MacGregorSailors.com

That is a good thought !
Maybe just a small window size screen with a covering flap . Never thought about it .

Yeah, well, I'm just brilliant like that.

Ok, so my last boat had some similar panels. Not so brilliant; just seen it done before is all.

But I think you or a canvas shop could cut in a few vent panels that only need a Velcro or roll up flap for privacy will far less effort and cost than making a whole new panel that has to have matching zippers and snaps and other stuff that might require a visit to the boat. Even small openings can make a huge difference when you need fresh air.

On a related subject, I put two little opening ports in the stern berth under the seats in the cockpit, which is also under the cockpit canvas, which I leave open all the time even with the boat closed up, and I can't believe how much cooler it is down below, and the lack of 'boat smell', when I first open the boat now. Nothing like some passive ventilation to keep things fresh.

tkanzler wrote:Yeah, well, I'm just brilliant like that.

And the humblest fellow on the board

mastreb wrote:

tkanzler wrote:Yeah, well, I'm just brilliant like that.

And the humblest fellow on the board

Yeah, well, I try. Tough competition here, after all.

tkanzler wrote:

mastreb wrote:

tkanzler wrote:Yeah, well, I'm just brilliant like that.

And the humblest fellow on the board

Yeah, well, I try. Tough competition here, after all.

I, of course, am the most humble person I've ever met.

I just ordered a Dodger from BWY yesterday and expect to receive it in the next two to three weeks. They order it from a canvas shop and the shop is currently busy at the height of their business season. I asked the BWY sales rep if I had to drill any holes to install it. He said a couple of holes are needed and I'll be getting instructions. Could anyone here described where the holes are drilled and what product is used to prevent leaks in the drilling locations when putting the screws in place.?

On ours we had to drill screw holes for the frame . You also have to screw down the snaps . We drilled a small pilot hole then put 5200 in it with the screw .
The instructions we got were hand drawn and then copied many times . We carefully studied them for a long time before we drilled the first hole .
They show the different dimensions of where to screw down the hardware and fasteners .

So it requires more than a "couple of holes". What is "5200"?

"5200" is a below the water line sealant made by 3M.....

I would look at other forms of sealant on items that screw on above the water line (or might be subject to removal in the future) as 5200 bonds itself to everything and when you go to remove it or replace the item later on in life will take off gelcoat with it!!

There will be two pieces of hardware on the cabin top, either side of hatch with two screws each. Also on the vertical cabin face in the cockpit, hardware with two screws on either side. And as previous post a few snaps.

One great changeout I did. The hardware that mine came with attached the dodger via screws to the mounting hardware. I trailer sail, so the screws added more time and annoyance when putting up the dodger. So I bought new brackets from MarinePartDepot that have little plungers that are spring activated. So it is a simple pushpin, no screwdriver required.
http://www.marinepartdepot.com/dehiwirepin.html

I am starting to use 3m 4200 above the waterline. Half the bonding of 5200, hence easier removal.

Thanks to all for your explanations! I might return with questions when I receive the Dodger and begin the installation. My boat will be in the water so I'm hoping for good weather.

BWY sold as an option , the pins . We got those . To take the frame off , you just unsnap and pull pins , rather than unscrew .
Not to be confused with the hardware that must be permanently screwed down to the deck .

5200 is a very strong adhesive caulk , and that's why I used it . Screws have a tenacity to work loose . 5200 glues them in , permanently .
So far our dodger has been thru a 45mph summer storm , one tropical storm in Steinhatchee , and 60 mph gusts , this past 4th of July week .

I am happy I used 5200 ! I will play hull if I ever decide to permanently remove the dodger , but until then I know its not going anywhere on its own.

Gypsy Life here in a new secret identity ,,,

When I first posted on this thread , I was trying to make up our mind as to whether or not to remove the sailing gear .

We use our as our home and we are traveling aboard . We bought a Mac because it could do both , but we find the sailing rig is more trouble than it gets used . I am not going to go out of our way to tack , when I can run straight to our destination on the motor . Not that we are in a hurry , it just makes better sense. it is very seldom that the winds are favorable to push us in our desired direction .

We use the jib sail often to help the motor , usually picking up 1 or 2 mph , but never put up the main .

So we have reached the decision , when we come home for Christmas , we will demast her , before setting out again .

We started out in a canoe and I always complained that there was always a headwind , so what do we end up in ???

hschumac wrote:There will be two pieces of hardware on the cabin top, either side of hatch with two screws each. Also on the vertical cabin face in the cockpit, hardware with two screws on either side. And as previous post a few snaps.

One great changeout I did. The hardware that mine came with attached the dodger via screws to the mounting hardware. I trailer sail, so the screws added more time and annoyance when putting up the dodger. So I bought new brackets from MarinePartDepot that have little plungers that are spring activated. So it is a simple pushpin, no screwdriver required.
http://www.marinepartdepot.com/dehiwirepin.html

I am starting to use 3m 4200 above the waterline. Half the bonding of 5200, hence easier removal.

Thought I'd remove the canvas from the frame when trailering by unzipping and unsnapping. I just received and installed my new dodger and thought I'd revisit this thread. Installation was quite a challenge because of the inadequate instructions. I'm thinking of re-writing the instructions and submitting them to BWY (instructions are also in upper case letters). Once I finished the job, it was not that difficult looking back, yet it took a good part of a day because of my caution. I actually drilled two unnecessary holes because of misdirection. Plugged them with 5200. The instructions cry out for change.

going back a bit here- with regards to fishing, we live in salmon country, so got rid of my 18' fishing boat when i got the , installed downriggers and rodholders . the gear comes out of the brackets real quick and easy- just leaves the baseplates permanently attached to the gunwale.
the landing net fits on a bracket on the mast arch, and big cooler below, bleed lines off the stanchion at the house bulkhead, it all works really well.
can have two people fishing in there with me at the helm.
fish size any where from a small 10 # coho to a 40# plus spring salmon, lots of bottoms and halibut- and they can get up to 300# - never caught one that big- usually in the 20 to 30# mark- if i got a real big one i would just cut her free- the big ones are the breeders, the flesh is course- and how the hull would i handle her- that size will break legs aboard a boat- besides i am not a trophy fisherman- strictly food fishing!!!
we catch the fish, i net it, i step forward, the fisherman just runs the helm for a few seconds from in front of the helm, i kill and put the fish on the bleed line, old fish that came off the bleed line is placed in a large shallow tote, then taken below and put in the cooler with lots of crushed ice- quick, slick and easy- no fish smell or slime etc. old fish boat was easier, but you couldnt stay aboard, couldnt take the weather that the mac can, and the family didnt really like it- so...a happy wife , for a happy life.

secondly with regards to different variation of the same hull, now this is my opinion, and i know the factory were not catering to every need- simply building an affordable- mass produced boat, but the ideal for me would have been an unstayed rig, the shorter mast would have been able to be permanently fastened on deck, in holders, without infringing on the cockpit,
the boat would be quick and easy on and off the water. run it as a power boat if need be- step the mast at any time and sail, none of all the rigging and hassle etc.
the fact is , they are not the worlds best sailers- albeit they are fun , so a simpler rig wouldn't hurt it that much , or would it??!
just my opinion- and what would be ideal for me- not necessarily ideal for everyone

but all in all- i am very happy with my boat- probably even if i had built it myself- there would be things i wouldnt be happy with.