building a sailboat dodger

A tool that helps you conceptualize a color scheme for your new canvas dodger. We offer a large variety of color choices in acrylic canvas, binding, and material overlay. Have fun! For a complete list of colors take a look at the .

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• Doable DIY: Crafting a Simple, Durable Dodger

Have you ever noticed an old and badly neglected sailboat at the marina or boat yard or that grabs you and pulls you in? One that calls to you beyond just the fiberglass and weathered teak, making you feel some salty combination of pity and lust, and begging you to give her a new life?

Well, I am that weak guy who just can’t walk away. After more than a dozen sailboats, the desire to restore these works of art has become even stronger. Just as I’ve finished up the restoration of one, I’ll stumble onto another one that looks to me for help. You’re reading 48° North, so maybe I’m preaching to the choir. My friends and family have told me I’m crazy, but I know friends that restore old cars and nobody considers them crazy. Maybe I am crazy and it has nothing to do with sailboats.

On many of my restorations, I’ll finish off by making a cockpit dodger for the boat. In the past, I’ve installed a half-dozen canvas dodgers with prefabricated frame and skin kits. Those kits are a good product, but they’ve gotten so expensive over the last several years that I’ve had to rethink the whole process of making dodgers. With limited funds and even more limited intelligence, I realized that a different type of dodger could be used — something simple, strong, attractive, and inexpensive. And something that was bulletproof (figuratively, and potentially literally) could also be handy. That’s where the idea of Lexan or polycarbonate came to mind (Lexan is a brand of polycarbonate). By making my own frame and using Lexan sheets, my experimental dodger project was launched.

Aluminum tubing for the frame can be used instead of stainless steel due to the support from the shape of the dodger. One inch aluminum frames are more than adequate in strength and much less expensive than stainless. In fact, the overall strength of this type of dodger with aluminum is much greater than a traditional canvas dodger with a stainless frame.

The fittings for the frame came from a combination of online retailers, both marine-specific and not — from Fisheries Supply to Amazon. The remaining aluminum tube was cut using a small-tooth hacksaw and used for the frame bracing. Similarly, I cut down frame arcs and bracing to the proper lengths to create a dodger shape that would blend well with the contours of the boat. The most important rule here is to work slowly and cut small amounts at a time for the final fit. Through trial and error I’ve discovered that, once cut, aluminum pipes are difficult to glue back together again.

With the frame completed and secured, I needed to make a pattern for the Lexan sheeting that would go over it. I just used some Visqueen sheeting that I temporarily taped tightly over the frame and marked with a Sharpie pen. Remember to mark the pattern about an inch beyond the frame for the top portion sheet of the dodger for later attaching a cosmetic edging with a cut white cable cover (more on this later).

The Lexan can be easily cut with a fine-tooth jigsaw. Polycarbonate is great stuff and nearly impossible to break, and so much easier to use than acrylic or Plexiglass sheets, which can shatter.

Now that the patterns are cut for the top and the front of the dodger you can attach them to the frame using aluminum rivets. The metal of the rivets must match the aluminum metal it attaches to. Simply start from the center of the arcs and slowly drill and rivet every six inches or so while bending down the Lexan and working towards the ends on each side. Some folks like to have sides on their dodgers and this is easy to do. To make this work, take a larger scrap of the Lexan, hold it up the the side you want to cover and, with your Sharpie, draw the shape of the side piece; then cut it and rivet this onto the aluminum frame.

Now for the dodger color and windows. Lexan sheets normally have a plastic protective film covering on both sides to reduce scratching during shipment. Take advantage of this and don’t peel it off right away. Draw out on this film where you want the windows to go. Take a sharp knife or box cutter and, using a straight edge, carefully and superficially cut through just this film along your marked window edges both on the outside and inside surfaces. Carefully remove all the film surrounding the windows. Let me repeat: make sure that you leave the protective film on the areas that cover the windows.

Once the peripheral areas of film are removed, you can reinforce this window edge with painter’s masking tape before gently roughing up this exposed surface a little with a fine grain sandpaper before one final cleaning. Paint this peripheral area leaving the film on for the windows. For painting my dodgers, I use leftover matching two-part polyurethane called “Perfection” from Interlux that I had lying around after some trim work. If you want to have the dodger look old-school, you could actually permanently glue a sheet of Sunbrella over the Lexan sheet to make it look like a canvas dodger. I haven’t tried this yet, but might on my next boat.

I’ve now made dodgers in this style for a little Halman Nordic 20 and a Catalina 25. I can honestly say that these have been enjoyable learning experiences for me; and I’m confident that this is a cost-effective and handsome alternative to traditional cloth dodgers, and a project that can be completed by nearly all sailors.

DODGER DETAILS

Here’s a run down of what I paid for my most recent dodger:

• 3- 8’ X 1” Aluminum tubes/pipes, $46 (Home Depot)
• 6 – Jaw Flanges, $62
• 6 – Bases, $37
• 12 – Eye Ends, $32
• 1/8 “ Lexan Polycarbonate Sheeting, $144 (Home Depot)
• 2 – ⅜” Shroud Cable Cover, $5 (Fisheries Supply)
• 2 – Stainless grab handles, $45
• Aluminum Rivets, $4
• Case of beer, $21
• Total: $416

The project may at first seem overwhelming but believe me if I can do it, I know you can and probably better. The secret is to take it slow and make it fun. Remember my work-ethic rules:

• Never be afraid to make mistakes.
• Never admit to making mistakes.
• Work alone so no one sees you make mistakes.
• The best craftsmen are the best at hiding their mistakes.
• When someone spots one of your mistakes, always say to them, “That’s how I wanted it to look.”

Mike Swesey is a long-time sailor and author who calls Newport, Oregon his home base. He is old and grumpy most of the time, and is unapologetically addicted to the roll of the sea.

Mike Swesey

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• Cockpit Dodger For an Offshore Sailboat

What you see is our third crack at creating the “ideal” dodger and bimini top, at least for us. I can’t say that “design” is the word that I would use, more like “evolution”.

When we bought Morgan’s Cloud she came with a fabric dodger set on heavy duty (1-1/4”) stainless steel bows. When that came to the end of its life we decided to stay with the basic shape and design, since it had worked well, but make the dodger top hard. We also decided to add a bimini top to try to reduce the crop of growing things that dermatologists delight in burning off my (John) skin.

In designing the bimini our first concern was that we not compromise access to winches or other sail handling equipment and to preserve good visibility.

We also decided to end the bimini forward of the wheel since we rarely steer and when we do we like to be able to look up at the mainsail.

Since the existing dodger bows were so substantial, we used them for the basic structure, although with a modification: The curve of the old fabric dodger had required us to keep our heads bent slightly forward when sitting under it. It is truly amazing how uncomfortable this can be on a long watch. To solve this problem we had a short piece of tube welded into the middle of each bow to move the curve outboard by 2 inches. This has had a miraculous effect on our comfort.

Before making this change we made sure that we would still be able to see the oncoming waves and the headsails, while sitting in a comfortable steering position and looking along the side of the dodger.

