MacGregorSailors.com

Dodger???, what type...I wanna know like Frank C, I got a bad case of dodger envy!!

Excellent Pic. I love the lines that the combo Dodger/ Bimini create.

We like to sail with Capt Otto also.

BTW, I hate jellies. My kids think they're cute and cuddly, have stuffed animal versions of them. Spongue Bob loves them.

They've never spent time in the hospital because of jellies or had the skin on their leg split open because of swelling caused by a sting so they cant relate.

BTW did I mention that I hate jellies??

Yes, Chip - agree w/Capt Steve, I don't recall seeing that dodger in a mod or a post?
(And, who's your chase pilot?)


blanton - agree w/you too! I found a wooden spoked wheel somewhere on-line for about $250, maybe Defender. Can't find it today, but I think it might fit the Mac's 3/4" shaft.

EtA: Found it, right here in the forum, in this earlier thread, and the price is lower than I recalled.
Now that I'm reminded ... I went ahead & ordered the 20-incher @ $152, delivered!

... The main reason I'd want a larger wheel - so it's easier to reach from the trimmer's seat. Others want more clearance for the autopilot ring. A secondary advantage, for me, would be actually reducing the turning speed (rather than turning effort), to help reduce my tendency to oversteer when sailing. How 'bout this 24-incher from go2marine?

Acacia Wood 24" Steering Wheel (by Victory, $180), 3/4" tapered shaft.



In same thread, Jeff R showed his more modern spokes:

That's a lovely wooden wheel there. And then I like JR's with the metal spokes and wooden handles, too. I'd originally been thinking 22" destroyer and that's what I think I may go with for version 1.0 as I've got one of those Ray M. ring-type wheel steering autopilots though it's not working yet.

I really, really dislike the slack/slop in the Teleflex rack & pinion cable steering that came with the M. As a result I'm looking at options.

I'd kinda like to switch to Teleflex Sea Star hydraulic steering
http://ww2.seastarsteering.com/INBOARD/inboard.htm
with aluminum cylinder
http://ww2.seastarsteering.com/INBOARD/inboard.htm
(and perhaps 'power assist')
http://ww2.seastarsteering.com/SPA/spa.htm
and switch to the Ray Marine pilot hyd. pump to drive all that.
http://www.raymarine.com/raymarine/Defa ... 7&Parent=5

Yes, Chip - agree w/Capt Steve, I don't recall seeing that dodger in a mod or a post?

This is the basic narrow style dodger which I got new on the boat from the original Havencraft. The bimini and dodger are separate and can't be connected with panels to form an enclosure without custom mods.

As I understood it from Art Reiders (in '00) he contracted the canvas items for the X boats from a local shop in the Boston area. The dodger and bimini may even have been from separate shops, as those were the only colors available at the time and they don't match.

Presumably one could still be made but I don't know if you can find out where it came from. Old story, when Art (now deceased) sold Havencraft about four years ago, the new Havencraft sold only boats, and the aftermarket parts and accesories business went to a separate outfit macgregorparts.com. AFIK Havencraft is still selling M boats, but even though macgregoprparts.com continued the orignal and extensive Havencraft catalog online for several years, it was only a few months after taking it over before they quit answering phone calls and emails, and the website has been gone for some time. You could check with Havencraft though they do not offer a dodger for the M so that may be a dead end as well.

If you're interested, I can put out a call to New England Trailer Sailors; presumably many of the members bought their Xs from Havencraft and somebody may know where the canvas was made.

By 2002 Art was selling my dodger with my X , which does zip into the full enclosure...and it was really reasonably priced too ...

I dont know the source he used for that either.

Thanks Chip. That investment remains in my longer-term budget. When I get there, I'm thinking of using a SoCal fabricator for a custom, wide dodger, Harbor Custom Canvas. They've done a couple of the west coaat Macs, reasonable pricing with high quality.

FYI when I spoke with Harbor a while ago they said I would need to bring my boat into the shop in order for them to make a dodger.

UPS arrived yesterday with a 22" Schmitt destroyer wheel from go2. Looks about right on the M, for now.

That's an awesome wheel. Would be ideal for a wheel pilot.