I am interested in adding a DODGER to my sailboat its a 30' hunter any comemts or suggestions where to have one made etc. JD
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Buy One Here, of course, or .........
I bought one for my h34 at a boat show from Island Nautical in Island City, NY. It appears to be the same as the ones sold here. They have patterns for most boats. Pick the color and it arrives in 3-4 weeks by UPS. Mine is 8 years old and still looks good. The frames they offer are aluminum but can be upgraded to stainless for a price. I got a zip on awning for a few hundred extra. Barry
I bought one for my h34 at a boat show from Island Nautical in Island City, NY. It appears to be the same as the ones sold here. They have patterns for most boats. Pick the color and it arrives in 3-4 weeks by UPS. Mine is 8 years old and still looks good. The frames they offer are aluminum but can be upgraded to stainless for a price. I got a zip on awning for a few hundred extra. Barry
Get Your Checkbook Ready
Dodgers are very expensive. I built mine for about $150.00 You can get a kit from Sailrite.com for about $500.. If you are good a srounging things you can build one from raw material like I did. Sailrite has a very excellent video that walks you through the entire process. It's really not hard. I've attached a picture of my boat. I did all the canvas work.... Ron/KA5HZV
Dodgers are very expensive. I built mine for about $150.00 You can get a kit from Sailrite.com for about $500.. If you are good a srounging things you can build one from raw material like I did. Sailrite has a very excellent video that walks you through the entire process. It's really not hard. I've attached a picture of my boat. I did all the canvas work.... Ron/KA5HZV
Attachments
Sailrite
The previous response, a Sailrite kit, is the choice I would make if you are a do-it-yourselfer. I am in the process of making and installing a Sailrite Bimini kit. The instructions are fairly good. The required sewing will be a challenge. Your marina will probably be able to recommend an approved canvas maker who will do the whole installation. A question for you... I see you are in AC. Where would be a good spot for a couple of boats to anchor or dock at a transient marina for a couple days around the 4th of July? We'll be sailing down from Forked River area. Regards S/V Amanda Gail
The previous response, a Sailrite kit, is the choice I would make if you are a do-it-yourselfer. I am in the process of making and installing a Sailrite Bimini kit. The instructions are fairly good. The required sewing will be a challenge. Your marina will probably be able to recommend an approved canvas maker who will do the whole installation. A question for you... I see you are in AC. Where would be a good spot for a couple of boats to anchor or dock at a transient marina for a couple days around the 4th of July? We'll be sailing down from Forked River area. Regards S/V Amanda Gail
Disagree with Bill
I think the sewing is easy... not a challenge at all. If you buy the video you won't have any problems. You can e-mail me and I'll give you my phone number. I do professional canvas work now and would be glad to give you any help you may need... Ron/KA5HZV
I think the sewing is easy... not a challenge at all. If you buy the video you won't have any problems. You can e-mail me and I'll give you my phone number. I do professional canvas work now and would be glad to give you any help you may need... Ron/KA5HZV
Ameriseam
Just had one made for my 340 by Ameriseam, which a friend and I installed this past weekend. They did great work, fit the boat nicely and were very responsive. That had previously made the bimini and sail cover. I recommend without reservation.
Just had one made for my 340 by Ameriseam, which a friend and I installed this past weekend. They did great work, fit the boat nicely and were very responsive. That had previously made the bimini and sail cover. I recommend without reservation.
Island Nautical
I had Island Nautical make me a new one for my Catalina 30. I sent them my old one and they made me an exact replacement. They have most patterns. Very good quality and very fast about 3 weeks. Cost was ~ $1000. Ask for RoseAnn if you call
I had Island Nautical make me a new one for my Catalina 30. I sent them my old one and they made me an exact replacement. They have most patterns. Very good quality and very fast about 3 weeks. Cost was ~ $1000. Ask for RoseAnn if you call
I made mine...
