Dodger for Hunter 260

[Zigracer]

Has anyone had a dodger made and installed on their H-260 or H-26? I know that none of the manufacturers has a template for the boat and that either myself or a local canvas person could make one. I was just wondering if anyone out there has already done it and what their results were. My main objective is to be able to sail during rainy weather without keeping the cribboards in place all the time. The slant of the companionway makes it impossible to leave the boards out even during a light rain; this is the type of weather where the crew or I might want to take some trips below for refreshments, refuge, etc. I solo sail the boat frequently and it is a royal pain in the #@%*!## to continually remove and replace the boards if I need to grab something from below. Any feedback would be great.Zig

 

[John Baumgartner]

I got tired of the same thing

I made the compainway doors a couple of year ago because the boards were such a pain in the %^&%^@#, the big problem was nothing is square and neather side is even with the other. I just wanted to show you what can be done if you are willing to experiment and try to think out to the box. The frame can be made strong and water tight with the removal of the compainwy board guides. More pictures can be seen in the photo forum under "My new 260 improvements" Hope this helps, any questions or more questions just ask LKYusnret2@aol.com

 

[Ken]

It Can be done

I have a 1995 Hunter 26 and the previous owner had both a dodger and bimimi made for the boat. I works great. I would send pictures but it will be a couple more months before the boat comes out of storage.

 

[Earlfixit]

Sunbrella

I have had the same problem on my boat with the rain. Every time it rains I have to find the hatch boards and it is such a pain. We go on the BEER Cruise in Pensacola and the last 2 years it has rained. This year I am ready. I took a Piece of 3/4 Poplar and shaped it the same as the top of my top hatch board. Mine has a curve. I then took a piece if sunbrella and cut if 4 inches wider on each side and hemmed. I stapled the top of the sunbrella to the top of the board. The bottom is hemmed with a piece of stainless chain for weight. I rolls up nice. When I get on the boat I can now store the hatch boards out of my way. if it rains I just drop in the sunbrella and close the top. I can then just raise the bottom for access and though a little tight I can get in and out with less hassle than the hatch boards.

 

[Darren Mayes]

Would this work?

I had been thinking about getting the pop-top enclosure form the chandlery here:"The deluxe version of the pop-top cabin enclosure includes screens side windows. Simply roll the windows up, secure them, and you have great air circulation without the annoyance of mosquitoes and other insects. An additional rear screen drops all the way to the cockpit sole."What if you took and add an additional piece of sunbrella onto this "rear screen" and then add some snap to your bimini... would this create a wide enough "bridge" from the bimini to the pop top?Darren