Ideally, we would have liked to make the whole dodger rigid including the windows. However this would have necessitated going to glass or plastic windows without curves, which would have compromised the boat’s looks to a level we could not tolerate. We did enquire about a custom curved laminated glass windshield; however, when the $10,000 figure was mentioned by the manufacturer, that was the end of that discussion.

For our first hard dodger and bimini top we went to a mass producer of fiberglass tops for both. This was not a success. The fiberglass laminate was too thin, resulting in alarming flexing underfoot. Since being able to stand on the dodger to furl the mainsail or tie in reef points was a lot of the reason for going with a hard top in the first place, this was not acceptable, although it did last four years before developing cracks.

The other problem was that the extrusions provided to attach the fabric sides and front were really chintzy and poorly designed so it was impossible to keep the joint between the hard top and fabric sides waterproof. Aside from the discomfort of having constant drips, we navigate on deck under the dodger so leaks resulted in soggy charts and publications—very irritating.

For our third iteration we stayed with the same design but had a custom fibreglass shop build the hard dodger top using a balsa core sandwiched with fiberglass. This resulted in a very stiff and relatively light structure, albeit expensive. After the custom shop finished their part, we covered it with Treadmaster, painted it with Allgrip and added good quality plastic extrusions, glued with Plexus adhesive, tucked well under the edge to prevent leaks.

At the same time we laminated a piece of ¼” plywood to the underside of the bimini, to stiffen and strengthen it, as well as adding Treadmaster to the top.

Finally, we had the new dodger front and sides fabricated in one piece with no zippers. We think that zippered windows in dodgers are a mistake since they result in blind spots and they will inevitably leak. Of course, those in hot climates may disagree, but we have never found the heat under the dodger excessive, even in the Caribbean. For fabric we went with Stamoid rather than the Sunbrella that we had used on previous versions.

These have proved to be good changes and combined with the well recessed tracks have made the dodger completely waterproof, even when punching to windward with the spray flying.

We have considered solar panels but are loath to add them since the clutter would make the bimini much less functional to stand on when sail handling.

The devil is in the details. Note how the hard top overlaps the fabric top edge, which slides into a plastic extrusion on the front. To attach the sides, there is a light fiberglass batten in a pocket that is through bolted to a rabbited-out lip, to clear the bows, on the underside of the hard top.

Further Reading

• Lane and Kay Finley from New Zealand have built their own hard dodger for their sailboat Mai Tai and shared the process with us here .
• We have two full chapters on our new cockpit enclosure—yes, we changed our minds— starting here .

Please Share a Link:

More Articles From Cockpit Enclosures and Dodgers:

• How To Home Build a Hard Dodger For an Offshore Sailboat
• A Sailor’s Cockpit Enclosure—Part 1
• A Sailor’s Cockpit Enclosure—Part 2

Beautiful dodger. Who built it. I have an Apogee 50 and am thinking about a new dodger. Thanks! Lex

I moved your comment so you will now find the complete story of our dodger in the post above. Hope it helps.

Sorry if this is noted somewhere and I just haven’t managed to find it but what material have you used for the windows. There seems to be debate as there i with many things that float, about what is the best way to go. We are about to change our window material on Onegin. thanks Geoff

We have a two chapter series starting here that covers our current thinking: https://www.morganscloud.com/2016/10/10/a-sailors-cockpit-enclosure-part-1/

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Dear Readers

Chafe Protection for Dock Lines

• Boat Maintenance
• Sails, Rigging & Deck Gear

Make a Mini Dodger

Cheap protection doesnt have to look cheap..

A companionway slider and hatch boards are the most common type of cabin entry on sailboats. Its seaworthy, lightweight, and inexpensive. Unfortunately, you can’t leave the hatch open when it’s raining without getting water below. Swapping the hatch boards for a hinged door is a popular upgrade, but in many boats there simply isn’t space for an opened door.

A dodger or hard top is another possibility, but dodgers increase windage, disrupt movement on deck, interfere with line and sail handling, partially block the view forward, and are expensive and heavy. Many sailors simply don’t sail in the rain often enough justify the downsides. However, after just one steamy evening below during a summer thunderstorm, buttoned up tight, and you’ll give your eye teeth for a little more air.

For my new-to-me boat, a Corsair F 24 trimaran, I envisioned a streamlined mini-dodger that would offer protection from spray and rain from forward or straight down. Access would be fast and it would not interfere with sailing, or add windage or weight.

The answer was a mini-dodger fabricated from a sheet of fiberglass shower-liner material. It snaps into the slider grove in seconds, and by virtue of being cut slightly wider than the opening, it flexes into a cone-shaped arch, tapering down to nothing at the forward end of the slider and providing a small overhang on the cockpit end.

Although the arch is not tall enough to enter the cabin standing, we can either crouch or sit on the sill and slide in. In the rain you can leave the slider open, with some or all of the boards left out, according to the wind direction. A screen inside blocks the bugs. With a small cabin, this is enough ventilation in the rain. Three ties secure it to the slider handle. The ties, combined with a tight fit, have made it secure in all winds.

The tie points are reinforced with a second layer of fiberglass to insure durability, and a rubberized extension on the forward edge makes for a good seal. Best of all, it can store flat under the V-berth mattress, taking no space and easily forgotten until it rains.

Making the Mini-Dodger

Measure the slider opening, including the width, and the length of the groove with the boards in and the hatch adjusted in the ideal open position (see below). Decide how much overhang you like. Depending on the angle of the companionway boards, six inches is typically enough. Decide how much arch you like, and estimate that arch with a tape measure. You want enough camber to spring it into the track. If camber is than 4 inches or more than 10 inches, it could slip or pop out of the track.

If there is a handle on the top of the slider, determine how far the slider must be open for the handle to clear the mini-dodger. This handle will provide secure tie-down points. If there is no handle, you can create a pair of hold-downs at the aft end of the companion way, or by a tight strap over the top.

Cut a test piece of posterboard similar to the shape you think will best fit. Test the fit, adding cut-outs, locating tie points, and adjusting for a custom fit. Once a final outline is selected, cut from 2.2 millimeter (.09-inch) thick fiberglass shower surround material. It can be cut to fit with a cut-off disk in an angle grinder or cutting with a razor utility knife (box-cutter), using the score-and-snap method. We found a 48-inch by 8-foot Smooth White Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) Wall Panel from Lowes Home Store for $65.

All of the corners, inside and outside, should be rounded to avoid stress concentrations. The schematic drawings for the mini-dodger are posted along with this article at www.practical-sailor.com.

Add reinforcement patches for the tie points and exposed corners by cutting scraps to fit and bonding them using epoxy thickened with colloidal silica or microfibers (prepare the surface by wiping with acetone and sanding). Taper the patch edges and wipe the epoxy smooth to provide smooth transitions. For the corner and edge patches, overlap the edge slightly and then trim away with a disk sander when cured. Sand all edges with 200-grit paper to eliminate splinters.

Drill holes for the tie-down cords; I used three on the slider handle only, both for security and to create the camber. You can also install ties at the aft corners of the overhang to connect to hooks or eyes in the cabin top. Trim the aft edge as needed to be certain you can remove the hatch boards with the mini-dodger in place.

