Pearson Ketch Dodger

[PeteW]

Hi Everybody,
I commissioned a company on Shelter Island to design and install a dodger on my 365 Ketch.
A week ago I started getting phone calls from friends on the dock saying I should stop payment on the check.
I think when I said dodger they though I said tent.  Having trouble adding up everything that's seems wrong with this design.

Any feedback is welcome along with picture of other Pearson dodgers for comparison that I can share with this vendor in San Diego.

Pete, SV Tartanic

[S/V AMITY]

  Do a search on BING for "Pearson 365 pictures".  There are a bunch and some with good shots of various dodger set-ups.

[S/V Legacy]

Here's a shot of mine. Its getting a bit long in the tooth age wise, but i like the design and intend to copy it.

[S/V AMITY]

  Looks good!
  How do you deal with furling the mizzen?  Do you have a stack-pack on it?

[S/V Legacy]

The center piece unzips out very quickly. I do need a couple of folding steps added to the mizzen mast when i can get up and deal with the sail. Right now I stand one foot on the cabin hatch and one foot on a mast winch. I know that's asking for trouble soon. LOL . And right now, no stack pack, but every time I put the cover back on I mumble to myself that one is coming soon...

[S/V AMITY]

Can you fold the bimini frame down?

[PeteW]

Thanks for that picture Scott. I have a better understanding of the issue with a dodger on the Ketch. The overhang from the aft portion of the roof that you get on a sloop which is usably at least 12" is just not there with the Ketch. As a result the dodger appears foreshortened. So you end up having some kind of removable flap in order to get to the base of the mizzen.

Bimini has it own problems. The design I'm working on has port and starboard section framework with a open slot in the middle. That allows you to reach up to mizzen boom and flake the mizzen sail. The slot also allows for clear view of the masthead (bonus). The two halves of the Bimini sunbrella should provide adequate shade. A flap snaps on to close the slot when you are not sailing or if its raining.

Pete Weisskopf

[Jim S]

S/V Legacy, you have the arrangement I have seen most on the ketch.  Also high enough for us normal height sailors to look under without stooping.  I have also seen a similar dodger with an awning or boom tent over the cockpit proper.  None are conducive to handling the mizzen.  I can't handle the mizzen even if there is nothing over the cockpit because I am a normal height guy and the mizzen boom is too high for me to handle.

I only fly the mizzen when it is going to be up for several hours or more.  I am getting too old for those young man sail changing/handling antics.

[PeteW]

Received some images from my friendly yacht broker at the marina showing an internal close up of the dodger in question. Thrilled with the huge full view polycarbonate windows all around. Pretty sure I can work with this after all.

Thanks to you all for your feedback.

Still working on old hull#6. Pete Weisskopf,

[SVJourney]

Pete,
Looks taller than mine was.  Problem I had was when close hauled, the boom actually rubbed on the dodger frame right through the canvas of the dodger.  Might want to have someone put your main up and tighten the sheet to see if you have clearance.

[PeteW]

Definitely the first thing I established so the position of the boom you see is where it sits close hauled.  But I will recheck. Full batten loose foot main may set a little different than others. My plan was to see over the top when standing at the helm. Plus my mast and boom is about 2" taller than other 365s.
Thanks  for thinking of that. Pete 

[S/V AMITY]

  Shade for the helmsman gets complicated.  AMITY has no provision for shade yet... only the usual dodger for the companionway.  Two of my must-haves for shading the helmsman are 1) the ability to furl the mizzen without gymnastics and 2) to be able to fully see the mizzen when under sail. None of the biminis I've seen allow either.

  Something like this might fill the bill.  Simple & old school... would have to be struck to fly the mizzen but I have no problem with that.  See attached example:

[S/V Legacy]

I can fold the bimini down if needed. On a side note, even with the middle piece removed I have a pretty terrible view of my sails. On the next bimini replacement, i will be putting a window on each side of the bimini. (Would also like to come up with some side curtains that attach to the dodger and the middle part. Not sure how i would pull that off yet)

[S/V AMITY]

Or this which can double as a downwind sail in a pinch...

[SVJourney]

I like the blue skies and puffy clouds underneath.  Might make you feel better about that crappy weather that made you reach for it in the first place.

Our bimini extended back to where it just touched the mizzen backstays which provided shade and kept the helmsman dry unless storm running.  Also had snap in curtains made out of mesh that blocked the sun and rain but let air in which was nice in the tropics.  I would do clear Esenglass here in the NW.