2x4 Mock-up day! Tim has wanted to raise the height of our dodger (we’re looking at a little over 6" higher) for years now. The canvas is just about shot, and there’s a great canvas guy here in Guaymas, so now’s the time. We figured out a way to do it without having to replace the bulk of the stainless frame. We’ll just need two straight lengths of stainless to lengthen the long but straight forward supports, then — if we’re ambitious — we’ll either build up teak/hardwood pla...tforms for the each side for the aft supports, that we’ll fashion into cubbies… or we’ll just lengthen the furthest aft legs and build two new lengths of stainless “feet” to lengthen and support the middle aft legs.
What matters at this point it we have the frame in a good enough position to visualize how it will work and to allow Jorge to take any initial measurements he needs.
My actual favorite outcome of this project will be that, since last September, we’ve been carrying around two massive rolls of materials (canvas and window vinyl) that have been spilling out of our quarter berth, and now we get to finally get rid of them and put them to actual use! Other projects we’re hoping he can fit in, in order of priority: stays’l bag (ours is about to completely come apart), hatch covers (they’re also coming apart, and they’re actually what keep our vintage cabin-top hatches from leaking), and mains’l cover — just for the aesthetics— we’re moving from the original marine blue to slate.
Lots of cruisers DIY this stuff. And though we DIY almost everything on this boat, we draw the line at sewing projects. First: we have nowhere to store a canvas-capable sewing machine. Second: I simply dislike sewing, and though Tim is willing to learn and do it, quiet honestly, neither of us would do it well at all. And I want it done well! So I trade some hours doing what I do well professionally for someone else’s professional skills. Having the option to do that when we want to us why I still sit in front of a desk a lot more than a lot of cruisers, but I find it a worthwhile trade.