Hi All -
A question for you Narragansett Bay sailors:
I am working on a new canvas design for the dodger and bimini on my NS36.On the Chesapeake Bay, I hardly ever use my dodger windows, and so they are zippable to be removed or added when I do need them. I have not yet sailed on the Narragansett or in New England, and so I’m wondering if folks sail more with their dodger windows on all the time?
Thanks for your input!
Bob Gehrman
NS36 #52 “Fortunate”
Greenwich Bay, RI
Hi Bob,
Would you consider a hard-top dodger? I have moulds for a hard-top dodger for a N36.
The moulds for the dodger itself are done. I’m working on moulds for the forward cockpit coaming, meant to go on the cabintop.
I can show pictures, in the second half of next week.
Mark H
Netherlands
Europe
Bob- we have been sailing on Narragansett Bay for over 15 years. On our previous 30-footer, there were almost never conditions on the bay where we felt the need for the spray protection a dodger affords- even beating upwind on a 20 knot afternoon. What we found is that we really don’t care for having a dodger. When we’re sailing we don’t like the obstruction of the forward view, even with it folded. This is even more so with our Nonsuch due to the high cabin and us having a sail pack. We do like having a bimini, though we only use it occasionally when we’re sailing and there’s not much wind and we want sun protection (or heaven forbid, motoring in the sun). And of course at anchor. When we got our Nonsuch 30 last year, it had a dodger. We tried it a couple times, but ended up leaving it folded for the whole season. I’d have removed it, but we were still new to the boat, and transporting it home would have been a hassle. I’d say our Nonsuch is dryer than our previous boat. This boat didn’t come with a bimini. I’m now working on a spray hood for the companionway, in order to afford rain protection at anchor. These are sometimes called pram hoods in the UK. I plan to add a bimini this year also, as we know we like them. If this all works as hoped, next year some canvas to connect the pram hood to the bimini for rainy days on cruise.
Dan Weinstein
Look Farther, 30C #205
East Greenwich, RI
Hi Bob, I own N36 #41, Caper, and sail out of New London, Ct. In my experience, it depends on what type of sailing you do. My 36 is setup for cruising. I have a dodger and Bimini, and they are up all the time. My dodger has semi-rigid acrylic windows all around and has excellent vision still after 10+ years, highly recommended. The Bimini has a flexible window with a sliding cover that is starting to cloud a bit but still serviceable. I have been anchor bound in all of the Islands around here south of Cape Cod for days waiting for the fog or weather to lift enough to see, goes without mentioning north of the cape. Last year’s cruise through Maine up to Bar Harbor saw a lot of fog, fog is wet. We also saw lots of rain, quite heavy at times making vision difficult. I would not cruise without a dodger, bimini, and stack pack. Sailing at night, in rain, in fog, and in the shoulder seasons would be much less pleasant without these. At night the cockpit cushions are stored under the dodger to remain as dry as possible. I am 6’ tall and my sight lines are still good forward, close quarters I tend to stand on tip toes but might even without the dodger. I crew on a N36 for racing which doesn’t have a Bimini, and the dodger gets folded down, the sail cover is removed. We do quite well but I thank my quality foul weather gear on occasion. I bought my Nonsuch because it sails well, is an extremely comfortable cruiser, well built, and the best single hander I know of for near shore cruising, so it depends on what it is you are looking for. Good luck, you can’t go too far wrong.
Steve Currier
Ns 36 #41
Caper
New London, Ct.