Secure the cords to the dodger with stopper knots, seal the holes with a dab of polyurethane caulk, and cover the holes and knots with scrap Sunbrella ovals (ask your local canvas shop) bonded with polyurethane. This gives it a clean look. There are many other ways to attach the lines. The trick is to keep any holes watertight.

I left the pebble finish-face up for several reasons; it is more difficult to bond the reinforcements, the smooth surface should repel dirt better, and it’s shiny. I have used the same material for window covers for many years. It resists UV very well ( Practical Sailor DIY Fiberglass Hatch Covers , Mach 2016).

Our observations suggest this is a drop-in fit for Catalinas, Beneteaus, J-boats, and some Hunters and Pearsons. If your boat doesn’t have a track that will work, suitable aluminum track is available at hardware stores such as Home Depot and can be added above or outside of the existing track. Water will drain into the track, so it must be angled and sloped to allow drainage.

If your slide runs on top of the companionway, the dodger could also be secured without a track, using ties, or studs with knobs. This won’t fit all boats, but maybe we have given you a starting point for your own invention.

The result is a sleek dodger, reminiscent of the sleek cabintop of an Open 60 (or a Contessa 26). The cost is less than $70 (with lots of material left over), it weighs only five pounds, and it stows under the mattress, ready to be installed in a minute whenever rain threatens. It’s a simple, inexpensive, companionway solution that should last as long much longer than any canvas dodger.

Avid sailor and ice-climber, Drew Frye is a technical editor at Practical Sailor. He has a background in chemistry and engineering blogs about cruising products at www.sail-delmarva.blogspot.com .

Two often we look at marine stores for solutions to our boat problems. This simple fix uses a flexible fiberglass shower panel that is relatively cheap and easy to work with.

As with many projects involving cutting and fitting a new component, it is best to start with a template made of cardboad or stiff posterboard. This gives you plenty of opportunity to make adjustments to the fit and the placement of the tie-downs.

1. Test the fit, first with posterboard, and then with your finished shape before drilling holes for the tie-downs. 2. The reinforcement layers of scrap fiberglass at the tie points are bonded in place using epoxy thickened with colloidal silica or microfibers. 3. The underside of the cover, showing the reinforcing patches is ready for the final trim to fit. 4. A strip of Sunbrella wrapped around the edges and bonded with polyurethane epoxy protects the relatively think edges. 5. The installed dodger lashes down on the sliding hatch. In the event weather gets really wild and we need the hatch closed for safety, it can be removed in a matter of seconds.

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Have you any more photos? I can’t envision what it looks like. Thank you – Dennis

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Building a custom hard dodger

• Thread starter flightlead404
• Start date Mar 29, 2022
• Hunter Owner Forums

flightlead404

• Raise the dodger slightly and bring it slightly further back
• Include both fixed and opening lexan/plexi windows on the front and sides
• Add high and how grab bars to the sides
• Some sort of mechanism to attach a sunbrella/eisenglass connector from dodger to bimini that doesn't leak rain
• Rain gutter or shape it to guide rain to the sides away from companionway
• Be lightweight
• Be removable
• Be not unattractive

Interesting concept. I am familiar with the construction of the EZ's and Velocities. Obviously, this is an airworthy construction technique, and is very strong. The rigidity of the wing, I believe, comes from the thickness at the chord. Do you know how thick your sides and roof will have to be? Also, this type of construction was not impervious to moisture intrusion. Timely inspection of the wings for moisture content was required, and I saw one EZ that was in the process of having a wing refoamed and reglassed.  

Tom J said: Interesting concept. I am familiar with the construction of the EZ's and Velocities. Obviously, this is an airworthy construction technique, and is very strong. The rigidity of the wing, I believe, comes from the thickness at the chord. Do you know how thick your sides and roof will have to be? Also, this type of construction was not impervious to moisture intrusion. Timely inspection of the wings for moisture content was required, and I saw one EZ that was in the process of having a wing refoamed and reglassed. Click to expand

Guy on this site built one for a H40: Repairing Hunter 40 damage from Hurricane Matthew Materials were plywood, rigid foam board, and fiberglass. Most of the shopping list can be found at big box lumber store. I think your biggest design challenge will be: removable - the tolerances needed to make it securely attached without wiggle and the potential for wear. Also making a fastening system that is removable but strong enough to support people or getting pooped by the occasional wave might be a challenge. attractive - most of the DIY hard dodgers I see are boxy and look like the cockpit of the millennium falcon. Not my aesthetic.  

kbgunn said: Guy on this site built one for a H40: Repairing Hunter 40 damage from Hurricane Matthew Materials were plywood, rigid foam board, and fiberglass. Most of the shopping list can be found at big box lumber store. I think your biggest design challenge will be: removable - the tolerances needed to make it securely attached without wiggle and the potential for wear. Also making a fastening system that is removable but strong enough to support people or getting pooped by the occasional wave might be a challenge. attractive - most of the DIY hard dodgers I see are boxy and look like the cockpit of the millennium falcon. Not my aesthetic. Click to expand

Did you ever build that hard dodger?  

MNF said: Did you ever build that hard dodger? Click to expand

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John

This site can do all of those, but the cost of Canvas is unstable for now Bimini, pre-measured Jim...  

flightlead404 said: no I worked with a local shop to make some design changes and then had them build a dodger, Bimini and connector which I can build some side panels for to make a full enclosure Click to expand

The bimini and, to a lesser extent, dodger on our 2002 Hunter 466 are also on their last legs. We have been getting more a more solar panels (4 x 100 flexible at the moment) and have been thinking about replacing the canvas b&d with something rigid so that panels could be more or less permanent. The big issue is making something that fits the existing frame (I've read that that the framing is the most expensive part of this design) and looks good. Has anyone considered using the existing canvas as a "mould" to create the new b&d? Maybe applying some kind of barrier (duct tape) to the existing canvas then applying layers of FG to make a rigid surface, removing the FG product, gel coating it and then affix fasteners. Then the new one would be a nice shape.  

PatAndEuan said: The bimini and, to a lesser extent, dodger on our 2002 Hunter 466 are also on their last legs. We have been getting more a more solar panels (4 x 100 flexible at the moment) and have been thinking about replacing the canvas b&d with something rigid so that panels could be more or less permanent. The big issue is making something that fits the existing frame (I've read that that the framing is the most expensive part of this design) and looks good. Has anyone considered using the existing canvas as a "mould" to create the new b&d? Maybe applying some kind of barrier (duct tape) to the existing canvas then applying layers of FG to make a rigid surface, removing the FG product, gel coating it and then affix fasteners. Then the new one would be a nice shape. Click to expand

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Sailor-friendly sailboat dodger designs

I have been a sailor longer than I have been a marine fabricator. In fact, being a sailor is how I got into this business. I often hear from fellow fabricators that the client is not always right, but when it comes to dodger design, it is important to listen to the client’s desires. 

A dodger is an important feature of a sailboat that can greatly enhance the sailing experience. It is an essential component in providing protection from the elements for the companionway and cockpit area. When done correctly, it will complement the overall look of the boat and function well. When done poorly, it can be an eyesore and a nuisance. According to the sailors I spoke with, here are the most important features of a dodger:

• It provides protection from the weather.
• It offers a good line of sight.
• It enables easy companionway access. 
• It provides airflow. 
• It does not interfere with sailing.

