Hard Dodger Installed
Way way back in Episode 3 we prepped the boat to be put on a trailer to be trucked to Portland from Seattle. Part of that prep included draining diesel tanks, draining the water tanks, cleaning the bilge, removing the dinghy, taking down the radar/solar/davit arch combo, and taking down the hard dodger.
The hard dodger on Yara was an addition made by the original owner. It includes a tubular stainless frame for support, a hard composite piece as a partial bimini, and small pieces of canvas connecting to the hard windshield. It provides shelter from sun, wind, rain, and snow. A perfect addition to a boat that was designed for, and currently residing in, Pacific Northwest weather.
So back in Episode 20 just prior to the start of Fall 2021 our goal was to install the hard dodger so it would be in place prior to the rainy season. The problem we encountered then was the dodger just wouldn’t go back in place. The bolt holes didn’t align. And the worst part was the canvas pieces were significantly out of alignment. It was very frustrating! We had removed the dodger just months before, so why would it not go right back in place?
We had no idea. Somehow perhaps the frame got bent, throwing off the alignment. And the multiple compound bends and angles made it a very complicated job to get things back together.
So, we had to call in Devin’s dad, David. He has an astonishing mechanical mind. He works with metals and wood in his shop, is handy around the house, and can basically fix anything. His knowledge and tools come in very handy. His skills are in high demand and we don’t want to abuse the privilege of working with him (even tho we love to do so!) and therefore we try to only bring him in for the very technical and challenging jobs that only he can solve.
So for this job David helped with height and width measurements of the metal frame, bending the metal frame to fit, pulling, cutting, drilling, mounting, and securing. Eventually we got it installed but here are a couple tips we learned that might help you:
Have a strong tubing bender on hand like this one. These can be rented or purchased. Be sure to have an extra heavy duty one rated for the outside diameter, wall thickness, and material type of your hard dodger.
Use ratchet straps and clamps to temporarily hold things in place
Take your time, measure carefully
Plan for the project to last at least 3-4 days
Where possible, through-bolt the dodger frame using high-quality 316 stainless hardware with backing washers for better strength and stability
This project took a few tries over the span of nearly a year! But ultimately we got it installed. We didn’t give up and that’s A Yacht of Love.
YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CSPmc1KCDs
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