Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
dodger vs sprayhood
English answer:
dodger - term more commonly used by sailors.
Added to glossary by
yeswhere
Feb 4, 2007 18:45
17 yrs ago
2 viewers *
English term
Poland
metallurgical engineer
Native in: Polish 
Works in: English to Polish, Polish to English
dodger vs sprayhood
English
Other
Ships, Sailing, Maritime
yachts
Is there any difference? If not, which one is more widely used?
Responses
11 mins
Selected
dodger
Depends how you are using it.
Dodger, or spray dodger, is the more widely used term for the structure (canvas or fixed) which protects the companionway.
Some people may say 'sprayhood' for this, but a sprayhood could also refer to other things, such as the covers that keep the spray off the instruments, or a smaller dodger over a hatch.
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Note added at 29 mins (2007-02-04 19:15:32 GMT)
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Having sailed over 100,000 miles, and lived aboard among yachting communities for over 25 years, I can say for sure that, if you are referring to the companionway 'sprayhood', most sailors would call it a dodger.
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Note added at 1 hr (2007-02-04 20:24:20 GMT)
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Willmatter: I would take professional knowledge over googling anytime. However, you can google any number of canvasmakers on the East Coast and see how many (spray) dodgers they make for thousands of yachts. Failing that, look up dodger in the Oxford American Dictionary. We have built, repaired and installed dodgers on dozens of boats over many years.
We usually fold down our dodger sailing on the Chesapeake in summer as it is superfluous. That's probably why you haven't heard of them.
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Note added at 3 hrs (2007-02-04 22:37:29 GMT)
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OK. If we are talking companionway, and the text is for sailors, I would go with dodger or spray dodger. As a professional yacht skipper, I would say that over 95% of sailors I come into contact with would use dodger.
Sprayhood is not incorrect but more vague, as it can refer to other canvas items used to protect instruments like radar screens or to stop spray coming over the bow. The website given above states the following and shows photos:
"Spray Hoods Each is shown with a Spray hood on the front and a bimini in the cockpit.
Spray hoods are basically a traditional dodger mounted to the front of an open boat such as a center console to protect passengers and cargo from water spraying up over the bow "
Dodger, or spray dodger, is the more widely used term for the structure (canvas or fixed) which protects the companionway.
Some people may say 'sprayhood' for this, but a sprayhood could also refer to other things, such as the covers that keep the spray off the instruments, or a smaller dodger over a hatch.
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Note added at 29 mins (2007-02-04 19:15:32 GMT)
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Having sailed over 100,000 miles, and lived aboard among yachting communities for over 25 years, I can say for sure that, if you are referring to the companionway 'sprayhood', most sailors would call it a dodger.
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Note added at 1 hr (2007-02-04 20:24:20 GMT)
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Willmatter: I would take professional knowledge over googling anytime. However, you can google any number of canvasmakers on the East Coast and see how many (spray) dodgers they make for thousands of yachts. Failing that, look up dodger in the Oxford American Dictionary. We have built, repaired and installed dodgers on dozens of boats over many years.
We usually fold down our dodger sailing on the Chesapeake in summer as it is superfluous. That's probably why you haven't heard of them.
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Note added at 3 hrs (2007-02-04 22:37:29 GMT)
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OK. If we are talking companionway, and the text is for sailors, I would go with dodger or spray dodger. As a professional yacht skipper, I would say that over 95% of sailors I come into contact with would use dodger.
Sprayhood is not incorrect but more vague, as it can refer to other canvas items used to protect instruments like radar screens or to stop spray coming over the bow. The website given above states the following and shows photos:
"Spray Hoods Each is shown with a Spray hood on the front and a bimini in the cockpit.
Spray hoods are basically a traditional dodger mounted to the front of an open boat such as a center console to protect passengers and cargo from water spraying up over the bow "
Note from asker:
| Yes, it is for the companionway. The text is rather for sailors. You can see the picture of this particular boat at: www.mantra28.pl |
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
Will Matter
: It's not that I haven't heard of this item, we just don't CALL it that. I disagree that this is the name for the item in question.
1 min
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Can't believe you have even sailed and have never heard of a dodger! You need to get out more often on the water with sailors!
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| agree |
Tony M
: Well, I certainly HAVE heard this term, but it depends what the intended meaning is
15 mins
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you both for the explanation. It is very helpful. Unfortunately I cannot divide points between you two. "
31 mins
(spray) dodger / sprayhood — TWO DIFFERENT THINGS!
The many references to dodgers that I found by a bit of quick Googling served to confirm what I already knew from personal knowledge: a dodger is a panel of canvas etc. often attached to railings round a cockpit etc. to protect from spray, wind... and perhaps prying eyes! Clearly something quite different from a sprayhood...
So I think the answer is that (when used correctly), the terms refer to different things, and so cnanot be regarded as interchangeable!
In informal terms, people do often use the term "dodger" to refer to any kind of fabric-type protection device, wherever it is installed, which is probably the source of the confusion.
So I think the answer is that (when used correctly), the terms refer to different things, and so cnanot be regarded as interchangeable!
In informal terms, people do often use the term "dodger" to refer to any kind of fabric-type protection device, wherever it is installed, which is probably the source of the confusion.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
yeswhere
: Sorry, they are basically the same, but dodger is more widely used among sailors. Confusion arises as weather or leecloths around the cockpit are sometimes referred to as spray dodgers, because that is their function.
3 hrs
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I think this may be a US / UK thing; certainly, for the last 40 years or so, in the UK I've seen them referred to as dodgers...
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Discussion