"TonyB" wrote:
"john ashby" wrote:
Wayne.B wrote:
The Real Doctor wrote:

Wrong, as traditional dodgers are designed to fold down.

http://www.peckenpaugh.com/Dodgers.htm

Those aren't dodgers.

Here in the US we generally see two types of dodgers for the
companionway: Cruising dodgers and racing dodgers. Cruising dodgers
are much wider, usually the entire width of the coach roof, and usually
not designed to fold down unless the canvas and eisenglasss have been
removed and stowed away. Racing dodgers are much smaller however and
are generally the width of the companionway hatch or only slightly
larger. They are designed to fold down quickly and easily. Some racing
dodgers do not even have eisenglass in the front, only canvas.

Those sound like sprayhoods, not dodgers. We are, once again, two nations
divided by a common language.

Yes they are sprayhoods. Dodgers cover the side rails to hull gap. However,
I am prepared to accept there is a differnce in USA and UK definitions.

In the US they are all called *dodgers* and the ALL can be folded down
by the simple expedient of removing some hardware from the frame
where it attaches to the house. The lame excuse, "they don't fold
down," is just that - a lame excuse for those too lazy to get out of
the way something that is designed to cope with spray when going to
weather and is a detriment to comfort and seeing in hot and dry
weather.

Americans are just plain lazy as well as afflicted by fad thinking.
Dodgers are a fad. Many so-called sailors think a sailboat isn't
complete without one despite the fact many so-called sailors can't
even manage to see past them. So, what do they do? They stand or
they sit on *high chairs* perched on the stern rail so they can
see above yellowed plastic windows.

This is, indeed, a sad state of affairs.

--
Sir Gregory