This article will help you understand how to achieve a great dodger design that your clients will love.

Dodger styles

There are two basic dodger types: a traditional dodger and a California dodger. 

A traditional dodger is fabricated all in one piece that is seamed across the front bow of the frame. It will typically have a front center roll-up window and a more rounded frame. I use a custom 18-inch radius bender to achieve this look. 

A California dodger will have a fabric top with anywhere from two to five removable panels. It will feature a flatter frame and will typically provide better all-around visibility. It very much resembles a small bimini with an enclosure. California dodgers are increasing in popularity; however, traditional dodgers are still commonly found on classic boats.

Determine the right style

Determining the right dodger style for your clients depends on a variety of factors. Asking the following questions can help you assess the pros and cons of both dodger styles and guide your clients to the right decision.

How do the clients use their boat? For example, clients who use the boat for both cruising and racing may want to fold down and/or remove the dodger during races. A traditional dodger can be designed to fold down, although folding clear vinyl repeatedly will damage it well before the end of its life. In this scenario, a California dodger with removable panels might be a better option. 

What type of climate are they sailing in? If your client sails in an area with significant temperature changes, having the ability to remove some or all of the panels to increase airflow provides maximum flexibility unlike a traditional dodger with only a single center panel to roll up. 

What is most aesthetically pleasing to both the client and the boat? Classic boats, which typically have a narrower beam, look better with a traditional dodger. Newer boats with wider beams look better with a California dodger, which has a flatter frame. 

How wide is the cabin top? Can your client easily see around the sides? If not, a traditional dodger may impede visibility too much, and a California-style dodger might be the better option. 

Will they be storing the dodger during the off-season? If so, a one-piece traditional dodger might be a lot for some to wrestle on and off the boat. California-style dodgers not only offer easier handling but also store flat. 

Design for functionality 

Clearance, clearance, clearance. This cannot be stressed enough. Your clearance design can create a great sailing experience or an unpleasant one. Two very important aspects of sailing are the winches and traveler line.  

Winches are often mounted on the combing in the cockpit or on the cabin top and often have an 8-to-10-inch removable handle. It is very important to ensure a 360-degree rotational clearance for the handle. A second consideration is the clearance between a winch and/or cleats mounted on the combing and dodger wings for entering and exiting the cockpit area. Although not always possible, try to design with ample distance between them to avoid a tripping hazard. In both scenarios, a scalloped wing may be the way to go to provide clearance while still maintaining a good design. 

The traveler line will run from forward of the dodger windshield into the cockpit on each side and, in some cases (not all), may require an upward lift motion of several inches. When it does, clearance can be provided by aligning with the vertical zipper connection of two panels or by creating a vertical slit directly into the clear vinyl. A cleaner installation is running the line through a fairlead on the cabin top and through the dodger windshield using a small circular entry point, such as a large grommet. This avoids the need for a large slit in the windshield.

Height considerations

The last thing you want is for your clients to be hitting their heads every time they get in and out of the companionway or having the dodger frame land at exactly eye level. Most often, I find clients want to see through the dodger rather than over the dodger, which allows them to sail with a connector for additional shade. With taller clients, it can be a challenge to balance this without making the dodger appear boxy or more like a tugboat than a sailboat.

To counter this, consider these design moves:  

Maximize the forward and aft length of the dodger top. The longer this length, the shorter the dodger will appear. It is good practice to extend the aft edge of the dodger a few inches past the aft opening of the companionway, particularly for boats without a connector. It will help prevent rainwater from dripping directly on top of or into the companionway.  

Increase the amount of crown. In most cases, for aesthetic reasons, I look to match the crown of the frame with the “crown” of the cabin top. To accommodate a taller dodger, adding more crown allows maximum height in the center while decreasing the height moving toward the sides, which also makes it appear slightly shorter. 

Avoid a boxy or straight up-and-down look. This can be done by increasing the rake of the front windshield and/or decreasing the shoulder width of the frame from the mounting point. When decreasing the shoulder width, be careful to still allow proper clearance for any cabin top winches and handles. You will also need to ensure the dodger will both fit under the boom and have proper clearance for the mainsheet, which often runs close to parallel with the windshield, possibly extending over the top of the dodger. It is very important to have your client set the boom in “sailing position.” Many clients will raise the boom height when in port. 

My last piece of advice is to be creative! A dodger is an excellent project for letting your creativity shine. A dodger should look like it was an original part of the boat design and not an add-on. Features like scalloped wings, rounded window corners mimicking the shape of the port windows and details created with stitching and fabrics are all great ways to set your dodger apart from others.  

Keri Ames is the owner, fabricator and instructor at Yachtsman’s Canvas and Marine Canvas Training. She has trained extensively with Mark and Deb Hood of Hood Marine Canvas Consulting in Rhode Island and Dave Elliot of David’s Custom Trimmers, Brisbane, Australia. She has received multiple MFA Excellence Awards for her dodgers.

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Building a Dodger for our Sailboat

Posted:   july 2, 2022, in:   avocet how-to's | projects | uncategorized, another diy project, brought to you by the avocet crew.

After all of the projects we have done aboard our sailboat, Avocet , I am pretty positive that Chris’s biological makeup mostly consists of fiberglass- just think about all the reconstruction , sanding, and fairing we have done… It is hard to believe he would be anything but glass and resin at this point. Although I myself have fostered an affinity for laying new glass and its therapeutic process, I can’t say I enjoy the work once the sanders come out. Chris, on the other hand, embraces this aspect of the job and uses it as both an opportunity for an upper body work out and to refine his craft which has given him notoriety around our neck of the sea as a very knowledgeable and capable boatright – which is why when he hatched the idea to completely redesign our sailboat’s dodger I supported it without any doubts. 

Why Build a New Sailboat Dodger?

A good look at how bad the dodger was

The canvas dodger we had inherited aboard Avocet had seen better days; the frame was not stout, the dark blue canvas had been sun bleached and abused over the years, and perhaps the worst trait of all was that the strataglass was as transparent as milk making any sort of attempt to see through it impossible. Although it served us well as a windbreak and had gotten us this far in our journey we knew it was time to upgrade. Originally we had the idea to create a completely rigid hard dodger and forgo the hassle of sewing canvas, but then at the advice of notable sailors (such as Lin Pardey herself) we decided to create a hardtop that could support solar panels with canvas sides that can be removed for easy cleaning and air flow on the particularly stuffy days at anchor. 

Having researched plenty of DIY and professional hard top/hard dodger configurations, Chris had a concept in mind regarding how he wanted the dodger to look, scribbling design after design onto a yellow legal pad for me to review. With the final sketch approved by yours truly he got to work cutting materials and bringing his drawing to life. He was surprisingly quick to kick off this build, but considering this had been the third time we had purchased the necessary materials, he was seriously itching to use them – and that’s not just because of the fiberglass. You see, we had intentions of starting this project much sooner but each time we purchased materials we found other projects that took precedence. As they say, third times the charm. 

Hard Top Dodger Materials and Creation 

The Honeycomb Nidaplast cut and ready for glass with the old dodger underneath.

