Hard Dodger and hatch idea finalised
The companionway and dodger concept has been finalised, it worked out extremely well, so well in fact that I can use my original mock up as a final item with a slight modification,The hatch will be secured to the boat with a piece of dyneema and use a small low friction ring that I am not using somewhere else on the boat to allow it to be tethered to the boat while still allowing it to move easily. The curved frame of the companionway entrance will allow a relatively comfortable seat with no sharp edges while I am sitting under the dodger, I am thinking of 2 eyes on the front of the dodger and also a skylight in the roof of the dodger that will allow light to pass thru the skylight, and through a portlight in the companionway hatch and thru portlight in the part of the deck (under the hatch) when the hatch is stowed under the dodger. When the companionway hatch is closed light will come into thebnoat thru the port on the hatch, and also thru the portlight in the deck (under the dodger). I am not going to put any openings for portlights in the hullsides, in fact I may not put the portlights in the deck and in the roof of the dodger - Originally my thinking was only a portlight in the companionway hatch and one in the front of the dodger - I may revert to this original idea - I do not like windows in boats as from experience they invariably leak, even when using the correct sika and the correct sika primers(, and also any window in a hullside or coachroof compromises strength).
The Dodger will have a hand grabrail that is the same profile as the companionway rim -which has proved to be a really comfortable and secure handgrip
