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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

dodger frame

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wade
Deckhand

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Canada
17 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/11/2007 : 20:01:00

I have a 83 poptop and would like to add a dodger and was wondering if anyone could provide me with the measurements for the dodger frame. a friend of mine has a machine shop and will provide me with a free stainless frame so i need the demensions.

thanks,

Wade

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 01/12/2007 : 07:38:44

Tall rig or standard? (I don't have your answer, but whoever might will need to know.)

Edited by - on

djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 01/12/2007 : 07:59:11

Is this the type/style you are looking for? If so, I will measure it next time I am at the boat. Cheers.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 01/12/2007 : 08:02:59

Dennis,

Wade is looking for a dodger frame, not a bimini.

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 01/12/2007 : 08:30:12

Dennis,

La Tina Caliente is looking good for her age.

Is your bimini a bimini-dodger combo?

Edited by - on

djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 01/12/2007 : 12:09:12

Thanks AL. I am not sure what you would call it. It really only covers the hatch but is bigger than a dodger. It does have zip in front and side windows so I can sail in the rain with the hatch only during summer storms. It also works well when the pop top is up when I am working on the boat. Between the two I get a lot of shade. Cheers.

Edited by - on

dave holtgrave
Captain

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USA
427 Posts

Response Posted - 01/12/2007 : 13:49:04

dennis
your bimini is great.
i've struggled to figure out how to make a top fit.

you threw all the problems out the window.
can you define the top by it's size??
and a few more photos would be great.

i would like to see how it attaches to the boat.

again, great job

if you can give me the width length and how high it is above the main support that would be great

thanks in advance

dave holtgrave
5722 sk/tr haed and to be covered with freezing rain tonite near carlyle lake in southern illinois

Edited by - on

djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 01/12/2007 : 15:04:48

No problem Dave. I will not be back to the boat until next week but I will take pics and measurements then. Cheers.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 01/12/2007 : 15:14:35

Dave,

Your height measurements will be different than Dennis' because you have a tall rig and he has a standard.

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dave holtgrave
Captain

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USA
427 Posts

Response Posted - 01/12/2007 : 19:12:13

don
i know about the differance

he looked at things differently then the others.
he didn't worry about getting it as high as possible.

it looks like he's got a little shade to sit forward.
that's what i'm impressed with.

dave holtgrave
midwest getting ready to be sleeted and frozen in.
1 inch of ice tonite.
no power tomorrow
near carlyle lake in southern illinois

Edited by - on

djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 01/12/2007 : 19:38:49

Enjoy the ice Dave. I am driving up north Michigan tomorrow morning and I hope it all holds off until I get to my destination. Cheers.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 01/12/2007 : 20:25:28

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dave holtgrave
 he looked at things differently then the others.
he didn't worry about getting it as high as possible.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Dave,

Dennis' bimini looks to be about the same height from the cabintop as mine, but his boom appears to be about a foot or so higher???

Edited by - on

djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 01/12/2007 : 23:00:19

Hi Don, in the shot I posted, the boom is not in the normal position. When the main'sl is up, the boom is about 6" above the bimini. Cheers.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 01/13/2007 : 07:44:22

There are numerous older threads and some Tech Tips on bimini sizes and mounting techniques (deck mounts and genoa track mounts). Tall rigs pose a challenge, but with either rig you won't have 6' headroom under the bimini. I made the height of mine such that I could see over the top when standing at the helm. It partially covered the companionway but allowed the pop-top to be raised and lowered--as Dennis said, lotsa shade and air on a hot day--more than most cruising boats!

I planned that one day I would add a zip-on "windshield" and sides to allow it to convert to an oversized dodger, as some others have done.

The key measurements for a dodger are the width of the frame (I mounted mine just forward of the winch islands) and the deployed height (the main bow is at about a 45 degree angle when deployed--simple geometry gives you its overall height). The height depends on standard or tall rig, and if you have a "floating" gooseneck on the boom, how far down the boom comes when the luff is tensioned and the mainsheet is fully hardened with the boom centered. I suspect that dimension could vary... I allowed about 4-5" clearance, but still had to tip the boom up a little with the topping lift to keep the sail cover from rubbing on the bimini. Have the frame made a little taller than you need, and then cut off pieces from its bottom until you get just what you want.