The overall shape of the dodger top was really determined by two things: the length of our solar panels (that would be mounted on top) and the length of the core material that was exactly four feet wide. With those two things taken into account we established that the length fore and aft would equal the length of the solar panels, while the dodger width would remain four feet (just a hair larger than the previous dodger) to keep us from cutting away more material. Using a pretty basic FRP construction plan, we decided on using a factory scored Honeycomb Core called Nidaplast, at 1’’ thick which could bend to match the arch of the previous dodger. This material is a great option for marine construction given its lightweight, rot resistance and its flexibility. Given Chris’s experience with boat building and previous projects , he had become accustomed to using 1708 fiberglass cloth and chose to use it again for this project due to its strength in layers. “ 1708” is composed of 17 ounce biaxial glass and 8 ounce matte glass, from which it got its nickname. 1708 is a very good “one and done” fiberglass due to its interweaving fibers that when bonded with resin offers excellent torsion rigidity. After careful consideration he decided that two layers of 1708 glass on each side would give us the desired strength.

The first day Chris cut the core to shape, utilizing the old dodger as a template and support to work on top of, ensuring we would create the perfect arch and soft corners with our new design. He then cut the fiberglass cloth for the top skin, making sure to overlap where the edges of glass met to ensure there were no weak spots. Since the size of the cloth was so large it was tough to tackle laying the resin alone, so Chris enlisted the help of our friend Mitch ( from Esprit ) to assist with the layup in my absence. With the glass still wet, the boys applied a fairing compound so it would chemically bond making this about a four hour process. 

With epoxy you have two types of adhesion: A mechanical bond and a chemical bond. A mechanical bond happens when you score the surface you intend on glassing over with sand paper to give a “tooth” for the epoxy to bond with. This bond is very strong but relies completely on the prep stage. A chemical bond is one where two resins go through the exothermic reaction together, which is like having two liquids with a magnetic pull towards each other. Once the reaction is complete the two surfaces you were bonding become one whereas with a mechanical bond there is one separate layer atop another.

The obstacle course of support beams

With the weight of the glass and goopy fairing compound, the once very light core material became very heavy, causing some unforeseen “dips” throughout the dodger top. Working quickly to prevent the dips from setting in place, Chris utilized every camera tripod, paddle board paddle, and boat hook he could find to better support the structure while it cured. Once dry, we removed the obstacle of “support beams” and went to relocate the dodger top dockside, but Chris realized that the top was not as rigid as he had intended… which made sense considering there was no glass on the underside to structurally support the lateral and torsional forces. This was a perfect opportunity to implement a design technique that would benefit us in more ways than one. 

Using two divinycell 2”x 55” stringers laid parallel across the beam of the dodger top and secured in place atop a layer of 1708, we increased the structural integrity of the dodger top while also creating the perfect raised platform for our solar panels to mount to, which would allow proper airflow. We added a layer of 1708 glass on top of the stringers, and then faired them to match the rest of the dodger top. Chris was confident in this stringer layup not only because it was something he learned back when building fishing boats but we also put the concept to the test when we successfully stiffened up the decks on our Victory 21’, Geronimo . With this unexpected creation complete, we moved the top dockside on two sawhorses so we could finish glassing and fairing the underside which was a lot easier now that the topside held its rigid form. 

With the bottom of the dodger top easily accessible, Chris was able to locate where he wanted to implement two red lights that would help illuminate the cockpit at night. Part of his decision to use 1’’ thick core was so that he could inlay conduit for not only the lights but also our solar panels, keeping the wires neatly out of sight. So, before he got busy with glassing the bottom skin, he mapped the paths for the conduit and used a router to cut away the core for the garolite conduit material. Using a generous amount of thickened epoxy he glued the conduit tubes in place and then resumed with glassing. Unfortunately I had to work while this part of the project was happening, but thanks to our incredible friends Quincey (from Esprit) and Alan (from ValHowell) Chris had all the hands needed to get the job done. 

With the entire dodger top glassed and faired, we could then determine where the 4×32’’ aluminum mounting plates for the aluminum frame would be glassed to the underside. This process looked pretty funny as we hoisted the now-fairing-compound-pink hardtop above the cockpit using a dyneema bridle that we stabilized with a rope off the backstay and four lines on each corner anchoring the top to the boat. This allowed Chris to find the proper dodger height and utilized the four anchor lines to raise and lower the front and back until we were happy with the “tilt.” With the mounting points mapped out, we were able to de-rig our levitating hardtop and get back to work glassing, starting with the two ¼” G10 backing plates that the aluminum frame would be bolted to. By utilizing G10 (which is a high pressure fiberglass laminate) we could ensure a flat surface immediately, rather than fairing two parallel flat spots on the areas that had the most amount of curvature. 

After 3 days of glassing, fairing, and planning we were thrilled to move the dodger top to the Ventura Harbor Boat Yard where Chris could do some serious damage and sand his heart out before getting wet and wild with the primer and paint. Due to the amount of sanding needed, this project would have been inappropriate dockside, so we were very appreciative of our friends at the yard who supplied us with the perfect corner to tuck into and finish the necessary work. In true Chris fashion, he carefully elevated the top so he could ensure not a single spot went untouched by the two coats of Tuff-Stuff primer . He had just finished his last coat simultaneously with my arrival at the yard, when all hell broke loose. 

*SNAP* In less than a breath the levitating dodger top was settled on the rocky ground, pushing dust and other residue out of its way as it made its way down. Unlike Chris who had proclaimed every profanity in the dictionary, I was speechless and remained so as he dropped everything in his hands and took a walk around the yard, undoubtedly to cool off. I acquired some new paracord left over from a neighboring mast project and began carefully rigging the top again. With Chris’s help the top was suspended in air once more and we could assess the damage. Fortunately, there were only a few areas that would need new fairing and primer, while the majority of the unit remained remarkably unscathed. It can never be too easy when it comes to projects!

After a little repairation work from the damage of the day prior, Chris had finished priming the dodgertop for the awlgrip paint that we had our friends at the yard spray to save us time and materials. Had we opted to roll and tip it ourselves we would have had to paint three separate coats, sanding between each. Not to mention, Chris had a videoshoot which would have pushed off this project another week had he decided that we would DIY the painting process. In his absence the yard utilized the Oyster White Awlgrip leftover from our cabin top paint on Avocet and sprayed the dodger top beautifully. 

After we rigged the top the second time

Metal Frame Construction

While the painting process unfolded in the boatyard, we shifted a majority of our attention to building our dodger frame with the help of our friend, “Metal God” Ryan. After extensive research and consideration we decided to build our frame out of 1 ¼” aluminum tubing for a few reasons: It is durable, easy to work with, cheaper than other metals and light, complimenting the lightweight top which is important considering it would be high off the waterline. 

After a couple of visits from Ryan and his welding mastery our metal frame design was brought to life. Considering we wanted to eliminate horizontal torsion or any general movement at all, Chris implemented some key elements into the design to ensure the structure was incredibly stout, such as utilizing gusset tubes. Before the boys could build laterally they had to first build the bases to support the structure, which took a bit of time to plan out but eventually they decided on placement of the four circular aluminum bases that would be through bolted onto the boat and where the aluminum tubing would be welded to. Two 4×32” plates were welded atop of the tubing that corresponded to the reciprocating G10 plates that were glassed into the underside of the hardtop. Of course between each bolt we used a fair amount of Tef Gel and G10 washers to separate the stainless bolts and nuts from the aluminum to help the metals withstand the harsh sea environment and prevent corrosion. We chose to finish the frame with Nyalic which we had success with during our mast rebuild .

