Dodger advice

[Tim Clark]

I'm working through some digital mock ups for a new dodger on my Duck Boss 13. So far, I've only hunted it with a high-box style canvas blind. This off-season I'm hoping to build a new dodger and canvas lap blanket (both shown in red) to hunt it more like a sneak boat. I'm trying to decide whether the aft edge of the dodger should be tilted at an angle (roughly 45 degrees) akin to Steve's gunning box or vertically oriented like I've seen on some other boats. For those who have one vs. the other what are your thoughts? Any distinct advantages to one over the other? Seems like the vertical option will keep your face hidden a bit better from overhead birds, but just want to make sure the view isn't too obstructed.

 

[SJ Fairbank]

I prefer an angled dodger, if you move it aft a bit it will achieve what you want in terms of overhead concealment. The support hoops can be slightly aft of the front of the cockpit, but the aft deck tie downs should be 1/4-1/3 of the way down the cockpit coaming. I had a boat with a more vertical dodger once, the dodger didn't retain it's shape because it had no fasteners aft of the hoop.

 

[Dave Diefenderfer]

On my BBSB, the dodger actually goes beyond vertical. Under tension with webbing it supports a hand hold for running the boat standing. I can loosen the webbing and lean it back to hunt, offering better visibility. But when the wind is pounding, and it is raining, I can pull up over, tuck under it and the lap cover that bridges coaming, no rain comes into the cockpit and I am quite comfortable!

 

[tod osier]

I'm working through some digital mock ups for a new dodger on my Duck Boss 13. So far, I've only hunted it with a high-box style canvas blind. This off-season I'm hoping to build a new dodger and canvas blanket to hunt it more like a sneak boat. I'm trying to decide whether the aft edge of the dodger should be tilted at an angle (roughly 45 degrees) akin to Steve's gunning box or vertically oriented like I've seen on some other boats. For those who have one vs. the other what are your thoughts? Any distinct advantages to one over the other? Seems like the vertical option will keep your face hidden a bit better from overhead birds, but just want to make sure the view isn't too obstructed.

No matter the angle for hunting you want way more coverage, push it back a lot.

 

[Eric Patterson]

Make your backrest first. Then sit in your intended position and that will lead you to an optimal solution. For things like this I've all but abandoned computer graphics. I make mock-ups and use my mind's eye. I spent too much time trying to program and not enough time solving the problems at hand. If it works for you more power to you, but I have to be in the shop and hands-on to really figure stuff like this out. I start with reference pictures and then just figure it out.

 

[Tim Clark]

Thanks all. Backrest is made - this was just a tool to help figure out rough material quantities. I'll slide things back a bit and see how that looks. Will give a bit more width for me and the dog. Dave - I'll dig through past posts to look for pictures of your blind. Curious to see the webbing setup you've described. I'll send you a message if I can't find them.

The graphics is second nature at this point - I'm an architect by day. At this point this is how I start all of my projects after some initial hand sketches. I find it helps to just work through a number of ideas quite quickly.

 

[Eric Patterson]

No doubt you are quite adept at computer design. So don't let me discourage you (not that I could). My point is just get out there and try things. My brother does residential architecture and draws easier than I can breath. I can't draw to save my life. On one-off projects like this I learn more and spend less time by going the mock-up and mistake route.

 

[Dave Diefenderfer]

Thanks all. Backrest is made - this was just a tool to help figure out rough material quantities. I'll slide things back a bit and see how that looks. Will give a bit more width for me and the dog. Dave - I'll dig through past posts to look for pictures of your blind. Curious to see the webbing setup you've described. I'll send you a message if I can't find them.

The graphics is second nature at this point - I'm an architect by day. At this point this is how I start all of my projects after some initial hand sketches. I find it helps to just work through a number of ideas quite quickly.

This is the original configuration. We redid the top piece after I hunted and found it low. I can't find a current picture handy. I have the webbing with clips at each end. I can loosen the webbing, unhook one end and collapse the dodger. You can barely see a dowel holding up the lower section, but that pivots too.