Alas! We come to our fanfare! Not to encourage you to go elsewhere by any means, and we encourage our customers to be thorough in finding the best deal available. But please keep in mind these things when getting another quote on a dodger , or sailboat ensemble: did they ask you how long your primary headsail winch handles are? Did they take into account the same thing with respect to your cabin top winches?..did they ask you about your traveler/main sheeting?…..did they look at your running lines? Did they measure the helmsman’s height to determine vision impairment when underway? This list is endless…….suffice it to say WE DO!! And we take that VERY seriously, (mainly because we’re sailors ourselves).

Dodger

California

-for an item that was once considered a rarity here on the north-coast, has now become the norm. Developed in the warmer climes of San Diego for cruising sailors to get ventilation when underway in relatively low breezes notorious for that area, this dodger, because of its versatility has become the dodger-de-jour today. It consists basically of a free-standing bimini above the companionway hatch with zippers all around for a forward windshield (3 pieces), and 2 side curtains. These are commonly equipped with a flap aft to allow for a connector to the bimini aft. Thus on warm days…..you essentially have a bimini extending all the way from your companionway all the way astern! Add to that the option of enclosing the whole thing and voila!, you have a dodger to brave the elements! The prices for these beasts vary according to beam, depth, and numerous options, so be prepared for a somewhat lengthy conversation with us.

Eastern

- the eastern dodger, aka maine dodger, new England dodger, you get the idea. It is one piece, all sewn together. These have what is called “wings” which can be made removeable. The wings end aft just shy of the radius of the forwardmost angle of the primary winches. Lashed usually with a pad-eye and a lanyard, or a lift the dot fastener. They will have most often a roll-up forward window which matches the width of your hatch. If you don’t need the total versatility of the California style and sail mainly in very breezy, rainy, rough seas areas, these would probably be more appropo.

Hybrid

-shall I call the hybrid dodger the “heartland dodger”? Perhaps the, ahem ”Heart”-full Dodger?…anyway, this breed is , as the name suggests a combination of both the above, the difference lying in that the actual top and forward section of this style are sewn together, and the sides are removable. This style is for those sailors who never foresee themselves removing the forward windshield, but still prefers getting ventilation in from the sides, (for cabin-top hatches, etc or for pure air circulation).

Bimini

-returning to our penchant for ergonomically designing our sail-ensembles to fit YOU.., we ask for your desired width, height, in addition to optional sail windows, aft/side stanchioning, back-stay cutout collars, and the like. Some prefer the bimini narrower athwartships to accommodate for a future enclosure. Most like the wide bimini mounted directly to the aft pulpit rail and stanchioned to the same rail. These are things we tailor specifically to your needs.

Connector

-the connector is a liaison between the dodger and the bimini. We can put in a window should the angle drop from the bimini to drastically to your dodger.

Awning

-the poor mans bimini that holds with it a ton of sense! For perhaps a quarter of the cost of a full-on bimini top one can use a simple rectangular piece of cloth, yet connected to the dodger but held up by means of an athwartships aft pole lying within the sleeve aftmost of the awning hoisted by a spare halyard, most commonly the topping lift. These are inexpensive, but far from durable. These are for those that don’t plan to be underway in stiff breezes with their canvas up, and use it mainly to picnic or during spells of “the doldrums”. Do NOT have these up in a 25 knot breeze!

Boom Tent

- these are also a simple rectangular –cut piece of cloth w/grommets outboard to lash to the lifelines/stanchions, and are meant for temporary dodging the sun/rain. They are portable, stowable and easily put up.