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PostPosted: Wed May 28, 2014 4:54 pm 
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Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2007 4:59 am
Posts: 14
My wife and I live in Michigan, which has a much shorter sailing season than say SoCal. I belive that dogers would helpful in extending our season. Spray skirts, like Kayak Bob's look like they work great for the spray. I will probably make or invest in some eventually. They don't provide wind protection though. So we ordered two silver dodgers, an Adventure island for the front and a Mirage dodger for the rear, just like the catalog indicates. I started to install them this past weekend. It hasn't gone well. When I tried to put the front battens in the AI dodger I had stretch the fabric so tight that the ferrule bent and broke. When I tried to put the rear battens the fabric tore, not much about a 1/2 an inch. I gave up on the AI dodger and started on the Mirage dodger for the rear. Not wanting a repeat of the AI dodger I cut the battens down a little bit. This time they went into the pockets much easier while still having plenty of tension. However, when I looked at the instructions to put on the mounting hardware I discovered there isn't one single word about proper placement for a TI. The TI isn't mentioned at all. Considering that the TI has the akas to contend with it is difficult to figure out where to place the mounting hardware. Further, the layout of the rear seat is not like the other Mirage kayaks. It is similar, but doesn't match any of them. So, using instructions for the others kayaks won't help. I am extremely disappointed in these products. I have purchased one used Hobie and three new ones. The quality has always been great. I wish I could say the same about the dodgers. I am sure I will eventually get them installed but the hassle is much more than it should be.


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PostPosted: Thu May 29, 2014 11:05 am 
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Joined: Tue May 27, 2003 12:44 pm
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Location: Oceanside, California
In the catalog, we simply say that the dodger may fit other models, but there is nothing specific to fitting the TI unfortunately. This item is also on the way out as the vendor has stopped producing it for us.

I am hoping someone who has actually done the installation on the TI pops up here. I'll also ask out lead engineer as he did the installation on a TI use on the Everglades challenge.

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Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)


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PostPosted: Thu May 29, 2014 6:47 pm 
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Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2007 6:14 pm
Posts: 3323
Location: South Florida
I didn't look at them closely, but Tom & Debbie Turner had 2 dodgers mounted on their Tandem at the beginning of the 2014 WT Everglades Challenge.

Image


Here is a picture taken of them on Pavilion a yr ago.

Image

Keith

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2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

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PostPosted: Wed Dec 23, 2015 6:01 am 
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Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2007 6:14 pm
Posts: 3323
Location: South Florida
Matt, is there any update on this topic?

Keith

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2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon


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PostPosted: Wed Dec 23, 2015 9:18 am 
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Joined: Tue May 27, 2003 12:44 pm
Posts: 15021
Location: Oceanside, California
New Dodgers coming. Looks like January at the minimum. Not yet in dealers databases.

72721001 KAYAK DODGER / SILVER
72722001 KAYAK DODGER / RED
72730002 DODGER - ISLAND / SILVER
72730004 DODGER - ISLAND / RED

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)


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PostPosted: Tue Nov 15, 2022 2:02 am 
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Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Fri Jan 26, 2007 4:24 pm
Posts: 19
Location: NC
whaletosh wrote:
My wife and I live in Michigan, which has a much shorter sailing season than say SoCal. I belive that dogers would helpful in extending our season. Spray skirts, like Kayak Bob's look like they work great for the spray. I will probably make or invest in some eventually. They don't provide wind protection though. So we ordered two silver dodgers, an Adventure island for the front and a Mirage dodger for the rear, just like the catalog indicates. I started to install them this past weekend. It hasn't gone well. When I tried to put the front battens in the AI dodger I had stretch the fabric so tight that the ferrule bent and broke. When I tried to put the rear battens the fabric tore, not much about a 1/2 an inch. I gave up on the AI dodger and started on the Mirage dodger for the rear. Not wanting a repeat of the AI dodger I cut the battens down a little bit. This time they went into the pockets much easier while still having plenty of tension. However, when I looked at the instructions to put on the mounting hardware I discovered there isn't one single word about proper placement for a TI. The TI isn't mentioned at all. Considering that the TI has the akas to contend with it is difficult to figure out where to place the mounting hardware. Further, the layout of the rear seat is not like the other Mirage kayaks. It is similar, but doesn't match any of them. So, using instructions for the others kayaks won't help. I am extremely disappointed in these products. I have purchased one used Hobie and three new ones. The quality has always been great. I wish I could say the same about the dodgers. I am sure I will eventually get them installed but the hassle is much more than it should be.


I received a TI dodger and on first attempt I have not been able to stretch the material enough to install the front (2 short batons). I may have to shorten the, combined, 2 short batons by about half an inch. Any recommendation on cutting a baton without splintering? I would have liked the batons to be easier to install. I should not have to cut a part to fit... i can not see how this would be assembled "on the fly" when needed.

I have not yet installed the screws into the hull, trying not to add any more holes than are absolutely necessary on the kayak. I am considering swapping out the screws for bolt/nut to prevent a sharp point protruding through the hull that may catch on packed items or bare skin.

I am excited to get the dodger on, for the front passenger. In cold months, the front seat takes a beating with wave breaks. I have high hopes that the added water and wind protection will make the front seat more enjoyable.


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