Calling all 376 owners

[robertsapp]

We just put an offer in on a nice 1997 Hunter 376 with the furling mainsail rig. The survey is tomorrow. So I have a question for you 376 owners out there. How the heck do you put a dodger on it? It looks like it would be darn near impossible!

Anything in particular I should look out for?

 

[dis-patch]

I own a 1997 376. Bought it a little over a month ago and live a board with my trusty companion pup Oakley. Love the boat so far. I do not have a furling mainsail rig and no rigid boom vang, and my dutchman system is broken. Anyway, 3 weeks back I had a canvas company on board and she also seemed very puzzled about how the dodger would go on. That project has since gone down the list but still is active. I very much would like to add a rigid boom vang to the boat, fix the dutchman and add a stack pack, and then have a custom dodger made with grab rails. I will be following your post to see what other might be recommending.

 

[Dave Sharp]

Here are pics of mine

This dodger was made by North of Annapolis. I have since replaced the Sunbrella fabric. The design works well. Sorry I don't have pictures better featuring the dodger.

 

[dis-patch]

WOW, that is great Dave. Those are the first pictures of a 376 with a dodger that i've seen. I should be looking for others. Great examples. I may just copy someone elses.

 

[Steve Dion]

What is the issue with attaching a dodger?

 

[dis-patch]

The lines going between the traveler and the boom kind of run at a weird angle over the companionway hatch. Why they configured it that way is beyond me.

 

[jwieneck]

look in the 376 photo gallery you will see Southern Belle with dodger and Bimini. I also have a full enclosure

 

[robertsapp]

What is the issue with attaching a dodger?

Issue number one is that the traveler sits about a half inch (well, maybe an inch) forward of the companionway slider. It doesn't look to me that there's room to anchor the lower front portion of a dodger in such a small area.

Issue number two is that in order to drop down the companionway, you have to step up to and cross an elevated area (it provides the headroom in the aft cabin below), and in the short time I've been on a 376 I've already learned that if the boom is centered, I have to practically crawl in order to not hit my head on the boom. So putting a dodger on would create a kind of doghouse that you'd have to transit on hands and knees. Or so it would seem. So I'm curious how people have dealt with this. Because even though my address says Florida, we get these nasty cold fronts from November to April, and we've learned we really need a dodger.

 

[reraft]

If you would like some pics of our 96 376 with dodger & bimini with grab rails send me your email.
S/V Hotel California
reraft@gmail.com