Save-A-Boat - The Forum for Plastic Classic Rebuilds!

A daysailor tends to be a "wet" boat. There is not much of a cabin to block the spray. Also, the cockpit is carried forward so the crew sits closer to the bow.

Adding a dodger would involve some design considerations, and might not even protect the whole cockpit.

My Pearson Commander is a big daysailor. I found that adding a set of wooden rubrails really helped. The rubrails knock down and deflect alot of the spray that used to hit the crew in the face. I know the water temperatures in Maine are a bit....refreshing.

Just a thought. It sure is alot of fun to romp around when the wind pipes up, bashing away with a big press of sail on.

I assume you mean rubrails in the traditional sense, right? That is, a projecting wooden piece, typically trapezoidal in profile, that surrounds the boat at the gunwale? I figured on installing something like this (ultimate form and design to be determined), so it's good to hear they may have an effect beyond the basic protective and aesthetic uses.

These rubrails are quite modest in size, so I was surprised that they shed so much water.

On the outside edge of the wooden rails I screwed the original stainless steel half round.

Lets see if I can post a picturehttp://www.pearsonariel.org/discussion/ ... ostid=4252

Perhaps a nice hard dodger.

This one would certainly enhance the looks of any boat.

http://www.cruisenews.net/tanzer/2002delivery/71.jpg

Bingo! That's just what I had in mind to enhance the sleekness of the daysailor. Nothing like building a carport on top of your boat...

Sheesh.