MacGregorSailors.com

Hi everyone,

We are seriously considering getting a dodger this season.

Pros/Cons?

Where did everyone get theirs? BWY?

I was getting ready to order one from BWY and then I saw highlander's which seemed to have a lower, sleeker, wider look. Is it different? Where did you get yours Highlander?

I've also considered making it myself. Cheaper and I can make it less boxy. I'm not sure.

What are other's thoughts on dodgers? We mainly want it for when we are anchored and its raining or when it's cold, Angie can tuck in...

Thanks,
Doug & Angie
Galactica

P.S. I should have my new trailer in less than 24hours!!! Wahooo!

We've got the bwy narrow dodger and it's good in combo with the full enclosure for the west coast. If it were sunny with little to no chance of rain id go without. Without it on the boat feels much bigger and more open. Although it is really nice to have the hatch open when down below and still out of the elements; it allows much more light in. Either way you go, give consideration to grab bars along the edges. Everyone grabs onto ours even though it's not meant for it and some solid hand holds would go a long way.

I have a Dowsar, as do Highlander and beene. Mine's an , of course, but the others have boats. You can see pics in this current thread.

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... 5&start=30

The dodger on mine is quite low, and I look over it when sailing. But I also like sailing without it, for the same reasons given by yukonbob.

One thing I would caution you about is to make sure when you install it that the hoop pins at the deck are aimed at each other in a straight line, so you can fold it down (with or without the canvas). Mine weren't, and folding it stressed the mounts and eventually stripped out the holes. No biggie, as I drilled them out and filled them with epoxy and redrilled, and bent the tabs and adjusted the shims under the clevis mounts so the lined up well. But it could have been done correctly from the start. And being able to fold the hoops makes laying the hoops down when I don't want the dodger on there just so much easier.

Doug W wrote:Hi everyone,

We are seriously considering getting a dodger this season.

Pros/Cons?

Where did everyone get theirs? BWY?

I was getting ready to order one from BWY and then I saw highlander's which seemed to have a lower, sleeker, wider look. Is it different? Where did you get yours Highlander?

I've also considered making it myself. Cheaper and I can make it less boxy. I'm not sure.

What are other's thoughts on dodgers? We mainly want it for when we are anchored and its raining or when it's cold, Angie can tuck in...

Thanks,
Doug & Angie
Galactica

P.S. I should have my new trailer in less than 24hours!!! Wahooo!

Hi D
The Dowsar Dodger on the can be switched from a wide dodger to a narrow dodger on demand they r designed that way ur choice switch back & forth as u wish wide or narrow & they r low profile which is good for sailing unfortunately I think the only way u can buy it is with the full encloseure

J

I have a dodger, and love it. Make sure the frame will fold flat easily. Mine doesn't and can be a pita. I find the dodger most useful when moored for all the reasons stated above.

yukonbob wrote:We've got the bwy narrow dodger and it's good in combo with the full enclosure for the west coast. If it were sunny with little to no chance of rain id go without. Without it on the boat feels much bigger and more open. Although it is really nice to have the hatch open when down below and still out of the elements; it allows much more light in. Either way you go, give consideration to grab bars along the edges. Everyone grabs onto ours even though it's not meant for it and some solid hand holds would go a long way.

+1

I will say without grab bars, it's still easy to hold onto walking up on deck for stability. Grab bars would be better.

We got the doors. These complete it for weather and cold. We install them at night and wake up to bright light and full headroom.


Also bought the Mid Connector that connects the dodger to the bimini. This keeps the cockpit dry without totally boxing it in.

I can't imagine the wide dodger. Seems it would be hard to get around. However, I could be wrong.

--Russ

RussMT wrote:Also bought the Mid Connector that connects the dodger to the bimini. This keeps the cockpit dry without totally boxing it in.

I can't imagine the wide dodger. Seems it would be hard to get around. However, I could be wrong.

--Russ

I definitely don't want to buy a full enclosure given our use patterns; however, I would have a friend build the Mid Connector apron to link the dodger to our bimini.

Russ, is yours hard to fold down like Baha's? Do you leave it on all season?

Doug

RussMT wrote: We got the doors. These complete it for weather and cold. We install them at night and wake up to bright light and full headroom.


--Russ

I love the doors! I'm definitely going to have to make some. As far as storage goes, you definitely want one that folds flat. I like the raised aft birth on Knot Shore to store it. He documented the build here http://www.enctrader.com/hardtlefamily/ ... efault.htm I see his boat is for sale. I think $21,500 is a good deal!

