. It eliminates the vulnerability of washboards.

Fixed windshield, laced on sun/rain cover, integrated with radar arch. Nice setup for moderate weather, but one good wave and the cockpit would be a tangle of stainless pipe. But for relatively moderate conditions it will work well.