Protection from wind and spray helps us be comfortable offshore. A hard dodger adds some extra benefits we really appreciate.
Links:
Stainless Steel Hand Holds (Amazon)
White HDPE Boat Board – Coosa Board (Amazon)
Sailrite (for sewing machines and a wide range of supplies)
Prefer to read? Check out Hard Top.
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Kent Kedl says
I have had two boats (a Nic 38 and a Breewijd 31), and cruised for a number of years back in the 80’s and 90’s. The Nic 38 had a hard top and the second boat, the Breewijd, had only a smallish dodger covering just the companionway hatch. The advantages of the hardtop you describe are all true but nevertheless I preferred the small dodger when we were on passage simply because we could see the sails. At anchor we suspended a large awning over the cockpit using the main’s halyard to give it a peak so water would run off without dripping due to pockets in the fabric. The awning was attached to the lifelines so it gave more protection than the hard top would have. Do you find the blocking of view of the sails an annoyance? The Nic 38 even had a plexiglass window in the top but I found it too little and almost useless.