Before uniting the pieces of the dodger together aboard Avocet, Chris installed the bolt track for the canvas and ran the wiring through the conduit. Chris and I carefully carried the dodger top from the dock to the boat, doing our best not to drop it in the water before resting it upon its frame. I nearly guillotined myself as I got my head stuck between the top and frame, but luckily Chris helped me maneuver out of the sticky situation. After some gentle nudging and adjusting, we finished bolting the top to the frame and completed the wiring into the boat. 

“That looks niiiiice” Chris said as he flicked the “Cockpit Lights” switch from our Nav Station. The two red led lights illuminated the space beneath the dodger and glowed into the cockpit, complimenting our red/white spreader lights overhead. With the construction complete we couldn’t wait to put our hard work to the test, and took Avocet out for a sail a few days later despite not having any canvas to protect us from the wind or spray. We didn’t care, the dodger was strong and flattered Avocet’s lines well. Back in the marina with a renewed sense of determination we pulled out our trusty Thompson SailRite machine and bolts of sunbrella fabric to begin perhaps the most challenging part of all.

Sewing the Dodger Sides

It’s always nice to have friends that are experienced with things that we aren’t. For instance, Mitch’s mother is a talented seamstress and taught him a lot about sewing but his own experience working for a canvas company solidified his skills that he could then teach to us. With his guidance we felt confident in taking on this critical part of our dodger creation and jumped right in to get the job done. The first thing the boys did was measure the distance from the starboard corner all the way around to the port corner, which provided them the necessary measurements to order the correct amount of Navy Blue Sunbrella, tuffak for the windows, and eight YKK #10 finished zippers. 

With materials in hand Mitch offered a technique that was new to us, where you don’t use a canvex template and instead stretch the canvas out over where the finished product will be, using pins to form the shape and hold it all in place for sewing. Although this worked well for the front panel, the complex curves of the two side panels proved to be too difficult for the boys to manage with the sunbrella, so resorted to using some canvex that was graciously gifted to us by the ValHowell crew. Canvex is great for this type of canvas work because it is easy to bend and can be cut as many times as you want in order to make the perfect template before taking the cuts to your expensive canvas. After a day of trial and error, Chris had the templates needed to make the cuts in the Sunbrella that would become our dodger. 

Trying Mitch’s technique

The following day Chris found himself in the ValHowell “sail loft” which is our friends’ storage unit that has essentially been transformed into a sail maker’s paradise. With plenty of room to lay out materials, sew, and take measurements this part of the project went by like a breeze. Living aboard a sailboat is great, but sometimes you just need a little more space! Using Lifetime Thread by SailRite he had sewed the binding, chafe protection and some zippers, leaving the three panels ready to be test fit. 

Making the Canvex templates

Everything fit as it should with the exception of a few minor adjustments such as tightening the front panel and recutting where the side panels meet the front to affix the lateral zippers. Back in the sail loft Chris busted out these updates, installing the remaining two zippers then sewed the tuffak windows into place before cutting out the canvas. The tuffak material comes with a plastic protective sheet exactly for this purpose so you don’t accidentally scratch the final surface while sewing. This is when the project really came together, seeing the navy blue canvas attached to the dodger was like the icing on a cake – but we were still missing the cherry. 

Let There Be Solar!

The dodger was nearly done with all of the structural, aesthetic and protective bits in place, but we still needed to install our solar panels on top so we could start farming the sunshine. We had been holding onto two Renogy compact 100 watt panels for a year or so, just waiting for the right moment to purposely install them aboard Avocet. Realizing we had room for an additional panel, we relocated one of the panels that was affixed to the side of the cockpit to sit beside the other two on top of the dodger. Now equipped with 300 watts of power potential on just the dodger, our lithium batteries were well fed and ready for cruising. 

Mounting the panels to the stringers was simple after drilling four small holes to accommodate ¼” G10 tubing and 3/32 pins. By securing the panels with pins, we could remove them easily for cleaning or replacing. 

Before we installed the panels

Dodge, Dip, Dive , Dodger – Closing Thoughts

This project combined a lot of DIY elements like FRP, metal work and sewing making it a well rounded project. Although we had a lot of the necessary skills under our belt to execute this project on our own, it would have taken longer or perhaps included more trials and errors without the foresight and guidance of our friends. We would like to formally thank Mitch, Quincey, Alan and Elizabeth for their extra set of hands and sewing advice; Ryan the “Metal God” for once again working his magic; and last but certainly not least our friend Dale at the Ventura Harbor Boat Yard for the last minute accommodations and paint services. Chris and I are so grateful to have had so many hands involved in the history of Avocet’s project list and can’t wait to make all the hard work, sweat, blood, and tears pay off soon. Speaking of “pay” here is the rough project cost breakdown:

Fiberglass, Core, Resin and Notions: $1,000

Metal Work: $2,000 (for materials and Ryan’s time)

Paint and Labor: $300

Canva, Thread, Zippers, and Tuffak: $500

………………………………………Total: $3,800

After asking around we learned that had we commissioned this to be built at a yard it would have cost anywhere from $10,000 – $15,000!

Funny enough, we were doing multiple projects at the same time we were building this dodger. During the natural project lulls (like while waiting for epoxy to cure) we busted out refinishing our decks with soft sand and refinishing our cabin sole. There is never a dull moment here and I am sure we will be sharing those project details sooner than later but until then…

Fair Winds, 

Marissa, Chris and Cleo the cat

Don’t forget about the YouTube video!

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Tags:   aluminum | boat project | canvas work | cockpit | diy dodger | dodger | dodger build | esprit | fiberglass | hard dodger | metal work | nidaplast | nyalic | painting | projects | ryan the metal god | sailing | sailrite | sewing | solar panels.

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Howdy – great article! I’m about to launch 8th this same project on my 28ft BCC Calypso. So far I’m planning on 1/2” Coosa core and 2 layers or 17 oz biax on either side. A couple questions: how did you finish the edges of your hardtop? Did you just put a few layers of tape there or use so prefab g10 edge material? Also tell me about the handles you installed. Where those off the shelf or custom fab? Thanks! Jeremy

Hey Jeremy, Coosa is great, 4 layers of 17 biaxle should be enough, we used 1708 so it has a little more thickness and stiffness due to the Matt on the backside. For the edges I laid a lot of thickened epoxy to round over the hard 90 degree angles then used 3 layers of 20 oz cloth overtop. This stiffened up the top dramatically. The Handrails I bought off fisheries supply: https://www.fisheriessupply.com/sea-dog-line-stud-mount-flanged-grab-rail However the studs weren’t long enough to go through the 1 1/4″, 1/4″ g10, and 1/4″ aluminum so we tis welded longer studs on. You should be fine with your 1/2″ core. Let me know if there’s anything else I can help with. Great GOB article by the way!

Coosa is a pretty “hard” core. So far, I’ve just bullnosed it (the core) and will probably just glass right over that. We’ll see.

