Sunbrella cover for companionway hatch

[RobertSchuldenfrei]

Hi Everyone,

This is the first of two small projects.  I wanted to fashion a Sunbrella companionway hatch cover for Esprit du Vent.  The cabin top teak is badly weathered.  Shortly, I will give it the Cetol treatment.  However, for weather protection and to insure no water infiltrates the cabin, I took on this DIY project.  I was able to do everything myself except sew the Sunbrella.  For that we are lucky to have Mary Ann Young of Ft. Lauderdale, FL.  First, a pattern was made with "Visqueen."  Mary Ann did her canvas-work magic.  Snaps were applied and grommets were added for some wind insurance tie-downs.  Finally, clear nail polish was added for further weatherproofing. 

As an added benefit, the Sunbrella cover can be repositioned over the companionway opening to keep the air conditioning air in and the bugs out.  That is a real plus down here in sunny south Florida.

Cheers,

Bob

[Stu Jackson]

OMG!  You sail without a dodger?!?  Gotta be real cold when you're beating into those 20 knot winds.   

Nice work.

[RobertSchuldenfrei]

OMG!  You sail without a dodger?!?  Gotta be real cold when you're beating into those 20 knot winds.   

Nice work.

We have the dodger, but for Florida coastal sailing it just not necessary.  Besides, I like the old fashion API; the wind on your face  . 

[Jim Hardesty]

Without a dodger I would get real wet.  When the chop and steep waves build up on Lake Erie I get a lot of water over the bow.  A lot more than other boats.  At times it hits the dodger real hard.   For that reason (and I don't really need it)  I don't use the forward water tank.  Any body else have that?
Jim

[RobertSchuldenfrei]

Without a dodger I would get real wet.  When the chop and steep waves build up on Lake Erie I get a lot of water over the bow.  A lot more than other boats.  At times it hits the dodger real hard.   For that reason (and I don't really need it)  I don't use the forward water tank.  Any body else have that?
Jim

You have found me out Jim.  At age 70 I am probably in line for the Chicken of the Sea award.  We have a narrow inlet (Hillsboro Inlet in Lighthouse Point, FL) in which to make it out into the Atlantic.  If the seas are high, one cannot even make it through the gap as you will spin out or hit bottom.  Yes, sometimes we get a little "green water" in the cockpit, but not too much on the days I sail.  And yes, we can always put the dodger up.  But, like reefing, the time to put the dodger up is BEFORE you need it  .

[captran]

we sailed Voyager in the Bahamas for 5 summers.  I can't imagine life without a dodger.  Sometimes that rain can be torrential, not to mention the spray when you're pounding into a sea.