All that said, Wade, if you just want a standard dodger, nobody who's responded yet has that. But dodger measurements are fairly complex in order to fit properly around the cabin, companionway, and pop-top. (A zippered midsection of the windshield can allow the pop-top to be raised and lowered.) I'd suggest that a professional canvas maker do the measurements and tell your friend what size and shape to make the frame. Then they'll measure again with the frame to make the dodger. My penny's worth.

Here was mine...

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 01/13/2007 09:48:51

boatgt
Navigator

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117 Posts

Response Posted - 01/13/2007 : 10:13:13

I don't have a dodger but this is a picture of one at the marina. It looks to be just 2 bows. What I would do is go out to your boat with some PVC pipe, make 2 bows with the right height and width then take them to your friend and have them duplicated in stainless (the side curves you can have your friend change).

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2007 : 20:53:19

Zephyr has a dodger, and i would not trade it for any bimini even with drop windows, or whatever. At anchor or underway in strong winds, you will have to take the bimini down - or the wind will take it down for you. A dodger is form fitted to your boat such that the wind flows around it, thus providing refuge underway or even at anchor during a storm. A bimini can even become a liability in strong winds.

That being said, a dodger will probably have to be partially removed when using the pop-top. I have an 82 std rig with a dodger and the poles are in the basement. BUT, as a rule, dodgers are tricky and really might be worth a professionals help.

sten

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 01/20/2007 : 17:53:39

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redviking
 At anchor or underway in strong winds, you will have to take the bimini down - or the wind will take it down for you.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I will have to respectfully disagree. My bimini stays up most of the season and I know my bimini can withstand 50mph winds without blinking.

Keep in mind that biminis aren't just a sailboat thing. They are designed to go on speedier powerboats which means they can take some wind.

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 01/20/2007 : 19:25:23

Correction - bimini's SHOULD be removed during high winds even if they will withstand high winds as they can act as a sail and put excess strain on mooring, anchor or dock lines. I didn't mean to start a dodgers vs. bimini's thread, but the original post requested info on a dodger and folks were posting pics and describing bimini's. Only one of the aforementioned pics shows a dodger.

sten

Edited by - on

DanM
Captain

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USA
256 Posts

Response Posted - 01/20/2007 : 19:52:50

Perhaps these dimensions will help:
FWIW, Perfect Day came with a two-bow ss frame secured to the edges of the cabin top. There was no cover. I'm beginning to think it was for a dodger, as there are snap posts around the cabin top. The base width is 71", the bows are 127" total length, and the height of each bow is 39". There are short legs, like cantilevers, supporting the bows. I imagine it would look like Dennis', but slightly more foreward on the cabin.
Hope those dimensions make any sense, Wade.
I removed it from the boat today for a friend to look over. She makes upholstry covers and canvas bags. If she thinks she can make a sunbrella fabric cover with a detachable extension, I plan to have another bow constructed to fit to the genoa tracks behind the winches. That would provide a combination of bimini and dodger. I'm really more concerned about sun protection, than a windshield.

Edited by - on

Brooke Willson
Admiral

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USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 01/20/2007 : 22:30:29

Sten, I see plenty of boats who leave their dodgers up all the time at dock with no apparent ill affect. Obviously, a hurricane or gale could damage the bimini, but I suspect that the hinges, pins, or fabric would fail long before a dockline, anchor rode, or mooring chain.

I fold my bimini and cover it with a boot at the dock to preserve the fabric, not because I am worried about damage to the boat.

Brooke

Edited by - on

treuland
Deckhand

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USA
17 Posts

Response Posted - 01/25/2007 : 21:26:46

I may be wrong but doesn't the boom sit lower on a tall rig? If so, be careful what measurements you use if you want the boom to clear.
Terry

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 01/26/2007 : 09:10:43

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by treuland
 I may be wrong but doesn't the boom sit lower on a tall rig?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Correct--by a full foot.

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