Debbie is making shade screen for front of dodger - 2014

February 2014- Currently in La Cruz anchorage in Banderas Bay Mexico (across the bay from Puerto Vallarta)

The aft shade tree (Shadetree boat awning systems)) awning does a nice job but it shades the solar panel on top of the dodger.

 At times it also shades the others and it prevents the boom from going out all the way to move it away from the panels for shading. So at anchor at this time of year say from November probably to March the shade tree does not get deployed at anchor. This means the sun can come in the cockpit through the front of the dodger. Hmmm this is not good for cruising comfort. So although we made shade screen for the whole cockpit we can still get zapped from the dodger - especially now with the sun so low in the sky. To this end, Debbie is making the dodger shade screen. Debbie has done a great job on these sewing projects and uses the salon table (Sailrite Ultrafeed LSZ-1 PLUS Walking Foot Sewing Machine) while I put the dot fasteners in by using the rubber mat (what car tires are made of) next to the big genoa sheet winch (we have been at anchor for over 45 days so everything is done on the hook) and used the die to cut the holes pounding it in there. This will eventually be just like the dodger windows. 

There are several differences with the shade screen verses the dodger windows. The dodger windows for instance get covered with canvas to protect them. This is good but makes it impossible to see out through the front of the dodger. It also makes it dark and hot. The 90 percent shade screen makes this a non-issue. You can still see through it and although it does block most of the breeze it can be removed in pieces or the middle window rolled up or removed. So can the dodger windows but it is more difficult and harder to store. So Debbie made the first phase of the covering. It is all one piece now but she is getting ready to add the zippers. Also the sides will connect to the dodger shade screen sides.

I put the dot fasteners in by using the rubber mat (what car tires are made of) next to the big genoa sheet winch (we have been at anchor for over 45 days so everything is done on the hook) and used the die to cut the holes pounding it in there.

This is already paying us in the form of comfort…not even finished! We ran out of some dot fasteners so that is one hold up. The other is we do not want to use the two 36” zippers we have for the 27” dodger shade screen so we are looking for some other zippers for this use.