Are DODGERS really necessary?

Chef2sail · Mar 18, 2013

Not necessary, but could extend you sailing and cruising seasons as well as offer protection from the elements. When it is humid and hot and raining it allows you to keep your companionway open with no water raining down in your abin so the boat stay ventilated.

We have a dodger and bimini
We have a bimini to keep the sun off of us, a dodger and also a piece which can be zipped in between to keep the whole cockpit dry so its comfortable when traveling in bad weather, keeps the hot sun of our heads, and allows use of the cockpit in any weather to hang out.

The trick is to make the dodger so that the windows zip out or roll up so in the summer you can open it up so to speak and let the breeze come through.

The only drawback I have experienced is running at night as light can reflect on the inside of it some we open the front windows of it.

Lastly it can be a somewhat safety thing also. We have traveled for days in nasty weather where being exposed constantly would ahev worn us down, tired us out more than being protected.

Dave

Buck420 · Mar 18, 2013

Are DODGERS really necessary? ... is that any different than asking ...

Is refrigeration really necessary ?
Is GPS really necessary ?
Is an autopilot really necessary ?

Is a sailboat really necessary ?

Is ANYTHING REALLY necessary ? ( other than food, water, and shelter ?)

I suppose questions like this ultimately come back to what each of us REALLY wants, more than whether it's really necessary.

Dave602 · Mar 18, 2013

Not totally necessary but, weekend before last heading up the bay with a slight north wind off the nose and water temp about 43-45 degrees it sure felt good to duck down behind that dodger.

In the summer we roll up the front window to let the breeze through and it still can provide some shade from the sun. Necessary no, convenient, you bet.

thinwater · Mar 18, 2013

My last boat did not. Winter was tough, rain suits a requirement when either cold or rough, and we went through a lot of sun screen. Skin cancer?

My current boat has a nice hard hop with a partial enclosure. We hardly ever wear rain suits, never while underway. We sail all winter in light jackets and wind pants only and it's much cooler in the summer. Summer rain while anchored is just a pleasant change.

For cruising, yes, unless you also enjoy hitting your thumb with a hammer.

For day sailing, it depends on tastes I'd say. If you race around the markers, no, distance, probably.

MetricMountie · Mar 18, 2013

Like those before me have stated, "Necessary No" an asset 99.9% of the time "Yes". It extends our season by many weeks on either end and certainly adds to the use of the cockpit for various reasons. We have a Dodger-Connector-Bimini combination and really love it. The Connector and Bimini were added last year and we even had our canvas guy add the zippers along the three pieces so that we can put in the side curtains at a later date. Cruising its a plus in many ways and if you want to race a bit, unzip the canvas and stow it below and tie up the frames, your good to go in either configuration.

Ken Prichard · Mar 18, 2013

Warm weather, warm water, like the Caribbean, probably not.
I sail mostly in the Pacific N.W. - damn right they're necessary!!!

Doug/Karen · Mar 18, 2013

Buck pretty much summed it up. A better question would be, what advantages are folks with dodgers getting? Protection of the companionway during rain, protection from bow spray, protection from wind when relaxing in the cockpit...these are a few of the reasons why we have no plans to remove our dodger. Also, we have the center panel set up so that the bottom snaps and two side zippers can be opened and the panel pulled back and up and attached under the trailing edge of the forward bimini section for hot weather ventilation.

seadaddler · Mar 18, 2013

Weather

It's all about the weather conditions and who's on the boat in that weather,my wife likes it warm and out of the rays of the sun.
When we were sailing up north we used the dodger 99% of the time.
I now have that same dodger here in Florida and most of the time the front and side windows are out but the connector and bimini all on when warm sun is ssshining and we need protection from the rays of the sun.
Most times everything is open for nice weather but when the weather changes you sure will wish you have the protection for sure and ask how we know.

Nick

noanker · Mar 18, 2013

hmmm...do i really need the roof on this house ?.....i dont particularly like the looks of a traditional dodger on my style boat...my california style dodger looks wonderful.....i have a bimini and connecter also. at any time i can close or remove any of this but alas...if you dont have it in the first place.....oh well....you know the rest

Stu Jackson · Mar 18, 2013

It's almost always cold here when I'm sailing, especially upwind. My first two boats didn't have them. I sure appreciate it now. Doug mentioned a lot of the advantages.

