Sneak boat canvas dodger

[Aaron thomson]

curious if anyone on this forum makes and sells canvas dodgers. I do not have the tools to build one myself. And details for securing them to the boat. Also wondering if anyone has any details for swinging side walls much like a layout blind function. These will be for my Widgeon sneak box. Also this is the coolest forum I’ve ever joined. Thanks for having me folks!
-Aaron

 

[Steve Sanford]

curious if anyone on this forum makes and sells canvas dodgers. I do not have the tools to build one myself. And details for securing them to the boat. Also wondering if anyone has any details for swinging side walls much like a layout blind function. These will be for my Widgeon sneak box. Also this is the coolest forum I’ve ever joined. Thanks for having me folks!
-Aaron

Aaron~

Any good canvas shop can make a dodger for your Widgeon. Just show him or her the photos you prefer. They will need your boat in hand to make everything fit.

I make mine using EMT for a bow, Pine for a forward strut, and fasten it down to the deck with readily available fasteners (e.g., snaps, Common Sense Fasteners, Lift-the-Dot).



Before sewing the Sunbrella or Cordura fabric I make a pattern using Dura-Skrim Patterning Material:


Regarding flap boards... I can send you a bunch of photos of them, but I suggest you consider this "lap cover" approach first.


It is held over your chest by a rod (closet pole) that pops up and out of its chocks (inside the coamings) when you sit up to shoot.


The lap cover extends about 10 inches forward of the rod - and simply lays on (and covers) your chest.

It rolls up and stows on the stern deck when operating the boat.

Here are the lap cover and dodger outside. Note, too, the pipe oarlock stanchions.

Duck's eye view. Always a good idea to have a pushpole - and a way to stow it.


Here is (and much younger me and) my original lap cover on my RED-LEG (circa 1990).


Here is the newer dodger on my sneakbox RED-LEG. It is the same EMT bow with Pine strut (as the JAMES CAIRD) - but is wider than and fastens forward of the cockpit.


Webbing is polypropylene (1-inch heavy duty) - not nylon.

Lower edge snaps to a PVC toe rail.

The upper end of the strut fits into a sewn pocket.

The hole is for my finger - to lift the strut into or off of its tight fit (on purpose) on the forward coaming.


Hope this helps!
SJS

 

[Anthony Babich]

Aaron, If you're looking for a reasonably priced dodger check out https://customdecoybags.com/shop the owners of those molds are TDBco out of East Dennis, MA they may also be able to guide you towards a manufacturer who can construct the frame etc. I custom made my own frame using Diane's dodger for a 4Rivers Migrator. Worked out great. You can get the materials off amazon (Bimini Fittings) and used 3/4 electrical conduit with a heat gun to bend into fitment.
It's been 4 years now and still holding strong. Welcome to the site!





Spray Shield Universal

 

[Eric Patterson]

As an alternative to a canvas dodger there is also the hard dodger. You need basic fiberglass skills rather than sewing skills. Perhaps this interests you as well.

Thread 'Sneakbox Hard Dodger '

Oct 25, 2019

For quite some time I've been trying to do some work on my Devlin Broadbill, including making a hard dodger. By hard dodger I mean one made from wood and fiberglass as opposed to the typical canvas over metal frame. So after twenty seasons of use the boat is getting a fresh coat of paint job, rewiring, modification to the motor bracket to make it a little taller, and the hard dodger. Duck season is about a month away so it will be a race to get it done and have the paint hard enough to put in the water but I'm going to do my best.

With that said, today was a good day for progress...

• Eric Patterson
• Replies: 53
• Forum: Duck Boat/Hunting Forum

 

[Tony hall]

Alternative to using plastic conduit, you can make bends in emt with a plywood form. Google hoop house for gardening, you’ll see what I mean.

 

[Steve Sanford]

Alternative to using plastic conduit, you can make bends in emt with a plywood form. Google hoop house for gardening, you’ll see what I mean.

View attachment 78868

Tony and Aaron~

Here is a jig I made . I screwed it to my wooden shop floor but you could screw it to a sheet of plywood on sawhorses.
To pull the ends in (a helper would have been great!) I put hose clamps on the conduit so the rope will not slip as I draw the ends inward.

It is always good to make the curve just a bit tighter radius than what you will need. That way, you "over-bend" a bit so that the inevitable spring-back puts you where you want to be.



I use a much simpler jig for the bows on my gunning coffins.



I flatten the ends in a bench vise.



For my spray dodgers I usually bend an additional "dogleg" or offset into the ends. A thick nylon washer helps the bow move up and down when needed.



The ends are rounded and smoothed with a bench grinder or angle grinder.



Brass or s/s machine screws are used to secure the bow to the toe rail or coamings of the vessel.



All the best,

SJS

 

[Steve Sanford]

Aaron, If you're looking for a reasonably priced dodger check out https://customdecoybags.com/shop the owners of those molds are TDBco out of East Dennis, MA they may also be able to guide you towards a manufacturer who can construct the frame etc. I custom made my own frame using Diane's dodger for a 4Rivers Migrator. Worked out great. You can get the materials off amazon (Bimini Fittings) and used 3/4 electrical conduit with a heat gun to bend into fitment.
It's been 4 years now and still holding strong. Welcome to the site!

View attachment 78846

View attachment 78847

Spray Shield Universal


View attachment 78850

Good morning, Anthony~

I have yet to try PVC conduit. Thanks for all the info and sources. Guess I need to put this on The List....

All the best,

SJS