tophatyachts.com

Recently spent 6 hrs belting hard into the wind and am starting to think that a small dodger could be a worthwhile investment.Does anyone have any pics of dodgers fitted to a Top Hat?
Any pros and cons?
Cheers.Dave

Firstly I assume you are talking about a spray hood. However, dodgers in the form of fabric stretched across the lifelines on each side of the cockpit, are cheap and easy, and they do stop a lot of wind and spray when beating to windward.
IMHO the spray hood is good for keeping you warm. and out of the wind. Both solutions will add to your windage and reduce the windward performance.

Thanks Ianb.Its a spray hood that im interested in.Does yours fold forward and out of the way when required?

The boat in the pic was RodM's Top Hat. If you search his posts you might find more info. I think he did some mods in order to get to his mainsheet controls.

I am not fond of them.
Difficult to see through.
Need to be taller than me to see over the top. (I am 5'8"
Maker it harder to clamber up on deck.

Not for me.

See Rods comments viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1247&p=6779#p6779

I love 'em.
If you're sailing solo at night you can snooze between timer alarms on the cockpit seat with the dodger spray hood providing some shelter. Not that so many share my night sailing interest.
If you're sailing when it's rough or raining it provides good cockpit protection and stops spray entering the cabin
When sailing and a wave slaps the windward hull you can duck and stay dry. Yu don't need to be watching. After a while you can pick the sound and duck a bit.
If you're moored staying overnight or just messing on boats and there's heavy dew or especially if there's rain, you can keep cabin circulation going without needing washboards in, and the cabin doesn't get water dripping in.
A bit of shade on hot summer days
Usually a good handhold in the cockpit.
The one on Pelagian didn't complicate moving forward, and provided a good handhold when coming or going.
I chose to change the main sheet layout to reduce friction on the mai sheet, not because the spray hood caused problems.
They can partly obstruct view depending on their size and crew size. I stick with a non folding variety that can be removed if wanted, but folding reduces the life of clears (windows) dramatically. Sunscreen etches clears, so avoid applying sunscreen to yr dodger:) I can find some other spray hood photos from Pelagian if you can't find all you want on this site. I've just had a spray hood fitted to my new boat
Cheers, Rod

Thanks for the reply Rod.The points you make are exactly why i would considering fitting one on Tales.I also sail at night and sail through the Victorian winter too.Sometimes you dont have a choice but to sail to windward for extended periods.Can i be rude and ask roughly the cost of getting a new one fitted to your new boat?

I had one fitted 18/12 ago to an Albin Vega 27 ft, it had an alloy frame, came in about $1200. New one on the Adams 31, larger and with stainless frame and external grab rail is about 2k. Can't be more accurate as its part of dodger, Bimini and sail bag/lazy jacks.

The one I had on Pelagian was quite low profile, only about 20-25cm above the cabin top. This was ok as Pelagian has a good step down as the diesel was a Volvo MD5A that sat at 45 degrees. The first step was about 25mm below the level of the quarter berth ply base. With an upright diesel you'd have a higher step and would need a slightly higher dodger. If you've got an OBM It's not an issue, adjust your step to where it works best. If you get really keen let me know and I can post/ send you some photos of the frame, step level etc. if you spend time messing round on your boat at anchor or at a berth, you'll be sold on how it extends use of the whole cabin. Even in worst weather you can fit the first washboard and not feel locked away.

Running the halyards under the dodger was not a problem, just a couple of scalloped areas either side of the traveller mount. The traveller sheets came into small double ended cleats, mounted on the external cabin wall a bit under the dodger, and the mainsheet to a cam cleat. As Ian noted, I changed the main sheet system so the cleat was attached to the boom mounted pulley. A personal thing, but I've got used to being able to grab the msinsheet where it hangs down rather than rummage for it in the cockpit.

Cheers, Rod

Hey Dave, this is NOT what you are after but I thought I would add it for those who are reading the thread and interested in various options for a bit more protection over the companionway.

Originally I wanted protection for the companionway for the tropical storm season when Windchaser spends most of her time sitting on a mooring or anchored down river to avoid the worst of the flooding. Got a small tarp that was once a sign, tough material, rope running top and bottom. It was not custom fit, just an experiment. Tied on both sides and in the middle top I cut a small hole so it could fit over part of the traveller and so not slide off. I found that with the rear two ropes untied, I could easily get up and down the companionway and the tarp was not in the way.



The tarp kept water off the top of the companionway where water used to leak in past the washboards. Then I realised that the tarp was not just handy when Windchaser was vacant. I could motor in light showers with the tarp in place, with the rear ties not done up and it kept rain from going inside the cabin. If the rain was heavier or coming from behind I could put in the lower two washboards, which go up half way, and the tarp protected the rest. It meant getting back inside the cabin from the cockpit only needed taking out one washboard as the lower one is very small, most of the rain was kept outside.



When on board anchored, the lower edge of the tarp can be lifted up a little which makes a bit of a roof over the companionway, allowing me to look out from inside the cabin but not allow water to come in. It does require a little bit of bending to get past it into the cockpit but in rainy weather and anchored I enjoy the protection and extra air that can come through.

More than just wet weather, I have found it a problem when anchored, when the sun was setting (or rising) and strong sunlight was coming straight in through the companionway. With the tarp, I just pull it down a little and it provides a sunshade.

At night when sleeping aboard, I can put the lower two washboards in, pull the tarp down (from inside the cabin) and it provides a privacy screen plus still allows air to flow through the cabin as the tarp is not sitting hard against the companionway but poking out from it allowing a good gap.



My tarp needs a good clean to the get the mould off, but what started as an experiment to help keep rain from seeping in past the washboards through the rainy season has proven itself in many conditions. I have been thinking of ways to customise it since it has done so well. Time and again, in rain and in sun, I have found that flexible and cheap bit of protection very useful. Not for everyone, but this type of arrangement may suit some.

cheers

Louis