Dowsar Dodger for the 26X

[Harry van der Meer]

Unfortunately Dowsar cannot manufacture the Dodger for the 26X anymore because patterns were destroyed by mistake. They need to borrow a 26X for a while to custom make it. I am too far from Hamilton, Ontario to drop by with my boat. Would it not be great if any 26X owner that is the market for a new dodger happened to be close to Hamilton and could stop by? According to what I have read on this site, the Dowsar dodger seems to have the best trade-off between cockpit protection and size.

[Trouts Dream]

I was looking at a Dowsar enclosure for my 26X this year but I am in Alberta and although the boat is towable......


All I can do is encourage someone to help out. Any idea how long they need one for? Maybe they could fly out here and I could show them some western hospitality.

[Kelly Hanson East]

There are s in WIlson NY and Toronto of course - anyone have a line to Dowsar feel free to have them contact me to arrange logistics...

[davidbagnall]

It might be a bit out of the way for you to order, but the Aussie Mac Distributor makes Dodger for the X. He used my boat as a template for it and although I haven't seen the finished X version have have seen the M version and it is very well built.
http://www.bluereefyachts.com.au/26mspares.htm
Cheers
Dave

[Love MACs]

Wow that BlueReefYachts has a lot of good stuff Seems they make, order or stock about everything one could/would need. But as you said a bit pricey

Allan

[GeoffR]

I'm in BC and got my full cockpit enclosure (the wide version) from BWY = Blue Water Yachts in Seattle. Really happy with it and it was a fraction of the cost of the Dowsar. Installed it myself a couple of years ago and no problems. email accessories@bwyachts.com 1. 2 0 6 . 2 8 2 . 4 2 6 1. Geoff

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

Remember, the Dowsar version is very different than any other one sold by any other dealer. Their dodger has far better cockpit protection than the BWY one, and their bimini is the only one that is aft of the boom instead of under it giving over 6'-2" standing headroom at the helm. I'm very familiar with the BWY product, I know Todd and Cheryl at BWY very well (I built their repair parts web site), yet I chose the Dowsar version for my X. It is more expensive but the list of features that differentiate it from the BWY design is very long.

Details here:

http://www.ddunn.org/ModsEnclosure.htm

[Highlander]

Check out Genco sails in Toronto they used to makethe orignal full enclosure fot the X for Dowsar before he went to another canopy maker in st Catherines

http://www.gencomarine.com/canvas/index.cfm
check out the pic on the top right 26X
http://www.gencomarine.com/canvas/photo ... rrLetter=M

J

[GeoffR]

Duane is correct about the excellent standing height in the Dowsar (which is very desirable).

But I don't understand the comments about weather protection. I have the wide dodger connected to the full enclosure, which provides the same protection as the Dowsar and extends past the boom to the rear of the steering bench http://www.bwyachts.com/web%20catalog%2 ... dodger.htm and http://www.bwyachts.com/web%20catalog%2 ... losure.htm. When I unzip- the transition unit to attach the sheets to the boom I actually end up with more weather protection because the bimini extends further forward.

And the price is about US$3,000 compared with about Cdn$6,000 for the Dowsar. Just couldn't justify paying double the price for the standing room when the First Mate doesn't even like sailing !

Other points about enclsures worth considering are the extra windage and the slower de-rigging time if you tow. Also found these excellent tips for cleaning Sunbrella on the Genco site http://www.gencomarine.com/images/forms ... neTops.pdf

Geoff

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

The big difference in the Dowsar dodger compared to the BWY dodger is not the width, but the length front to back. When both are zipped up completely they both give you full protection. When you have it open and are relying on the dodger alone for protection the Dowsar design is far better. The BWY model stops right at the back edge of the companionway. The Dowsar version extends 18" past the back edge of the companionway. This creates two totally protected seats at the front of the cockpit.



I've sat up there sailing through spray while the autopilot drives and have been completely dry. My wife loves it because it is completely out of the wind.

For the price difference you are getting a lot more:
Stainless steel tubing verses aluminum.
Stainless steel fittings verses plastic.
Fully self supporting, no tension straps are used to keep any component of the enclosure up, the dodger and bimini are completely free standing.
Opening screened windows on both sides and the rear.
The side panels open like doors for completely unobstructed access in and out.
Headroom at the helm.
Grab loops on the dodger.
Access openings to rear cleats.
Inside storage pockets.

The Dowsar version does present higher windage, but I feel it is worth it. The full enclosure has added another room to our boat, and I would hate to walk around bent over every time I wanted to stand up in it.

Rigging for trailering is not an issue for us. With our new arch I have raised the mast carrier up so it clears the folded back bimini. We never remove the dodger or bimini bows. Once the canvas is zipped off the dodger bows they simply fold forward on the deck by releasing the quick pin in the stand up leg that came with the enclosure. The connector panel get flipped back on top of the bimini and the stretcher bar that tensions it is released, again with the supplied quick pin, and the unit folds back and remains standing on it's aft support legs. A boot zips over this and we are ready to go. We only remove the side panel canvas and the dodger canvas. All these zip off in a minute or two and get stored below.


Note the unique stretcher bar above my wife's head.
This keeps the bimini stretched tight.


The connector and bimini canvas is left attached, folded back in the boot for trailering.

[Harry van der Meer]

Check out Genco sails in Toronto they used to makethe orignal full enclosure fot the X for Dowsar before he went to another canopy maker in st Catherines

http://www.gencomarine.com/canvas/index.cfm
check out the pic on the top right 26X
http://www.gencomarine.com/canvas/photo ... rrLetter=M

J

Thanks Highlander. I called Genco Marine and they still make all the canvas. Appears to be cheaper as well.

[Highlander]

Harry

Your welcome , here's my Dowsar full enclosure
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 0038-1.jpg

Let us know how you make out and some pic's when done are you going to order & self install !!


J

[ralphk]

I have the 97X with a Dowsar enclosure from 2001 or 2002

We will be travelling near Hamilton this Thursday or Friday

PM me quickly of you still need a pattern for Dowsar.



Best

Ralph k