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Dodger size is very much a function of how you are going to use it. If you're living aboard you will want at least enough cockpit cover so that two people can sit together. Protection from spray, rain, and sun are equally important.

Photo (1) shows Intermezzo's dodger: big, ugly, and very comfortable. Photo (3) is a very short dodger on one of our early Deerfoot designs: okay for one person to a side, but look what happens with a crowd. Photo (4) is of the 72-foot (22m) Locura. Her dodger was five feet long.

Photo (2) is my dad's dodger on Deerfoot. Any time you have to deal with a bridgedeck the dodger geometry becomes difficult, due to the ergonomics of bending down as you try and get to the companionway.

Below: The shorter the dodger in length, the lower it can be and still provide for access to the companionway steps. These three dodgers are quite small, barely enough space for one person per side.

The advantage that these offer is lower height for better visibility from the helm, less windage, and less area for waves to impact. They are obviously a lot better-looking, too. This would have been my choice before I started cruising. However, after living with a medium-sized dodger we ended up going as large as possible and ignored the ugliness!