Jeff

THE DODGERS PLAY AT CHAVEZ RAVINE IN LOS ANGELES Fair Winds and Full Sails...Old Salt

Doug W wrote:I definitely don't want to buy a full enclosure given our use patterns; however, I would have a friend build the Mid Connector apron to link the dodger to our bimini.

Russ, is yours hard to fold down like Baha's? Do you leave it on all season?

Doug

It theoretically folds down easily. Has quick pins to remove the poles. The whole thing is pretty stiff and doesn't look good folded down and crumpled. I think we may have folded it down twice. I'm lazy and don't find pulling pins that easy to do. Normally just leave it up. It's pretty substantial and I grab it ALL the time going up on deck.

Our first year, I left it off. Then year 2 I installed it and now like it. I treat the "glass" with rain-X to keep water shielded and clear. However it does block a bit of view. Not enough to bother me.

The doors were the best investment for us. Gets cold at night and this lets us close up the boat and have a big "window".
The connector is hard to zip on, but once it's attached does a great job of making a solid hatch to helm cover.

--Russ

I also have the doors... Really nice for cooler weather or rain. You can almost leave your washboard at home.

RussMT wrote:

yukonbob wrote:We've got the bwy narrow dodger and it's good in combo with the full enclosure for the west coast. If it were sunny with little to no chance of rain id go without. Without it on the boat feels much bigger and more open. Although it is really nice to have the hatch open when down below and still out of the elements; it allows much more light in. Either way you go, give consideration to grab bars along the edges. Everyone grabs onto ours even though it's not meant for it and some solid hand holds would go a long way.

+1

I will say without grab bars, it's still easy to hold onto walking up on deck for stability. Grab bars would be better.

We got the doors. These complete it for weather and cold. We install them at night and wake up to bright light and full headroom.


Also bought the Mid Connector that connects the dodger to the bimini. This keeps the cockpit dry without totally boxing it in.

I can't imagine the wide dodger. Seems it would be hard to get around. However, I could be wrong.

--Russ

Have the doors as well. Before we bought the full enclosure they were awesome but now with the full enclosure they get left in storage. I'm having trouble remembering right now, but pretty sure the only drawback with the doors is you can't have them in with the mid-connector in or something inconvenient like that, could be wrong though. I agree with Russ in that the dodger is fairly solid as a grab area, but I really worry one of my larger friends will fall onto it one day and it will not take that kind of abuse.

Here's an overcast miserable day (pre full enclosure) with the dodger and doors in and open. Plenty warm inside with lots more light. Only catch is you have to close the companion way if under way (if its cooler like here) or the warm moist air from inside will fog up the 'glass'. I will try Russ's rainx this year maybe.

Wow! That view from inside the cabin really visually opens up the cabin!

We have an with the narrow dodger with vinyl and screen doors and a Bimini. The Bimini was recovered a few years ago (no zippers). I've wanted to go with a full enclosure but the BWY pieces to complete the set are all designed for the wide dodger. I was about to sell what I had and go with a complete new setup from BWY but after talking to my canvas person she is confident that she can make a connector and side curtains and make it all work. We'll just have to figure out the fitting with the narrow dodger.

Reading these post has highlighted that I'll make sure we can use the doors with the full enclosure too

Spector wrote:I was about to sell what I had and go with a complete new setup from BWY but after talking to my canvas person she is confident that she can make a connector and side curtains and make it all work. We'll just have to figure out the fitting with the narrow dodger.

Reading these post has highlighted that I'll make sure we can use the doors with the full enclosure too

If you think you might use the boat with the mast down and stored, like canal travel between sailing waters, consider putting a hole or slot (more convenient than the hole) in the connector so you can fully enclose the boat with the mast down. It would just be a zippered slot with flap on top, or just a slot with flap, or even just a hole with reinforcement, and wouldn't cost much since she's making the piece anyway, but it adds a lot of utility.

Here's mine in the Erie Canal. My FIL put a hole in the connector with the faux leather reinforcement around it. The mast crutch is extended one foot with a two-foot length of galvanized pipe and a 1-foot length of old spreader tube. The bottom of the mast crutch pole sits even with the top of the helm (the one-foot aluminium sleeve raises the crutch, and the steel pipe provides the structure against bending), so the mast clears the bimini. And I can use the full enclosure with the mast there.