Need a dodger

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Daddio Rick
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Joined: 11/13/19
Posts: 37
Need a dodger

Just purchased a 1995 MkII that is cleaning up well after a couple of years of neglectful ownership. Coming from a bombay pilothouse 31 we would love to add a dodger. Can anyone share expereince/advice as to materials, design, ordering and share ballpark expectations as far as cost? Thanks.

BTW we re much enjoying this forum as we head into week two of this new boat. 

Indigo, 1995 MKII, Charleston SC, SR/WK

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Chachere
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Posts: 825

The guy we've been using for sail maintanance and canvas work on for our boat for the past decade (Sailor's Choice in Amityville, NY) quoted me $1200 to replace our existing dodger, which is made of sunbrella and getting to the end of its life (I don't know how old it is, came with the boat when we purchased in 2010).   That price is based on the fact that there is already and existing frame and dodger that he can use for a pattern.  I assume its more if the frame has to be designed and fabricated and a pattern made from scratch.

PS - Welcome to the forum.  When you get a chance, you should add a signature to your account so we know where you are located, details of your boat, etc. 
 

Matthew Chachère
s/v ¡Que Chévere!
(Formerly 1985 C36 MKI #466 tall rig fin keel M25)
2006 Catalina Morgan 440 #30.
Homeported in eastern Long Island, NY

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KevinLenard
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Posts: 208

Key to the debate over dodgers seems to be height.  Ours came with a 'pilothouse' height dodger that I can walk under (6 feet tall).  Sitting or standing at the helm we look through the front panel, but if you get flexible polycarbonate (I think that's the correct material name?) instead of clear standard vinyl it is a much clearer view.  Lexan or Strataglass are the top end, I believe (lots of info here: http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f116/need-advice-on-dodger-glass-192... ).

Some diehards want to see over the dodger at the helm, but then you put up with a lifetime of bending over to get in and out of the companionway.  Also means that you get really heavy weather in the face at the helm.  Using a clear connector panel between the dodger and bimini is a retrofit that doesn't really work as you're now looking through a panel at too shallow of an angle. 

We also had all the sun block covers made to Velcro to the inside.  Yes, more sun exposure on the clear panels, but I'd rather replace every 8-10 years than have to clambour in and out to remove and replace covers constantly.

One compromise for the dodger at full height is both to use the polycarbonate (much stiffer than vinyl and harder to roll), but to design your front panel as we did, with a small panel across the bottom (clipped to the deck with standard turnbuckle fasteners along the bottom-most edge -- see photo) and two zippers up the sides.  This way you can unzip the bottom of the panel from the inside, zip up the two sides and swing the entire panel back and up, fixing it to the top (ceiling) of the dodger with a strip of velcro or snaps or turnbuckles.  Easier to shout at the Admiral at the helm or foredeck that way too.  Also means no rolling, so avoids scratches.  Requires a bit of measuring on the part of the installer.  Make sure to clean it with the right products only.
 

Kevin Lenard
"Firefly"
'91 C-36 Mk. "1.5" Tall Rig, Fin Keel, Hull #1120, Universal M-35 original (not "A" or "B")
CBYC, Scarborough, Lake Ontario, Canada

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KevinLenard
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Posts: 208

Key to the debate over dodgers seems to be height.  Ours came with a 'pilothouse' height dodger that I can walk under (6 feet tall).  Sitting or standing at the helm we look through the front panel, but if you get flexible polycarbonate (I think that's the correct material name?) instead of clear standard vinyl, yoiu get a much clearer view (we requested it, but our installer screwed up).  Lexan or Strataglass are the top end, I believe (lots of info here: http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f116/need-advice-on-dodger-glass-192... ).

Some diehards want to see over the dodger at the helm, but then you put up with a lifetime of bending over to get in and out of the companionway.  Also means that you get really heavy weather in the face at the helm.  Using a clear connector panel between the dodger and bimini is a retrofit that doesn't really work as you're now looking through a panel at too shallow of an angle. 

We also had all the sun block covers made to Velcro to the inside.  Yes, more sun exposure on the clear panels, but I'd rather replace every 8-10 years than have to clambour in and out to remove and replace covers constantly.