Thanks re GOB. It fills my heart to see her on the cover! And I take no credit for the writing – that’s all Nica.

Another question: how did you choose to affix the canvas to the underside of the hardtop? Did you use an aluminum extrusion like this ( https://www.sailrite.com/Awning-Track-Aluminum-96 )?

Cheers, Jeremy

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Amigos,we just pulled into Mazatlan yesterday. We made the fastest passage ever across the Sea of Cortez, 34 hours! Must be the dodger! We wouldn’t change a thing.                                                                              Jack, Leanne y el chullo perrito

Two boat owners came over last weekend and checked out the new dodger. Both seemed to love it. If you have any customers with double enders  send’em my way!

Rob and Teresa Sikade, Seattle

Jacques, I have thought of you on many occasions since I got my dodger. I thought to write and tell you how much I appreciate the work you did. I notice it every day. And every time I notice it I think of who I should thank.

Larry Nelson, S/V Panta Rhei

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Kerry Washington & Her Mom Catch the US Open, Plus Angelina Jolie, Jenna Ortega, Jeff Goldblum and More

From Hollywood to New York and everywhere in between, see what your favorite stars are up to

Alexandra Schonfeld is a features writer at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since April 2022. Her work previously appeared in Newsweek .

Stars have been everywhere this week, from Angelina Jolie and Jenna Ortega touching down in Venice to Kerry Washington and her mom, Valerie, catching some tennis at the US Open. In London, Jeff Goldblum makes an appearance at BBC Radio 2 while back in New York City, Jerry Seinfeld steps out for dinner.

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Wilmer Valderrama attends Beautification Ruck hosted by Exceptional Parents Unlimited and Howard Martin Richardson Veterans VFW Post 5394 in Compton, California on August 25.

Hostess with the Mostest

Cameron Burton

Danielle Olivera is all smiles as she hosts a pop-up shop at Sole East in Montauk, N.Y.

Sport Stars

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Tom Brady and David Beckham flash their megawatt smiles as the former NFL star receives an Inter Miami jersey on August 24 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.

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Queen Camilla sports a hat as she opens the Bustardthorpe Development at York Racecourse on August 24 in York, England.

In the Stands

Alejandro Garcia/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock 

Hugh Grant looks on from the stands as he catches FC Barcelona take on Athletic Bilbao on August 24 in Barcelona.

Crowd Pleaser

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Snoop Dogg performs during Peso Pluma's Exodo tour at the newly opened Intuit Dome on August 24 in Inglewood, California.

Family Time

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Vanessa Bryant is joined by daughters Natalia, Capri and Bianka to announce the start of the L.A. Dodgers game against the Tampa Bay Rays on August 25 in Dodgers Stadium in L.A.

Strike a Pose

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Lauren Sanchez rocks a strapless gown for This Is About Humanity's sixth anniversary celebration in L.A. on August 24.

For the Fans

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Bryce Dallas Howard poses with a signed figurine of The Child during Fan Expo Canada 2024 on August 23 at Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Sweet Serenade

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Boy George hits the stage with his signature style to perform at the Virgin Theater in Las Vegas on August 24.

Feeling Nostalgic

Kathy Hilton poses with her daughter Paris' bicycle during her Family and Friends Charity Tag Sale on Saturday in L.A.

Red Carpet Look

Amy Sussman/Getty

Mira Sorvino attends a premiere screening of City of Dreams at The Egyptian Theatre Hollywood on August 23 in L.A.

In Good Company

Sara Jaye/Getty

Peter Weber, Ciara Miller, Kat Stickler , Jason Tartick and Dale Moss hangout at the IHG Hotels & Resorts Suite during the U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 26.

Paras Griffin/Getty

Tyrese Gibson and Steve Harvey pose together at the 2024 Invest Fest at Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta on August 25.

Speaking in Paris

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Jodie Foster speaks during a ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of Paris on August 25 in Paris ahead of the the 2024 Paralympic Games.

Woman of the Hour

Steve Jennings/Getty

Chaka Khan hits the stage at Stern Grove in San Francisco on August 25.

Matthew Baker/Getty

Lana Del Rey turns her mic to the audience during her set on August 25 at Leeds Festival at Bramham Park in Leeds, England.

50 Cent grabs the mic during day 3 of the 2024 Invest Fest at Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta on August 25.

Movie Night

Danielle Del Valle/Getty

Kathie Lee Gifford attends Sunday's premiere of Reagan in Nashville at AMC Dine-In Thoroughbred 20.

Leading Man

Also at Sunday's premiere, the film's star Dennis Quaid poses with Ty Gibbs at AMC Dine-In Thoroughbred 20.

Girls' Day

Nicolette Richards/Ambassador Images/Shutterstock

Nicky Hilton and Stacy Bendet step out for the opening day of the Hampton Classic on August 25 in Bridgehampton, New York.

L.A. Outing

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Frances Fisher strikes a pose at the L.A. premiere of The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat at the Culver Theatre in Culver City, California, August 23.

Fatherly Support

Zoe Winkler Reinis poses with her dad, Henry Winkler , during her organization, This Is About Humanity's sixth anniversary celebration on August 24 in L.A.

Peso Pluma performs in front of a fiery backdrop during his show at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California on August 24.

On the Guest List

Monica Schipper/Getty

Rachael Harris steps out for the 11th annual Location Managers Guild International Awards at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on August 24 in Beverly Hills.

Pat Black for Southern Living

Austen Kroll raises a glass during the opening of the Southern Living Idea House in Johns Island, South Carolina on August 21.

Caffeine Fix

Alejandro Chavarria for McCafe at Home

Lunay enjoys a cup of Dulce de Leche Latte in sunny Miami.

Pretty Girl

Simone Joyner/Getty

“Pretty Girls” singer Reneé Rapp performs at the Reading Festival in England on Aug. 25.

Summertime in N.Y.C.

Jaden Smith hangs out in New York City on Aug. 25.

Leading the Leeds Crowd

Katja Ogrin/Redferns

Jack Antonoff of Bleachers performs at the Leeds Festival in England on Aug. 25.

A Couple's Stroll

Donald Glover and wife Michelle White holding hands in New York City on Aug. 25.

Soirée Outfit

Jordana Brewster attends the This Is About Humanity's 6th Anniversary Soirée in Los Angeles on Aug. 24.

Summertime Happiness

Simone Joyner/Getty 

Lana Del Rey beams onstage as she performs on day two of the 2024 Reading Festival on Aug. 24 in Reading, England.

Laughs and Cocktails

Eva Longoria and Julianne Hough share a giggle while catching up at the TIAH 6th anniversary soiree in Los Angeles on Aug. 24.

Guest Speaker

Paras Griffin/Getty 

Will.i.am speaks onstage during the second day of the 2024 Invest Fest on Aug. 24 in Atlanta.

Shining Moment

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Mickey Guyton waves to the crowd while performing onstage at Orville Peck's sixth annual Rodeo Night Two in Nashville on Aug. 24.

Back on Stage

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Nick , Kevin and Joe Jonas of Jonas Brothers perform in concert on Aug. 24 in Monterrey, Mexico.

