If you want to avoid working with stainless tube a hard dodger or bimini
might be a good alternative. You can make the form with masonite over some
shaped 2x6s. Just paint and wax the masonite and lay the glass over it.
You would need to provide for additional thickness at the edges and possibly
a ridge across the center to add some stiffness.

As I get older a nice warm hard dodger extending back over the cockpit
sounds more and more attractive but Rutu was not designed for that. We will
have a split Bimini hung fore and aft of the traveler arch and possibly a
soft dodger if the boat stays here on the Georgia so I can extend my sailing
season. In the Leewards where we hope to be when we reach the
"post-tuition" stage of life we will just use the Bimini.

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

Glenn I checked out you boatbuilding page, and I do remember reading
it a while ago, I liked it, it had personality.

I have done some futher consideration. You know all the cloth dodgers
I have seen, once they are setup they are never taken down (winter
storage may be an exception), which I also know from my own
experience.

The cruising logs I have read many have opted for a "hard dodger" or
commented that they might have prefered one. I have seen a few web
pages about building one...and well they can look OK or not visually
pleasing.

Glenn are you planning on a hard dodger or a dog house on your
construction or??????

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com