MacGregorSailors.com

Part 1

The packages arrived today. A 3 page part list. .. what have I gotten myself into?

The stainless frame is much nicer than any frame I have seen before. Now all I have to do is dig the boat out of the snow to make the pattern.

I'm going to watch the instruction disk now.

More later.

Where did you get the kit? Is it designed for a 26X can you build a full enclosure? Is it a good price? Oh, so many questions.

The kit came from Sailrite. It is universal. I may make the full enclosure, I think ther is almost enough material to do so. They give you 10 yards of sunbrella for a bimini.

I got a stainless frame and 30 mill window material. For dodger and bimini that ran about $1100.

Keep us posted - thanks! Will the bimini allow one to stand when steering?

I havn't decided yet. The poles would allow for just about anything.

Step 2

Start measuring. I need the mast up to get boom height and other clearances. Still 8 inches of frozen snow and ice on boat. Hint: Clean snow out of mast step. It compresses nicely otherwise and becomes ice... or so I've been told.

You can push a frozen rope.. they do not bend.

OK mast is up. Now I have to try a few different configurations to see what works best for me. I sail more than motor, and want maximum sun coverage. Stand up head room would be nice, but not critical. I may just adjust the layout of the stock bimini enough so that I can open the seat.

The dodger frame is up. Pattern made. Sailrite ships enough tubing for a 100" wide dodger about 4 feet tall. Way too much tubing.

I have cut out the major panels and am starting to sew. The video instruction disks are good. I am holding off on shaping the leading edge until last so I can be sure to get it right.

It seems the deck around the support near the sink is solid fiberglass with no balsa core. I broke 2 stainless steel screws there even with pilot holes.

Take lots and lots of pictures.......I have been kicking this idea around and I'd love to find out how it went and hard it was....does it matter if you don't know how to operate a sewing machine?

The dodger is almost together. I put it aside waiting for some more parts. You need lots of zippers for curtains etc.

I suggest you start with the bimini anyway. It is much easier to assemble.

As to sewing. The walking foot maching is freat. I recommend you first take a bit of the sunbrella, cut off a piece or ave scrap. Now sew it to itself a few times. Now take a seam ripper and take it all apart. Do this several times until you can sew and remove the stiches without cutting or tearing the fabric . You will need this skill when you find that things don't fit right and you have to take it apart and start over.



The bimini now fits, I need to do some trim work and make the straps.

I chose to go with a shorter version than the Dowsar. Duane sent me a bunch of pictures and descriptions but I think the shorter model fits my style more. It is taller than the standard one. I moved the boom up a couple of inches on the mast to get better clearance.


More to follow.

I, too, have sewn my own dodger. I got the sailrite kit with aluminium frame and I got their walking foot sewing machine. It turned out great. I've noticed in many Mac dodger photos that people get or make a narrow style dodger. I think that the narrow style dodger misses the point because when one sits on the cockpit benches the narrow dodgers don't stop the spray--it comes right around the sides. I made my dodger as wide as possible. I have pretty good protection from spray. I mounted my dodger to the stanchions next to the winches with hardware from West Marine. The good thing here is that I can operated the winches without being blocked by the dodger. I'll be doing the bimini one of these days. I find that the standard bimini does not provide shade from the afternoon sun. I have several designs in mind. I would like to integrate the dodger and bimini but what I have seen of the Dowser kit and others they look a bit industrial and ackward but I would think they are very effective.

The extra protection you describe is one of the great features of the Dowsar dodger. I find it is great balance between forward access and protection. Not only is it a wide dodger but it also extends well back into the cockpit. This creates two completely protected seats at the front of the cockpit.

Yet it still provides just enough room to step outside of it on the deck when going forward. There is space for your foot in the forward part of the cockpit combing and on the cabin top itself. You can easily go forward yet the seats are completly protected.