Gym Focused

Jennifer Garner flashes a smile after exiting a workout session in L.A. on Aug. 24.

Elevated Performance

Steve Jennings/Getty 

Lainey Wilson takes performing to another level (literally!) as she sings while standing on top of a truck during a show in Concord, California, Aug. 24.

Keeping Fit

Gisele Bündchen shows off her toned physique in a black crop top and leggings while heading to the gym in Miami Beach, Florida, on Aug. 24.

Legends in the Game

Julia Beverly/Getty

Sleepy Brown and Big Boi perform at the College Football Hall of Fame's 10 -year anniversary block party on Aug. 24 in Atlanta.

John Waters hosts Orville Peck's sixth annual Rodeo Night Two at Nashville's Ascend Amphitheater on Aug. 24.

Shirlaine Forrest/Getty

Rita Ora performs during Manchester Pride 2024 in England on Aug. 24.

Go Red Raiders!

Texas Tech Athletics 

Patrick Mahomes returned to his alma mater — Texas Tech University — to tour parts of a new facility that will be named after him on Aug. 23.

A Woman's World

Jorge Barragan

Carmen Electra and “Woman's World” singer Katy Perry hang out Beaches Tropicana in West Hollywood for Perry's album release party on Aug. 23. 

Dynamic Duo

Jordan Strauss/JanuaryImages

Jack Quaid and Erin Moriarty attend a screening of Catching Dust in Los Angeles on Aug. 24.

Singing in Style

Joy Malone/Getty

Erykah Badu performs at AFROPUNK BLKTOPIA at Lena Horne Bandshell in New York City on Aug. 23.

Nikki Ritcher

Netflix’s  Cook at All Costs host Jordan Andino serves wine at the Franciscan Estate sampling booth during the Heritage Fire Festival in Napa Valley on Aug. 18.

Pocketful of Sunshine

Scott Eisen/Getty/Airbnb

Normani is radiant while posing for a photo at the Airbnb Polly Pocket House in Littleton, Mass., on August 21.

Monochrome Moment

Robert Kamau/GC Images

Kerry Washington steps out in a chic head-to-toe green look of a belted short-sleeved jacket and matching shorts in New York City on Aug. 23.

Billion-Dollar Smile

Oprah Winfrey flashes a big smile as she heads out in N.Y.C. on Aug. 23.

Southern Welcome

 Tibrina Hobson/Getty

Orville Peck beams while performing onstage at The Basement East on Aug. 23 in Nashville.

Cheers to the Weekend

Mark Enfield/IPS/Shutterstock (

Louis Tomlinson takes a sip onstage during his set at the Victorious Festival on Aug. 23 in Hampshire, England.

Book Launch

Shannon Finney/Getty

Tamron Hall can't stop smiling while discussing her new book A Confident Cook at the National Book Festival opening celebration at The Library of Congress on Aug. 23. in Washington, DC.

Festival Fun

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Kourtney Kardashian Barker and Travis Barker are a cute match in camouflage looks as she supports him at the 2024 Reading Festival on Aug. 23 in Reading, England.

Stomping Grounds

Tibrina Hobson/Getty 

Reyna Roberts is right at home while performing onstage in Nashville on Aug. 23.

Grateful Perfomer

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Dasha waves to the crowd while performing on day two of the Leeds Festival in West Yorkshire, England, on Aug. 24.

Comedy Veteran

Craig Robinson arrives to his comedy show in Philadelphia on Aug. 23.

A thrilled Kerry Washington is pictured greeting onlookers during a photo shoot in Times Square on August 23.

Kristen Bell beams while arriving as The Great. and Red Wing Heritage launch a limited-edition collaboration at All Time on August 22 in L.A.

Still Summering

Madison Fender/BFA.com/Shutterstock 

Gwyneth Paltrow and Cynthia Rowley wear colorful ensembles as goop and Audemars Piguet host an intimate dinner in the Hamptons on August 22.

Nykieria Chaney/Getty

Ashley Graham attends The Forge Atlanta screening at Atlanta Symphony Hall on August 22.

Summer Friday

Katie Holmes is incognito while out for a coffee run in New York City on August 23.

Big Hats, Don't Care

John Shearer/Getty

Post Malone and Alan Jackson catch a cool moment backstage at the 17th Academy of Country Music Honors in Nashville on August 21.

Pink Ladies

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Jessica Alba and Lizzy Mathis are bright and early at Univision's Despierta America, promoting the Roku Original Series Honest Renovations at Univision Studios in Florida on August 23.

Rob Rich/Society Allure

Karolina Kurkova and Wyclef Jean pose with David Hryck, who threw a party in support of the Maestro Cares Foundation in Southampton, N.Y. on August 23.

Jason Kempin/Gett

Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood gleefully pose for photos while arriving at the 17th Academy of Country Music Honors at Ryman Auditorium on August 21.

Concert Goer

Aaron Rodgers  attends a concert at The Rooftop at Pier 17 on August 22 in New York.

Courtesy of the New York Times Games // Poupay Jutharat

Ego Nwodim plays emcee as she hosts a game night like no other at the New York Times Games 10th Anniversary Solving Party in NYC on August 22.

Good Music, Good Vibes

Dave Benett/Getty 

Unik Ernest and Naomie Harris attend the Afrobeats and Amapiano Experience curated by Culturin at Sumosan Twiga on August 22 in London. 

Zedd is having a blast as he and 5 gum throw a secret rave in N.Y.C., performing songs from his new album for a crowd of 25 fans who found it on August 22.

Sporting Shades

Tammy Ljungblad/The Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty

Travis Kelce goes incognito as he enters Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, for a preseason match against the Chicago Bears on Aug. 22.

Triple 'Ew!'

Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty

Sabrina Carpenter and Zoë Kravitz reprise The Tonight Show sketch "Ew!" with Jimmy Fallon in New York City on Aug. 22.

Channeling Olivia Pope

David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty 

Kerry Washington is just as politically engaged as her Scandal character, hosting a portion of the DNC's last night in Chicago on Aug. 22.

Only Smiles on the Carpet

Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty

Steve Martin, Meryl Streep, Selena Gomez and Martin Short are beaming as they ring in Only Murders in the Building 's fourth season at the L.A. premiere on Aug. 22.

Morning Man

Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock

Thomas Rhett performs on the Today show in N.Y.C. on Aug. 23 after releasing his seventh album About a Woman .

Hit the Town

Shutterstock/SplashNews

Buttons and white are the dress code for Rita Ora 's night out in Timisoara, Romania, on Aug. 23.

Concert Couple

The Hapa Blonde/GC Images

Tate McRae and The Kid Laroi step out in New York City's NoHo neighborhood on Aug. 22 after McRae's show at Madison Square Garden.

'Braves' Heart

Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty

Tyrese Gibson kicks off a baseball game between the Braves and Phillies in Atlanta on Aug. 22 by calling "play ball!"

Inspiring Voice

Annabelle Gordon/CNP/SplashNews

Maren Morris sings her protest song "Better Than We Found It" on the last night of the DNC in Chicago on Aug. 22.

Like Mother, Like Daughter

ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty

Also at the DNC in Chicago, Pink brings out her daughter Willow , 13, to perform her hit "What About Us" on Aug. 22.

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