Best way to lower a Dodger

[rpwillia]

My dodger is the Catalina Factory Dodger which is the exact perfect height that when I stand at the helm it is right in my line of sight, So I would like to drop it around an inch. My thinking is that if I cut the 4 support poles an inch each that should be enough to drop it and then I can get the dodger reworked so it now fits. I attached a drawing that while not very good hopefully get the point across. So if I cut 1" off of each of the four legs will get me where I want to be? Admiral is skeptical. Also, can I get away with using a plumbing pipe cutter? I am thinking it will make a nice clean cut, but I wonder with stainless steel being so hard.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Ray, When you call your dodger person about the rework for the canvas, ask about the ss cutting, they usually do both and should be glad to tell you.

 

[Maine Sail]

I'd let your canvas guy do it all. The cutting of the tubing takes him 5 minutes it is the cloth and window alterations that will be the big expense. Have you considered a 1 - 2" step at the helm so you're taller.. It will cost a lot less...

I'm short so the 310 dodger was spot on for me...

 

[Steve Dion]

It won't be cheap. The windows will probably need to be made from scratch.

You may want to evaluate the condition of your dodger to see if you can live with what you have until you need a re-cover of the existing setup.

 

[Benny17441]

It sounds like you will need to remanufacture a whole dodger. I like the idea of a small step platform behind the helm to raise you 1" instead of dropping the dodger. I remember a home I once seen where the guy and his wife were both well over 6' high and they raised the kitchen counter and cabinets. When the time came they had a hard time selling the house.

 

[alexco38]

I raised my dodger to just under the boom so I don't have to duck when going into the cabin. When sailing I look out from the side. The connection piece between the Bimini and the Dodger is removable and has a window for checking sail shapes.

The 1" Dodger was raised 10" by sleeve a 7/8" inside and epoxied. I sewn new Sunbella.

It is very nice when it rain. Stay nice and dry and no need to peek under a low dodger.

 

[kenn]

Have you considered a 1 - 2" step at the helm so you're taller.. It will cost a lot less...

Seconding this...

It's rare for someone to go the expense of putting a genuine Genco Natty Dodger on a Sandpiper 565,... but our boat's previous owner did just that, and we love it. But it is enough of an obstruction that I almost always fold it down for sailing, except when we need shelter from rain or spray. We're fairly adept now at folding/unfolding it, with apparently no ill effects to the cloth or windows.

 

[Gudenuph]

My dodger is the Catalina Factory Dodger which is the exact perfect height that when I stand at the helm it is right in my line of sight, So I would like to drop it around an inch. My thinking is that if I cut the 4 support poles an inch each that should be enough to drop it and then I can get the dodger reworked so it now fits. I attached a drawing that while not very good hopefully get the point across. So if I cut 1" off of each of the four legs will get me where I want to be? Admiral is skeptical. Also, can I get away with using a plumbing pipe cutter? I am thinking it will make a nice clean cut, but I wonder with stainless steel being so hard.

My suggestion would be to add a full cockpit grating and keep your feet dry and nonslip to boot!

Geohan

 

[Pat8651]

My suggestion would be to add a full cockpit grating and keep your feet dry and nonslip to boot!

Geohan

I agree...mutch easier (and cheaper) to raise the helmsman!

 

[rpwillia]

All Good Suggestions

Actually last year (or was it the year before) the wife and I replaced all of the windows resewing the new plastic in. So, I was not really planning on using a canvas guy yet. I am actually trying to talk her into also cutting the 3 windows off of the front and adding zippers so when we wanted to we could have only the cover overhead.

If I did decide to lower the dodger I have a lot of material on the bottom (6"+) so I was going to put some new "Lift the Dot" fasteners in and then have her trim up the bottom. An alternate method of lowering the dodger would be to simply just move where one pair of the supports is screwed into the deck and fill in the old holes.

However I do like the idea of some kind of lift/platform on the floor. Has anyone used some kind of foam flooring like you would see in a shop floor? I started thinking about how much better my knees would feel after a day of sailing. Probably would not drain as well as some kind of teak deck.:neutral: