Hard Dodger for Sneakbox

Eric Patterson

Eric Patterson

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I've been kicking around a project in my head a couple of years now and this season has me wanting to bring it to fruition. I'd like to build a dodger for my Devlin Broadbill, but instead of a canvas dodger I'm thinking about making it a hard-top that attaches to the cockpit coaming but comes off easily. I scraped the below picture off the net years ago and it is sparking some ideas in my head as to how to go about making a hard top. Basically I'm thinking of fabricating a rough frame from laminated strips of ash, or some other easy to bend wood, cedar stripping the frame, and adding a layer of glass for good measure. Anyone ever seen a hard top dodger and have any ideas? Anyone think a hard-top is a bad idea or think I should just stick with a canvas one? I can't sew but I can build from wood so that is part of what is making me want to try it. Seems like it would be very sturdy to use as a grab handle when running the boat as well.




View attachment 17sm5_zpsc14dad83.jpg
 
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Jon

Not sure what it will weigh but I don't think it will be heavy. Strip and glass is strong and light. With some thought I bet it could come in around 20 pounds, possibly less.

Eric
 
Eric Patterson said:
Basically I'm thinking of fabricating a rough frame from laminated strips of ash, or some other easy to bend wood, cedar stripping the frame, and adding a layer of glass for good measure. Anyone ever seen a hard top dodger and have any ideas? Anyone think a hard-top is a bad idea or think I should just stick with a canvas one? Seems like it would be very sturdy to use as a grab handle when running the boat as well.
Click to expand...

I see no reason why this won't work. Several years back I had a semi-hard top dodger on my Carsten Canvasback. It was non-collapsible frame of heat bent PVC pipe. Which was wrapped in netting and covered with artificial grass.

Cedar stripping and a single layer of glass should be very light and plenty strong.
 
Maybe a scooter-style sprayshield is the way to go. Plenty of guidance in Steve Sanford's posts about them
 
Steve O said:
Maybe a scooter-style sprayshield is the way to go. Plenty of guidance in Steve Sanford's posts about them
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Steve, I just went and look and THAT'S where the above picture cam from.
 
I have a hard spray shield on my Roy boat, it flips up for easy access to the front area. I like the idea of it and can see the pros compared to a canvas shield. The only thing is how I am able to attach grass to it for concealment. I just picked this up so I am excited to see what I can do with it!
 
Eric~


Here's how I made a jig for a taller, wider South Bay spray shield this summer. I used 1/8-inch Masonite bent over plywood frames. I have made 4 (I think) from this "male mold".


See Episode 4:



http://www.duckboats.net/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=309046;do=post_view;search_string=spray%20shield#p309046


View attachment sm SS 03 - first run on jig.JPG



The shield itself is all 'glass (with 2mm Coremat within the 1708 sandwich); thatch rails are Mahogany.



Also, I began using just cellophane tape for mold release but switched to mold-release wax plus PVA - MUCH better result.


I do not recall what it weighs, but...I did ship one. It is nominally 12" h (with a 2" flange) x 48" w. I believe it was less than 10 lbs with the thatch rails and fastening hardware. The Coremat makes it nice and stiff.


Here's the one from December:


View attachment sm Portrait 11 - Spray Shield and push pole bail.JPG



If I were making a mold for a smaller, tighter application - as on my Scooter - I might make the radiused bow from laminated wood but then shape a block of some cheap foam for the more sophisticated, custom aspects. Cover that with wax paper or cellophane before 'glassing (or joint compound and several coats of paint before wax and PVA). You could mold it in place right on the boat - then remove before final finishing and fastening.



All the best,


SJS



 
I have no idea if this would work but will throw it out there anyway for entertainment purposes. How about looking into a small boat windshield or motorcycle or side by side or golf cart fold down windshield? Or looking at some type of plastic easily bent to the shape desired. Wish I had pictures or more to share but no such luck.

Mark
 
Appreciate all the input. I've got some more ideas to consider as a result. This looks like to be a challenging and educational project as I look to create compound curves on top of a curved surface (the Broadbill's deck). I'd like to have this complete by next duck season along with a cosmetic refurb of the broadbill. I will share reports of any such progress here. Thanks again.
 
This what I did with my boat and it has worked well. It has kept a few waves out of the boat.

I have also thought of building a "smaller" boat, like an Aquapod and using it as a "roof" to keep the rain out.
The smaller boat could also be used to paddle on to the tidal flats, to hunt incoming tides.


View attachment IMG_1528.JPG
 
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