Hey, I am one of the do it your selfers... and I am pleased with the results. I now own a sewing machine purchased from sailrite along with the materials for the dodger and the way I think about it is the sewing machine was a bonus from doing the work myself. Sailrite was very helpful as well as Don Casey's books "This old boat" and his "Canvas projects book" not sure about that title. Anyway, I purchased my S.S. tubing from a local marine supplier and bent it myself. Followed Sailrite's intructions pretty much and improvised where needed. Take a look on this site.. do a search for the "Dodger Project" Good luck.. David Underwood
Hey, I am one of the do it your selfers... and I am pleased with the results. I now own a sewing machine purchased from sailrite along with the materials for the dodger and the way I think about it is the sewing machine was a bonus from doing the work myself. Sailrite was very helpful as well as Don Casey's books "This old boat" and his "Canvas projects book" not sure about that title. Anyway, I purchased my S.S. tubing from a local marine supplier and bent it myself. Followed Sailrite's intructions pretty much and improvised where needed. Take a look on this site.. do a search for the "Dodger Project" Good luck.. David Underwood
Basics
JD: Some basics. 1. High quality material (Sunbrella is one of the best). 2. Rigid frame. It is best to go with a S.S. tube frame with S.S. supports (no fabric straps to keep it tight). You will see a lot of these made with alum tube (cheaper) 3. Totally removeable windows. You want to be able to remove ALL the windows. This makes life on hot summer days much more pleasant. You will be suprised how warm it will get with windows in place (hot house/sun room effect). Do not settle for roll up windows. The plastic gets screwed up very easily and makes viewing thru it much more difficult. 4. Window covers. You want to have protective window covers to protect the plastic. 5. Hand holds. It makes going forward and returning to the cockpit much easier. Give you something to hold on to. 6. Reinforcement on corners and wear points. Sunbrella abrades very easily. You need to have either vinyl or leather on any edge that ANYTHING may rub on. This includes the sail/cover when you have the mainsail stowed. 7. We also have zip in sun screens. This was just a litte something that we did to keep the sun off us. It also blocks the breeze and sometimes we have to zip these out too. Unless you already have a heavy duty machine, it is not that practicle to make a dodger. A decent machine start at about $300 or more (used) and higher if you purchase a new one. Also if you can not as talented as some of our fellow sailors, the materials are not cheap. $1100-1200 is just a starting price for a basic dodger. Then you start adding the extras. You can easily spend $2000+ on a custom unit. I will tell you that this was one of the better additions to our Hunter. But so was the autopilot, and the refrigeration.
JD: Some basics. 1. High quality material (Sunbrella is one of the best). 2. Rigid frame. It is best to go with a S.S. tube frame with S.S. supports (no fabric straps to keep it tight). You will see a lot of these made with alum tube (cheaper) 3. Totally removeable windows. You want to be able to remove ALL the windows. This makes life on hot summer days much more pleasant. You will be suprised how warm it will get with windows in place (hot house/sun room effect). Do not settle for roll up windows. The plastic gets screwed up very easily and makes viewing thru it much more difficult. 4. Window covers. You want to have protective window covers to protect the plastic. 5. Hand holds. It makes going forward and returning to the cockpit much easier. Give you something to hold on to. 6. Reinforcement on corners and wear points. Sunbrella abrades very easily. You need to have either vinyl or leather on any edge that ANYTHING may rub on. This includes the sail/cover when you have the mainsail stowed. 7. We also have zip in sun screens. This was just a litte something that we did to keep the sun off us. It also blocks the breeze and sometimes we have to zip these out too. Unless you already have a heavy duty machine, it is not that practicle to make a dodger. A decent machine start at about $300 or more (used) and higher if you purchase a new one. Also if you can not as talented as some of our fellow sailors, the materials are not cheap. $1100-1200 is just a starting price for a basic dodger. Then you start adding the extras. You can easily spend $2000+ on a custom unit. I will tell you that this was one of the better additions to our Hunter. But so was the autopilot, and the refrigeration.
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