How to Make a Dodger

X-HT-300078

A dodger is a great way to stay sheltered from rain or spray while on your boat and at the dock. Sometimes called a sprayhood, a dodger covers the companionway and acts as a windshield, offering protection to those in the cockpit. Custom dodgers can be expensive from a canvas shop, but you can get a custom fit for less by building your own using a dodger kit and our comprehensive video tutorial.

Video Chapters:

Securing & Prepping Dodger Frame – 2:19 min.
Patterning Frame – 5:38 min.
Patterning & Cutting Top Canvas – 30:36 min.
Creating Aft Zippered Pocket – 34:00 min.
Creating Hang-Down Tail – 45:42 min.
Sewing Tail & Pocket to Aft Edge – 50:48 min.
Patterning & Cutting Front Canvas – 1:00:55 min.
Creating Center Zippered Pocket – 1:10:48 min.
Reinforcing for Fasteners – 1:15:49 min.
Sewing Awning Rope (Optional) – 1:20:41 min.
Sewing Smile Zipper Opening in Window – 1:22:25 min.
Sewing Window on Front Panel – 1:56:37 min.
Joining Panels Together – 2:10:58 min.
Sewing Binding on Edge – 2:18:19 min.
Creating Fastener Flange – 2:26:01 min.
Sewing Center Pocket’s Zipper to Top Panel – 2:36:05 min.
Installing Fasteners – 2:39:08 min.
Adding Roll-Up Window Strap – 2:55:17 min.
Installing Snaps on Aft Pocket Ends – 3:01:39 min.
Adding Starboard & Port Windows – 3:04:58 min.

Materials List:

Sailrite® Dodger Skin Kit for 2-Bow Frame - Sattler® Fabric – #126460
Rigid Support Strut Stainless Steel Pair – 7/8": #121152 / 1": #100268*
Keder Awning Rope Black 5/16" – #103299*
Awning Track Flanged White 48" – #100380*
DOT® Lift-The-DOT® Standard Legs Socket (Nickel-Plated Brass) – #888015*
Loxx® Pull It Up Fastener Oval Plate Stud 1" (Nickel-Plated Brass) – #121351*
Loxx® Pull It Up Fastener Upper Head With Regular Washer (Nickel-Plated Brass) – #121356*
DOT® Lift-The-DOT® Backplate (Nickel-Plated Brass) – #888020*
303® Multi-Surface Cleaner 32 oz. (Quart) – #30553*
Lenzip® #10 Black Style C Double Non-Locking Metal Zipper Pull (Coil Chain) – #125121*
3M™ Specialty Adhesive Remover 32 oz. (Quart) – #108984*
IMAR™ Strataglass™ Protective Cleaner 16 oz. – #100927*
Cutting Oil*

*These items are sold separately from #126460.

Tools List:

Tape Measure 120" – #102986
Gingher® Scissors Right Hand Lightweight 8" – #101017
Sailrite® Clear Acrylic Ruler 6" x 24" – #102400
Scribe-All® Black Marking Pencil for Vinyl – #121977
Kai Professional Stainless Steel 9" Scissors – #125662
Sailrite® Edge Cordless Hotknife 18V Package – #122177
Precision Cutting Blade & Foot for Edge Hotknife – #125495
Chalk Pencil Cartridge Set – #121669
Sailrite® Canvas Patterning Ruler – #107040
Sailrite® Ultrafeed® LSZ Walking Foot Sewing Machine (110V) – #311602
Sailrite® Ultrafeed® Industrial Sewing Table – #120934
Large Fabric/Leather Grip Clips – #126365
Suisei Magnetic Sewing Guide – #102983
Sailrite® 1" Swing-Away Binder – #100103
Scribe-All® Water Soluble White Marking Pencil – #120681
Flexible Curve 20" With Ruler – #123117
Seam Ripper Deluxe – #18104
Sewing Gauge Ruler 6" – #102995
Sailrite® Cutting Block & Die Holder – #121597
Sailrite® #1 Drill Hole Cutter 5/16" – #121819
DOT® Lift-The-DOT® Hole Cutter – #110012
Barry King Mallet Hammer Style 3# – #68563
Prong Bending Tool for Twist-Lock & Lift-The-DOT® Fasteners – #120445
Sailrite® Twist-Lock Eyelet Hole Cutter – #108001
Loxx® Pull It Up Fastener Locking Key – #121357
Sailrite® Drill Hole Cutter 1/8" – #121817
Professional Rivet Tool – #103520
SnapRite® Surface Mount Stud Die – #103754
Pres-N-Snap Installation Tool – #109011
Multiuse Pins 1-1/2" (250 pack) – #102985
Marker, Tape Measure, Straightedge, Heat Gun, Drill, Drill Bits, 3/8" Countersink Bit, Screwdriver, Spring-Loaded Center Punch

Note: All listed tools are sold separately from #126460.

How to Make a Dodger 2 — Learn how to build a dodger with our comprehensive video and complete kits.

This detailed 3-1/4-hour video tutorial walks you through every step of building a dodger. Key processes include:

Preparing the dodger frame for patterning
Patterning and cutting the fabric
Sewing panels and pockets
Reinforcing fastener installation points
And much more!

Everything You Need in One Place

At Sailrite^®, we offer complete kits designed to make constructing a 2-bow dodger easier than ever:

2-Bow Dodger Frame Kit (#126461): Includes all the hardware and 1-inch stainless steel tubing to construct a sturdy, well-built frame.
Dodger Skin Kit for 2-Bow Frame (#126460): Contains premium materials to sew a custom canvas top, including high-quality Sattler^® Marine Grade Fabric.

With these all-inclusive kits, professional tools, and detailed video instructions, sewing your own marine canvaswork has never been more accessible!

If your boat has both a dodger and bimini, consider adding an extension panel to connect the two, offering greater protection from sun and weather. Check out our blog, “How to Make an Extension Panel Between Dodger & Bimini” (#300386XHT), for a step-by-step guide.

Additionally, adding a chafe guard to the top aft edge of your dodger can help protect the canvas from abrasion caused by sails or gear. Learn how to apply this protective vinyl patch in our blog, “Adding a Chafing Guard to a Dodger” (#300398XHT).

Footnote: This blog was updated in July 2024 with a new assembly method, updated skin and frame kits, and revised video instructions for an improved user experience.