Steve Dion · Mar 18, 2013

Not only does it protect it the crew but it also helps protect the interior from weather, water & sun. Add a bimini or a sun fly to help protect you skin from sun cancers.

If you decide to get one be sure that all all the windows are removable. It can be like a hot house under the dodger with the windows in place.

David in Sandusky · Mar 18, 2013

Disadvantages of a dodger

I think it depends on how we cruise, on our cruising grounds, and on the cruising season there.

With a six month season that might be cool in May or October, and is hot and sunny in between, Lady Lillie has a Bimini, but no dodger. We have chartered on 12 boats that have had dodgers. I have observed these issues with them:

1. They make it harder to go forward in port or underway. There is a substantial difference between different designs on this issue.

2. They make it harder to see (and hear) the effect of the wind on the sails, especially the main sail.

3. They obstruct a 360 degree look-out.

We would probably want a dodger in the San Juan's, and on the West Coast of Sweden, because it would significantly extend the season on those grounds.

Erieau · Mar 18, 2013

On my smallish 25', it was more an obstruction than a convenience, so I took it off and removed the toe-stubbing fasteners from the deck. Walking around it was a pain, ducking under to go below (and bonking my head when coming up), and the limited shade it provided (again, small boat=small dodger) meant that it didn't work for me.
Come spring launch, I may regret the decision until the weather warms up again.

topcat0399 · Mar 18, 2013

If you have the money for one - its necessary; If you don't its not.

Stu Jackson · Mar 18, 2013

David in Sandusky said:
I

1. They make it harder to go forward in port or underway. There is a substantial difference between different designs on this issue.

2. They make it harder to see (and hear) the effect of the wind on the sails, especially the main sail.

3. They obstruct a 360 degree look-out.

WADR, I simply disagree.

1. They make it much easier to go forward, especially if they have, as they should, side handrails.

2. My mainsail is, gasp (!), above the dodger.

I have NO idea what this means.

3. Not if they are designed properly. I have had many discussions about dodger height, and ours is quite low. Why? 'Cuz our PO was only about 4'-6". I find it's great, 'cuz I'm not always looking through plastic.

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,6954.msg48360.html#msg48360
http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,4998.0.html

Sorry to disagree, but these have been my experiences with what we feel is the BEST dodger I have ever seen. Yup, ours. Can you tell I really like it?

Tom J · Mar 19, 2013

I can't imagine cruising or living aboard without the dodger. Ninety percent of our time at anchor is spent in the cockpit, whether in the shade of the dodger/bimini with the windshield rolled up, or lounging in the lee of the dodger while the wind blows. Of course, underway, the dodger means we enjoy a long, dry sail versus a short, wet one. My apologies to my traditionalist friends who prefer their boats with their clean, uncluttered looks. Boats without dodgers do have their place. I went out last week for a 2 hour whale watch on a 50' Santa Cruz, and a dodger would have gotten in the way, with passengers moving about and watching for whales. Besides, the weather was perfect, as it usually is on Maui, so the dodger was not missed at all!

deacm · Mar 19, 2013

Everyone's covered most of the advantages/disadvantages. I'd only add that on gorgeous weather days (the majority of our day sails) the joy of sailing is enhanced when you have as MUCH open air and visibility coming at you as possible......otherwise you might as well be in a 'sailing simulator' on your PC if you're in a cocoon of biminis/connectors/dodgers. We only deploy half of our bimini, for 'sun block' and even then we only put the it up towards the end of June when the sun begins to get warm. Otherwise, we don't like the obstruction of view, 'obstacle course' on deck/cockpit, extra windage etc etc here on Lake Erie.

Sure, if I was going to be sailing early/late in the season, cruising a lot ( they are almost a necessity in the Georgian Bay not due to cold, weather but to flies and mosquitos at night) etc I would have one, but I'd also make sure I had enough room down below to store it 85% of the time.

Ron Roman · Mar 19, 2013

Dceam, Amen to that.

Deadline · Mar 19, 2013

Necessary... and not

Dodgers are necessary to round out the National League West.

I sail from March through October and would much prefer to have a dodger those two months, but the rest of the time it would just get in the way, as noted. Also, the buttons are unattractive and a pain in the tush if you sit on one.