Projects - Solid Sternrails

I got tired of climbing all the way out of the cockpit and up onto the dodger top in order to open the vents at the front of the dodger to let some air in. I used some blocks of starboard to mount the latches on the underside of the dodger. They are sideways so that the sliding pin can still go down into the locking groove. The pin just rests and holds the vent down against the underside of the dodger trim. I positioned them so that it is a very snug fit (no rattles).

It is amazing how much air flow there is with these vents open at 45 degrees. I cut some thin strips of starboard (which will probably warp within a month - teak replacements are waiting.....), and used them as props for the vents.

The strips are screwed sidways into the side of the drip gutter on the top of the dodger so that they can stay attached and just lay down into the gutter when the vent is closed.

Since I had those extra holes there from the old latch posdition, I cut some points on the end of the flat strips that go into the hole and hold everything steady.


All text, imaging, and formatting copyright 1999, 2000 Ray Henry / RCHDesigns