Hard Dodgers

[AdriftAtSea]

Also, will it interfere with the sliding companionway hatch?  Can it work in place of a seahood? 

Some things to think about in the design processs:

Where will rain accumulate and drip?


Will your head hit it when exiting the cabin?

Can you see over/around/through it when standing holding the tiller? Sitting?

Make sure it can be used as a safe handhold with a good place to grip while in the cockpit and going forward.

[mitiempo]

I am thinking of a hard dodger as well, but only over the hatch itself and a ways forward so I have a place to put a few items. The problem I have is I cannot put a full dodger on and use the cabintop winches effectively without it being too wide and looking bad in my opinion. As well, my CS27 is of the size where a large dodger looks out of proportion. I haven't decided on shape yet bit it will be built of 2 layers of doorskin epoxied together and glassed inside and out. The sides will angle in slightly from the deck up. It will be rounded on all edges and crowned on top.  I want to be able to leave the hatch open and sit under it to look around when using a windvane. The reason I want a hard dodger is than I don't think I would ever fold it anyway as most don't and a hard dodger can be built for a lot less than buying even an inexpensive soft one.
Here's a pic of my boat followed by a pic of the kind of dodger I am thinking of, in shape but not material.

[mitiempo]

Here are a few pics of the hard dodger on one of my previous boats, a 35' custom design. This hard dodger was part of the original design and works well. It might give someone some ideas.