Cruising_World_2016-06-07

HANDS-ON SAILOR

102

sailing in benign climates;

the permanent roof provides

shade. Another good thing

about this semirigid setup:

It’s very easy and inexpensive

to replace the soft side panels

when they get old.

The vast majority of yachts

keep their dodgers in place all

the time. This often obstructs

the view from the helm, which

can be a real pain when dock-

ing. On our Mason 44, we

built a dodger frame that can

be easily dropped down and

fl attened by pulling out a cou-

ple of quick-release pins. This

makes maneuvering in tight

spaces much easier. In the far

north, where we spend our

summers, we put the dodger

down and out of the way so we

have a good view of any threat-

ening ice as well as the abun-

dant wildlife: polar bears, seals,

whales and seabirds. Naturally,

the dodger goes back up when

the spray starts to fl y and the

cold wind begins to sting.

Material Matters

Building a custom dodger

requires a good deal of atten-

tion to detail and a high degree

of canvas work skills. And it’s

not an inexpensive project,

with the fabric being one of the

costlier items. Custom canvas

shops typically employ a grade

of Sunbrella with middle-of-

the-road longevity of about fi ve

to six years. But Sunbrella fab-

rics come in various grades; the

best may last up to 10 years.

Obviously, if you use your boat

often, it’s wise to choose fabric

june/july 2016

cruisingworld.com

TOM ZYDLER

So you’ve made the invest-

ment in a new dodger for

your boat. With a little care,

you can expect many years

of service. Here are some

maintenance recommenda-

tions for common dodger

and bimini materials:

Rinse your canvas with

fresh water as often as pos-

sible, particularly if it’s salty

after a sail. While most

marine fabrics made for out-

door use, like Sunbrella, will

resist mildew, mold can grow

if dirt and salt are left on the

fabric too long.

If you’re leaving your boat

for a few weeks or have it

stored for the off season,

take down all the canvas and

stow it ashore, if possible, or

in the cabin.

For sailors living in north-

ern climes, keep in mind that

freezing temperatures can

cause some vinyl window

materials to crack.

Consider having snap-on

covers made to protect win-

dows from UV rays when not

in use.

If the canvas needs a

more thorough cleaning,

you can gently scrub it with

a soft-bristled brush and a

solution of water and mild

soap such as Woolite. Rinse

the canvas thoroughly and

air-dry.

After you clean the canvas

— and periodically, as needed

— Sunbrella recommends us-

ing 303 Fabric Guard to re-

store water and stain repel-

lency.

Check the manufacturer’s

recommendations before

cleaning or polishing the

windows, as materials vary

greatly, and using the wrong

products can leave windows

scratched or cloudy.

Don’t forget the stainless!

To get the longest life out of

the stainless frame, keep it

clean and rust-free. I’ve had

good luck with both Spotless

Stainless and Collinite No.

850 Metal Wax.

— Jen Brett

CANVAS

CARE

1) A powerful tube frame

supports a solid roof on

this semirigid dodger. The

soft panels with clear PVC

windows will be attached to

aluminum tracks yet to be

installed. In extreme sea con-

ditions, the soft panels will

be removed to reduce wave

impact. The strong roof panel

will present less resistance

to the wind and waves and

most likely will survive intact

through the conditions. Note

the handholds on the frame

base. 2) This lovingly and

skillfully built fi xed dodger

incorporates safety hand-

holds and a receptacle for the

main boom. No need to in-

stall a separate boom crutch

on this boat. The opening

front window is receiving the

fi nishing touches in the yacht

owner’s shop. 3) Here’s an

inside view of the previous

dodger. Note the stainless

tubes on each side that beef

up the structure. One of

them also serves as a conduit

for the wires that power a

handy cockpit light.

1

2

3