Dodger Project

Here's my new dodger on its way.. After five years of studying and planning, finally got the materials, selected the right design and started working on it. Several tips were provided by several sailors, and specially from other C38 owners.

My needs called for a "coastal dodger", something to avoid the hot and damaging UV rays and rain, from coming through the huge companionway opening on the C38. Looking back from the bow, I wanted it to follow the lines of the deck, but that will take some room inside the dodger, so I started by placing the frame mounts on each side of the cabin, instead of the top. This way, I can turn the 8" winch handle without any obstructions. The same principle was applied to the side curtains, the primaries 10" winch handles had to rotate freely but getting rid of the sides were out of question. The final aproach was making a curtain with enough gap in the middle between the winch and the dodger that still brings some protection. At 6', I consider myself a tall person, so the tallest the dodger, the better! The total height of the dodger is 64". One inch taller, and the boom will kiss the dodger top.

Mainsail Stack Pack

Way better than the regular lazy jack!! Mainsail handling couldn't be easier for shorthanded sailing.

Solar Panels

I installed four Arco Solar 45w solar panels on the existing bimini. Didn't want a separate estrcture for them. The only thing that the pics are not showing are a couple of stainless pipes that go from the stern side of the panels, to the stern pulpit. These were added in order to make the structure more rigid, and turned out to be a great adition.

I can even move back .the front part of the bimini for a full sunbath, afternoon sailing, or ocasional racing.

The charge current is controlled by a Morningstar dual battery bank controller.

My batteries are always topped!!!

Estancia

Lazy Jack

I installed the Lazy jack system on ESTANCIA last month, but it wasn't untyl last Saturday when I used it for the first time. Why I didn't install them before, I have no idea!!!!

The easy handling of the mainsail is amazing. I made them at a fraction of an "off the shelf" kit.

It's a three leg system that goes up the mast to a couple of blocks installed on the lower spreaders and down to cleats on the mast base. This way, I can retract them when sailing, or when installing the sail cover.

INTERIOR CUSHIONS

The new cushions are already installed on the port side of the ESTANCIA. They have a more contemporary design than the originals. Round corners are very common on new boats, so, why not use them here??? New foam with 3", 4" and 5" thick were used on this project.

Spinnaker

First time using a spinnaker. Photos taken before spinnaker wrap!
I have no spinnaker pole, so , I was using the symmetrical spinnaker as an a-sail, with the tack over the furled headsail. Worked ok, until the wrap, but that was because the guy at the helm got scared of the sail and changed the heading!