JIM MASSEY'S G30 PROJECTS


 

The first picture is of the bow roller and bow sprit that I added.  Removed the aluminum stem head fitting and put a stainless one in its place.   The aluminum one had a crack in it.   The bowsprit really makes a difference on deck size.

HARD DODGER
 

Dodger 1

The full dodger, with the bimini, middle insert and side panels added.  I wanted the dodger high enough that I could stand under it and still see forward without ducking.  The dodger height is 5' 9" off the cockpit sole.  All fabric panels and plastic can be either removed individually or rolled up out of the way for maximum ventilation.

 

Dodger 2

Shows the construction method used.   I used 1/8 inch door skins for the material.   The skins were cut so that the grain would run fore and aft.  The joints were beveled to 45 degrees and joined to the section next using thickened epoxy.  The skins were cut 4 inches wider that the finished width of the dodger.   The dodger frames were used to form the mould so that the curvature would be close.   Two, two  inch wide strips of door skin were cut and placed along the outside edges epoxied in place.  The reason for these were to allow the edges to be rounded off and for an adequate thickness to attach bolts etc.   Fiberglass weight was 4 and 6 oz.  Only epoxy resin was used

 

Once the main piece was formed, the edges were rounded off to the final form.  The  wood was coated with a coat of thinned epoxy and the first layer of glass was applied on the outside.  Once it was dry the cloth was lightly sanded and a second layer was applied.   The next layer was applied on the inside and then two  layers around the edges.   Sanded filled an painted.  

 

It was then bolted to the original dodger frames.which were placed in a verticle position and trimmed to the correct height.   The front section of the dodger was attached to the cloth using a plastic bolt rope extrusion.   Sides were attached using dome fasteners.     

 

Dodger 3

Shows the dome fasteners used to hold the side panels.


 

 

Dodger 4

Shows the dodger from behind

 

 

Dodger 5

Is a similar hard dodger made for a C&C 29. 

 

 

Revery

A picture of the yacht Revery with a dodger made commercially.   Cost was just over $4,000 as far as I know

 

NOTES

The dodger has been in use for 5 years now.   No delamination or other deterioration has taken place.  It has weathered 50 knot winds and had been through a few waves which covered the deck with over a foot of water.   The handrails on the top really make it easy to go forward and the vertical support for the dodger provides a fantastic handhold when climbing into and out of the cockpit.   Total weight of the dodger and the pipes holding it is just under 20 lbs.  Fabric is extra.   I remove it for the winter by undoing 4 bolts, a five minute job.  The centre panel of the bimini is removable so that when single handing I can lead the mainsheet to a block mounted on the pedestal.  The mainsheet is double ended with the other end led to a cleat on the top of the cabin, starboard side.

Jim Massey 

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