{"id":994,"date":"1999-11-30T00:00:00","date_gmt":"1999-11-30T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/setsail.com\/?p=994"},"modified":"2015-10-16T12:11:38","modified_gmt":"2015-10-16T17:11:38","slug":"hard-dodgers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/setsail.com\/hard-dodgers\/","title":{"rendered":"Hard Dodgers"},"content":{"rendered":"
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We cruised the Pacific for 5 years from LA to NZ, Japan & Aleutians with a standard s\/s frame & Sunbrella soft dodger. Our boat is center cockpit, glass construction.<\/p>\n

I’m looking for suggestions on materials and approach to getting a hard dodger built–and looking less ugly than most. A friend used 1\/8″ ply with glass & epoxy on his s\/s dodger frame but this core bends in only 1 direction and is hard to form-fit. I’m wondering if aluminum is a better choice.<\/p>\n

I’d like an opening in the front but nothing hinged–more like a removable panel that can be swapped with a panel of standard dodger window material. Zippers can leak under pressure–so a zippered panel might not be the answer? Any suggestions appreciated.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

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Hi Jeff: You pose some tough questions. First, an aesthetic hard dodger is an oxymoron–simply not possible in less than 75 feet or so, unless you have a very deep cockpit.<\/p>\n

Re zippers, look at the detailed photos in Offshore Cruising Encyclopedia and you find a “flapped” zipper detail which actually works rather well at keeping zippers from leaking excessively.<\/p>\n

As to the dodger itself, this is very much dependent on the skills of the contractors in your area. If you have good metal workers, aluminum can be a good choice, although somewhat heavy. If you’ve got woodworkers, go for a laminated top. Easy to execute over a quickie mold, and light.<\/p>\n

Send us some photos of what you end up with. Regards–Steve<\/p>\n

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