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Sails and Canvas
Genoa
(11/30/01)
 I have ordered a
new roller furling genoa from one of my local lofts, Hallett
Canvas and Sails. This is a significant expense, but a necessary one,
since the old genoa that came with the boat--the one that had lived in the
rafters of a bird-infested barn while rolled up on the headstay--was
rotten. To me, good sails are a requirement anyway; as a former and
still-occasional racer, I can never get the need for good sail shape out of my
head.
 The new sail is
complete, and installed. It looks great! It's 130% LP, for those of
you interested.
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 After
a season of use, the genoa still looked great and performed well. I spoke
with the sailmaker about recutting the bottom of the sail so that it might
better clear the lifelines forward. I didn't want to lower the lifelines
to deck level like many people do, although this remains an option, so the sail
is forced over the lifeline when sheeted in. I wish I'd installed the
furler with the extra long link plate at the bottom to raise the drum--this
would have allowed the genoa to clear better. Modifying this now would be
difficult. Anyway, the sailmaker seemed to think that changing the sail
was possible, so we'll see what happens next season.
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Mainsail
 The main that
came with the boat seemed to be in good condition, and got the OK from the
sailmakers when they inspected it for me. I had them redo the Triton logo
and sail number, and I plan to use the sail for at least the coming season.
WRONG!
We're getting a new main, too. The old one will get us by for a month or
so, but forget it--what a rag. Totally unacceptable. This (left) is
a picture of the old main--I know, not that terrible--it's usable, but that's
about it.
The new main is
larger--higher in hoist, longer in the foot--and features a larger roach and
full battens. It was complete on June 14, and I installed it on the boat
with great enthusiasm.
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 However, when I
went to raise, it, the sail slides caught on something a little above the
spreaders, preventing me from raising it further. This seemed strange,
since the old main had had no problem. When I looked up the mast with
binoculars, though, I could easily see a small section of the track that had
somehow been deformed. What an annoyance!
The repair was in
two steps: first, I raised a friend of mine up the mast in a Bosun's chair
(he's lighter than me) so that he could hopefully bent the track back into
shape. After a time, he was done, and I lowered him down. Attaching
the main halyard once again to the sail, I tried raising it, but still to no
avail. Apparently, the sail slides are as much a culprit. I spent a
little time prying the slides slightly farther open, and eventually got everything
to slide by the spot on the mast without too much trouble. Lubricating the
mast track is next--it was very dry.
The new sail
looks great, but will require a minor thing or two--first, it needs a cringle
for a cunningham at the tack, since I have fixed the gooseneck to allow for the
solid boom vang. I need the cunningham to tension the luff after the sail
is fully hoisted. Please click here
for details on the new cunningham and reefing system.
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Mainsail
Cover: (5/25/01)
 The new mainsail cover is
complete. The initial fit was too long, so I took it back to the loft for
a shorteningdectomy, where about 5" of material was removed from the aft
end. The fit is now perfect.
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Dodger:
(11/30/01)
I t
is a rare site indeed to see a cruising boat here in Maine or the Northeast
without a dodger over the companionway and front of the cockpit. Cold
water temperatures, fog and sea breezes can make life in the cockpit rather
unpleasant, and the shelter the dodger provides is critical for comfort. I
used to scoff at them during my racing days, but as a converted cruiser I think
they are the greatest. Properly constructed, I think dodgers enhance the
lines of a Triton.
We're having a
very nice one built of Sunbrella, 40 mil clear plastic and 1" stainless
tubing. To ensure that the dodger would be completed by spring, I rushed a
few critical portions of the boat project to semi-completion by mid-January so
that measurements and templates for the new dodger could be made, guaranteeing
plenty of time for the sail loft to complete the work. After an initial
visit to take some general measurements for the stainless bows, Michael, the canvas
guru from Hallett Sails, arrived for the long process of creating a template for the dodger. First,
the pre-bent bows were cut to the proper length--they had been left a little
long to account for
some adjustments--and installed on the boat in the proper position.
Masking tape held the frames in position, and I was able to begin to visualize
the shape and size of the dodger. Next, a template was made--essentially a
plastic version of the dodger, using flexible reinforced plastic (kind of like a
thin, clear tarpaulin material). This process took several hours, but the
ultimate shape of the canvas became clear as the template was completed.
Forming and cutting the template around some of the obstacles, like the sea hood
and especially the cockpit coamings, took the longest time, with careful
measuring and many small cuts. When it was done, it formed a sort of
ghost-like apparition of the shape of things to come. Michael removed the
template and bows and returned to his shop, to eventually fabricate the real
dodger.
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 After
a couple months had gone by, the dodger was completed--before I was ready
for it. I had to complete the varnishing of the coamings, and install the
coamings on the boat before I could give Michael the go ahead to install the new
dodger. On a warm spring day in early April, he arrived and spent about
three hours installing it, and attaching the various snaps and fasteners.
When one watches the process involved in this custom work, it becomes readily
apparent why the cost is so high--and well worth it. The slots seen in the
bottom of the forward panels are for the yet-to-be-installed handrails.
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 The
completed dodger looks great, and is everything we had hoped for. It is
tight as a drum, and rock-steady. We had a stainless steel handle (covered
with suede) welded to the aftermost bow, which makes ingress and egress from the
cockpit all the easier; the dodger frame barely moves when you support yourself
with the bar. Inside, there's plenty of room, and the overhead space is
generous, allowing for easy movement to and from the companionway. From
what I can tell, not being able to move far away from the boat, the profile is
just right--not to high, not too low, and it enhances the general lines of the
boat. The overall height is such that, when standing in the cockpit, I can
just look over the top, and it's a very easy duck-down to look through the
windshield.
I'll leave the
dodger in place for a day or two, to let it sort of acclimate to its real shape,
but then I'll remove it to prevent any damage from occurring while I finish
construction projects on the boat.
Below are a
couple pictures of the completed dodger on the boat--with the boat surrounded by
water, too! Sure beats the old project shed.
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 After
a season, we absolutely love the dodger. It is everything we hoped for,
and more. We pretty much consider it a permanent fixture and never lower
it--at least here in Maine. The front window opens and rolls up, so if we
want additional air flow into the cockpit on a hot day we can get it. This
is usually enough, and the shade provided is worth keeping the dodger up
for. Theoretically, we could lower the dodger, but it's a little bit of a
pain--you have to undo the lines holding the wings at the aft corner, which is a
little tedious. Maybe I can come up with more of a quick-release and
adjustment here. Give me time. The leather-covered handle on the aft
edge of the dodger is wonderful for hanging onto when standing in the
cockpit--sailing or motoring--and for holding onto when moving between the
cockpit and the sidedecks. Again, well worth the money. And, when it
rains, we leave the companionway wide open for ventilation--a Godsend on rainy
cruising days.
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 The
dodger is high enough that we can easily move between the cabin and cockpit, yet
not so high as to look foolish. I find that I usually look through the
windows when standing in the cockpit rather than over the top, as the height is
just a little awkward for this. I can see over the top, but with the broad
expanse of canvas on the visual plane it leaves quite a blind spot--real or perceived.
The view straight through is excellent. When motoring in calm weather, I
often stand on the cockpit seat and hold onto the handrail on the dodger,
steering with the tiller extension.
We have received many complements on the
Dodger. It looks better than most of its counterparts that we see on other
boats. Hallett really knows how to build a dodger...so if you're in the
market, give them a call!
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