Another question from a new guy

G

Gregory Nagel

New member
When I was restoring my BBSB I filled in all the screw holes before painting. The boat had a old spray dodger and no pole. I bought a new dodger from Diane off ebay, but am not sure what to do about a pole. I ended up ordering this http://www.taylormadeproducts.com/cgi-bin/catalog.pl?item_id=447 in the three piece model since it collapses down to 22". I'm sure I can get that to adjust to what I need. I also order this to keep the base from moving around since I filled in the hole on the deck http://www.taylormadeproducts.com/cgi-bin/catalog.pl?item_id=146 I am sure I can attach that to the deck in some fashion.

In hindsight I am thinking a 1 1/8" oak dowel probably would have been cheaper and worked just as well.

Anyone have other suggestions?

Greg
 
I just always made the old fashioned type dodger, and held it up with a cut to size 1" broomstick. ez,pz
 
Good morning, Gregory~

On my dodgers, I always make a strut that holds the dodger up under tension so that the strut (or pole) cannot kick out in use - but can be lifted out by me without tools.

My design principles include:

~ simpler is better (i.e., no - or few - moving parts)

~ make it yourself

~ minimal cost

~ Old School usually wins

So, in your case, I would use a section of an old broom handle (which I hoard). You do not need Oak here - any clear wood will do. I would put a peg on each end - either whittled or by inserting a short length or dowel or brass/bronze rod. The upper end would catch a grommet in the canvas dodger and the lower end would go in the old hole in the deck.

If you do not want to have a hole through your deck (understandable), you could make a wooden pad with a hole in it to receive the lower end of the strut. I would taper the pad so it's lower aft - to ease inserting and removing the pole/strut. The hole in the pad should be slightly larger than the diameter of the pole.


Dodger%20strut%20001_zpsyhzitpai.jpg


Before rehabbing my Sneakbox, my strut was 3/4 Pine and its lower end fit into this "socket":


9Chock_zps5cdc7410.jpg


Finally, note that I bored a finger hole through my strut so I could get a good grip on it for lifting it in or out. If I used a pole (dowel or broom handle), I would probably add a Turk's Head near the lower end to 1) give myself a better grip and 2) help me know which end was down.


All the best,

SJS
 
Good morning, Gregory~

On my dodgers, I always make a strut that holds the dodger up under tension so that the strut (or pole) cannot kick out in use - but can be lifted out by me without tools.

My design principles include:

~ simpler is better (i.e., no - or few - moving parts)

~ make it yourself

~ minimal cost

~ Old School usually wins

So, in your case, I would use a section of an old broom handle (which I hoard). You do not need Oak here - any clear wood will do. I would put a peg on each end - either whittled or by inserting a short length or dowel or brass/bronze rod. The upper end would catch a grommet in the canvas dodger and the lower end would go in the old hole in the deck.

If you do not want to have a hole through your deck (understandable), you could make a wooden pad with a hole in it to receive the lower end of the strut. I would taper the pad so it's lower aft - to ease inserting and removing the pole/strut. The hole in the pad should be slightly larger than the diameter of the pole.


Dodger%20strut%20001_zpsyhzitpai.jpg


Before rehabbing my Sneakbox, my strut was 3/4 Pine and its lower end fit into this "socket":


9Chock_zps5cdc7410.jpg


Finally, note that I bored a finger hole through my strut so I could get a good grip on it for lifting it in or out. If I used a pole (dowel or broom handle), I would probably add a Turk's Head near the lower end to 1) give myself a better grip and 2) help me know which end was down.


All the best,

SJS
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Thank you. That was a very helpful reply.
 
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