Dodger or no dodger??

[fishstalker7]

cptron,

Appreciate your thoughts!

I have a Boomkicker boomvang...with your dodger up...can you close haul your main (pulling the boom down) without interfering with your dodger (BWY?)?

Your thoughts on those occasional rainy days were very helpful! It made me think about those really hot, still days too. Maybe with the dodger we would get more shade down below and keep the interior cooler.

Would you recommend the doors? Are they necessary to make the whole system (our bimini is a non BWY...so not sure if the connector would work from bimini to dodger)?

We have no-seeum screens for all the hatches already, so if I got the doors it would only be to block rain/spray...but simple (just the dodger) is often better too?

Thanks again!

David

[cptron]

fishstalker,
I don't have the BWY dodger but have a custom dodger that is taller than the BWY. I know this cause we raised our boom up about 6-7 inches which puts the sail at the top of the mast. I believe ours is the same width as the narrow dodger of the BWY and we have been real pleased with it. However no dodger is going to stop 100% of water encroachment into the cabin cause it can come over the top and under the front edge of the hatch (personal experience).
Yes we can sail close hauled or at any point of sail with the whole enclosure up except we have to take the connector piece out for the main sheet.

[fishstalker7]

cptron,

Thank you...I appreciate your experience and time....that helps a lot!

David

[Wind Chime]

We have the BWY wide dodger, and a boomkicker with a 4:1 vang - with no problems when close hauled.
(our boom gooseneck is in the factory install height)

1) When close hauled in stronger wind: with the dodger up; there are still a few inches clearance between the boom and the dodger.

- the mainsail head is set as high as possible with out-haul aft, to help flatten the sail and reduce the draft.
*although the head height mostly adjusts draft position fore-aft
- the stronger wind will pressure the sail, which lifts/holds the boom higher and increases the draft and twist.
*although draft is set mostly by outhaul.

2) When close hauled in lighter wind with the dodger up;there is a little less clearance between the boom and dodger.

- the mainsail head is set lower and out-haul eased forward, to encourage some sail bag and increased draft.
- the lighter wind does not pressure the sail as much, so the booms own weight tugs on the leech reducing twist, as a well as flattens the sail somewhat by decreasing the draft - as a result the boom is slightly lower.

ps
- the boomkickers design encourages better sail shape in light winds by holding the boom up and reducing sail tension.
- the boomkicker is not a ridged vang, and does flex a bit because it is fiberglass.

I have a Boomkicker boomvang...with your dodger up...can you close haul your main (pulling the boom down) without interfering with your dodger (BWY?)?
David

[fishstalker7]

Wind Chime,

Thanks for your insight!

It sounds as though my main may be longer at the back than the stock sails (I have a fully battened after market main from PO)?

When I am close hauled, the back of the boom can scrape/rest on the forward edge of the bimini (which is angled forward slightly). It's great that you have so much clearance...I may need to do some measurements next time I go out from the hatchtop to the boom bottom when the boomkicker is flexed down. They do help a lot with sail shaping!

Thanks again!

David