One compromise for the dodger at full height is both to use the polycarbonate (much stiffer than vinyl and harder to roll), but to design your front panel as we did, with a small panel across the bottom (clipped to the deck with standard turnbuckle fasteners along the bottom-most edge -- see photo) and two zippers up the sides.  This way you can unzip the bottom of the panel from the inside, zip up the two sides and swing the entire panel back and up, fixing it to the top (ceiling) of the dodger with a strip of velcro or snaps or turnbuckles.  Easier to shout at the Admiral at the helm or foredeck that way too.  Also means no rolling, so avoids scratches.  Requires a bit of measuring on the part of the installer.  Make sure to clean it with the right products only.
 

Kevin Lenard
"Firefly"
'91 C-36 Mk. "1.5" Tall Rig, Fin Keel, Hull #1120, Universal M-35 original (not "A" or "B")
CBYC, Scarborough, Lake Ontario, Canada

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pierview
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Joined: 9/27/09
Posts: 582

Rick... where are you located? Would help in making vendor recommendation. 

Chuck Parker
HelenRita 2072 Mk II
2002 Tall Rig - Winged Keel
Atlantic Highlands, NJ

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alfricke
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Posts: 90

Jubilee just got her fabric replaced after 19 years but frame was still good. I put in Lexan windows which make a huge huge difference. No wrinkles in the vinyl that distort everything....it really is like looking through a glass window! Make sure to get grab rails on the sides on aft side. I paid about 3 boat units for my new dodger and that was without the frame! Top quality professional did the work here in the SF Bay area 

Al Fricke
S/V Jubilee San Francisco Bay
Catalina 36' MkII  #1867
Universal 35-B

Daddio Rick
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Joined: 11/13/19
Posts: 37

Thanks all... Location is Charleston SC. Still trying to get sig to work. Lots of deferred maintenance items on this new purchase. But thankful for first 20 yr of excellent ownersbip. Will get more serious about canvas after first of year.

Indigo, 1995 MKII, Charleston SC, SR/WK

Daddio Rick
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Joined: 11/13/19
Posts: 37

Just curious. Are there any examples out there of a C36 with hard dodger? I have not future intention of racing and the admiral would love to have best protection possible in cockpit. Winter sailing and ongoing skin cancer challenges are factors... Thanks. 

Indigo, 1995 MKII, Charleston SC, SR/WK

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Chachere
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Posts: 825

There was a write-up of a hard dodger construction for a C36 MkI in "Jb-Sheet" back in December 2010, starting on page 12.
Here's a link to it:
www.catalina36.org/sites/default/files/legacy/JS-Dec10.pdf
 

Matthew Chachère
s/v ¡Que Chévere!
(Formerly 1985 C36 MKI #466 tall rig fin keel M25)
2006 Catalina Morgan 440 #30.
Homeported in eastern Long Island, NY

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dlincoln3
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Joined: 4/24/16
Posts: 144

I don't understand how a dodger could be arranged so that you have standing headroom under it.  Do you have to raise the boom height and recut the main shorter?  I have a "regular" dodger that I routinely whack my head on, but the clearance between the boom and the dodger is only a few inches.  In this photo, you can see that my bimini (with standing headroom) is the same height as the boom.  There is no way I could have a dodger any higher than what it currently is.

Don Lincoln
"Nancy Lynn"
1993 Catalina MK1.5, Hull 1238
LaSalle, MI (Lake Erie)
Universal M-35AC

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Daddio Rick
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Joined: 11/13/19
Posts: 37

Thanks for the hard dodger link. Pretty inspirational. 

Indigo, 1995 MKII, Charleston SC, SR/WK

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KevinLenard
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Posts: 208

My apologies, Don Lincoln, allow me to revise my claim (as I have never actually measured the height of the aftmost dodger support arch) from 'full standing headroom' to 'sufficient clearance that a 6 foot tall person never consciously thinks about ducking when moving in and out from helm to companionway'.  We have a tall rig, but looking at your photo I believe you have the same boom height, our difference being that the dodger is just an inch or two lower than the bimini with about that much clearance between the bottom of the boom and the top of the dodger.  See photo for reference.  K.
 

Kevin Lenard
"Firefly"
'91 C-36 Mk. "1.5" Tall Rig, Fin Keel, Hull #1120, Universal M-35 original (not "A" or "B")
CBYC, Scarborough, Lake Ontario, Canada

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dlincoln3
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Posts: 144

Got it!  It looks like chafing hasn't been a problem either.  Interesting!

Don Lincoln
"Nancy Lynn"
1993 Catalina MK1.5, Hull 1238
LaSalle, MI (Lake Erie)
Universal M-35AC

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