Hi All, my 2008 Hunter 31 needs a new Dodger. The San Diego Sun has taken its toll. Does anyone know of a source? I had a local Canvas Outfit quoted me today $8,ooo for a new Dodger. Thats sounds very high. Any thoughts?
Dodger Needed
- Thread starter Schlipps
- Start date
Is the Dodger original with the boat? If so, Al Fooks with SBO was working as Hunter’s customer direct sales in parts and Mike Thomas ordered supplies for Hunter
I paid 8k last year for our dodger without the frame. The quality canvas shops in my area are straight out. (6 months to two year quoted lead times). They made it from the 19 yo old dodger without having the frame and it fit like a glove. I was very happy with the results. I thought it seemed high but was quoted similar costs from multiple shops. I’ve read of so many sailors having issues with poor quality fits. The busy shops are busy for a reason.
Oooof-ya.. $8000! Is that pesos or dollars?
EDIT:
Looking at SailRite, tallying up the materials for the dodger cover (Not Frame) that (at retail) is about $900.. which leaves $7100 for labor..
seems a bit high? might take a good hand 15 hours to build a cover, using the old one for a pattern.. so that's $473 per hour for labor..
EDIT:
Looking at SailRite, tallying up the materials for the dodger cover (Not Frame) that (at retail) is about $900.. which leaves $7100 for labor..
seems a bit high? might take a good hand 15 hours to build a cover, using the old one for a pattern.. so that's $473 per hour for labor..
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$8,000 for just a dodger seems real high. I paid last year about $10,000 for a full enclosure..... All sides, dodger, bimini and connecting piece. Also front glass is the heavy duty hard UV protected stuff. Used same frames. That was on Long Island NY
FWIW one year ago I paid $4,000 for a "California" style dodger recover . That included no-rot thread, upgraded window vinyl and some extra fittings to attach an existing sunshade. That did not include covers for the vinyl. We made those ourselves and saved $700 (less material cost).
I had another quote for a similar price but good canvas shops in the Los Angeles/Long Beach area are few.
The waitlist was about three months to get started.
Two months after getting the new dodger the company went out of business. I think because they lost their main production/sewing guy.
I had another quote for a similar price but good canvas shops in the Los Angeles/Long Beach area are few.
The waitlist was about three months to get started.
Two months after getting the new dodger the company went out of business. I think because they lost their main production/sewing guy.
I had my custom dodger built in 2018 by Custom Marine Canvas by Tom........... all the bells and whistles, top line glass, canvas, trim and thread.. plus a stainless steel frame with hand holds on sides and across the back. He's an independent guy that works out of his home in North San Diego or Riverside County. He included some extras, such as re cutting and stitching the mainsail cover that didn't fit too well (sorry SBO) and made a hatch cover. I'll see if I can find the pictures...but Im really proud of it. Total cash price with the extra work was right around $3,500. The shop at the boatyard next to my marina quoted me about $6,500, with an attitude.... implying it was too small a job .,,, see ya. Here's the number I have.
(951) 239-9930 . The sailrite route is missleading. By the time you buy the canvas and frame kits, the sewing gear, you're already out over 2k.... then you have the hardest part, which is getting everything to fit.... which is very difficult for a dodger. I figured spending a thousand bucks was worth what would have been a very tiresome and frustrating job....especially since the boat is a hunderd miles away. It was a no-brainer and I'm super glad I chose the "hire a professional" option. A bimini is super easy to diy, but a well designed and constructed dodger/spray hood is a work of art.
(951) 239-9930 . The sailrite route is missleading. By the time you buy the canvas and frame kits, the sewing gear, you're already out over 2k.... then you have the hardest part, which is getting everything to fit.... which is very difficult for a dodger. I figured spending a thousand bucks was worth what would have been a very tiresome and frustrating job....especially since the boat is a hunderd miles away. It was a no-brainer and I'm super glad I chose the "hire a professional" option. A bimini is super easy to diy, but a well designed and constructed dodger/spray hood is a work of art.
That price sounds very high to me, but you're in the state of California, where all parts of the project are known to have materials that cause cancer, so extra precautions must be taken. 
That said, we had dodger, bimini with solar panel attachments, center piece and full surround done up on Lake Erie a couple of years ago for a little over 8k (we reused the frame). I had another estimate for 12k, but that guy was retiring and really didn't want the job and high balled it.
On the solar panels, the guy that did ours sewed zippers onto the panels and on the bimini, so I just zip them on and off each season. Works great.
That said, we had dodger, bimini with solar panel attachments, center piece and full surround done up on Lake Erie a couple of years ago for a little over 8k (we reused the frame). I had another estimate for 12k, but that guy was retiring and really didn't want the job and high balled it.On the solar panels, the guy that did ours sewed zippers onto the panels and on the bimini, so I just zip them on and off each season. Works great.
A friend of mine did just that for his Cascade 36, before going blue water cruising. Looks great, but it did take some time and effort. He first built up a male dodger form over the companionway. Once that was faired and done, he molded out a female mold from it. The initial tooling was done with pieces of rigid foam. I believe that subsequently at least two more dodgers were produced from that mold.
I have often pondered doing this, but am not so sure about acquiring a bunch of new skills. Tempting, tho.......
Yeah. You might be, or Not.
Tough business to succeed in -- with constant pressure from 'bottom feeders'.
About the money:
Lots of different trades nowadays are charging roughly $120. an hour for labor (just another cost of living in 'modern times') , and it's hard to find good talent charging under a hundred. A full-Monte dodger with ss bows and hardware, decent quality windows and stitching, and good "style" is going to involve maybe a week's labor. And that's for a journeyman with real talent -- this takes Craft plus Art.
A good shop can sometimes handle this in 3 days, using several people, and really strong organization.
Materials are a large expense, plus the cost of the shop and tools.
Labor cost can exceed 4K.
With real Luck, you might find a young person in the early phases of his/her career who will work for a bit less, but don't count on it. Or, an opinionated master craftsperson taking on work, at their own pace, for less $.
I have dealt with both types, over the decades.
Good luck and I hope the OP finds a solution.
$3675 in 2017 in SoCal by a long-time shop reusing the old frame. Was supposed to be upgraded clear vinyl (Strataglass), but was not; replaced last year. Included covers. Add inflation, maybe $4250 - 4500 now.
In 2009, when we were in the downturn, I got quotes for replacing our bimini. $1800 to $2600. Only got a response from two of five requested. Took it to my inland boat/car upholstery guy. He did it for $800. And, it fit perfectly even though he never went to the boat. Recently, I was dumping my zippered sail cover to go back to lazy jacks and a standard cover. Of three inquiries for a quote, I got zero responses. I used SBO instead.
By the way, my wife and I once made a dodger about 30+ years ago for an O'Day we then owned. Sailrite kit. Amazingly, our marriage survived that trauma.
In 2009, when we were in the downturn, I got quotes for replacing our bimini. $1800 to $2600. Only got a response from two of five requested. Took it to my inland boat/car upholstery guy. He did it for $800. And, it fit perfectly even though he never went to the boat. Recently, I was dumping my zippered sail cover to go back to lazy jacks and a standard cover. Of three inquiries for a quote, I got zero responses. I used SBO instead.
By the way, my wife and I once made a dodger about 30+ years ago for an O'Day we then owned. Sailrite kit. Amazingly, our marriage survived that trauma.