Hard dodger
Waked up early morning to start work on templating hard dodger. I decided to make it out of fiberglass with real front glass and Polycarbonate sides.
Boat is not symmetrical and not square. It is learned many times. To be able to work on dodger at home and to get feeling of the size and shape, I had to make full scale 3D template.
Template was started from the center line - rope tightly routed from the mast to backstay just below boom to be a center line and theoretical max height marker.
I protected interface surfaces (deck surfaces what will be contacted with dodger) with masking tape to be able to use gluegun and mount template to the surface without need to clean it for the glue after.
Then I mounted planks representing dodger footprint on the deck.
Long horizontal plank represents top height of the dodger roof,and one which is close to camera is a dodger roof length.
Whole structure is built. Highest point has about 4" clearance below boom.
Four long hours work under Texas sun.
Several pictures showing finalized construction from different angles of view.
Whole template was disconnected from the hull and carefully carried to truck bed to move it to garage to start work on mold.
I tied it in truck, but it still is be really fragile.
I decided to drive side roads at below 40mph speed to eliminate high head wind and bring it home as one piece.
BUT!!!! On my way home in about 5 mile from destination, I forgot about fragile load. I saw 60mph limit road sign and question myself why I am driving so slow?...and subconsciously pressed accelerator pedal little bit ;-). At about 55mph I realized that my 4 hours work piece get loose and get snapped around tie hold it on the truck bed and flew away. One second later another car just run over it and made a nice pile of plywood planks out of my 4 hours work piece.
All left for me, just collect trash from the road :-(
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