BWY Dodger

[delevi]

I read numerous posts on this board about dodgers and most don’t speak too highly of the BWY narrow dodger for the M. In contrast, the Dowsar scores high points from everyone, as well as Genco. The cost difference is huge.

BWY $650
Dowsar $1750
Genco $1150

Well, I hope I’m not going to be disappointed, but I just ordered the BWY narrow dodger for several reasons:

1. Price. I just won’t pay the Dowsar/Genco prices, even if the product is worth it. My boat bucks are overspent to say the least.
2. Ability to go up on deck easily. Although the added protection of the wider dodger is unquestionable, I would be quite reluctant to install something that would be such an obstruction to the deck. Sometimes, timing is crucial and a few moments delay can cost you.
3. Lines aft. I have three lines on each side. This may not be an issue for some but judging from the pictures, the Dowsar dodger sides would mount right around where I have rope clutches. Also, in my particular case, I’m lugging a 180 lb keel with a 6:1 block & tackle system with which the wide dodger would very likely interfere.

I realize there will be a compromise in how much spray and wind the narrow dodger would block. The question is how much? I’m also a bit concerned about visibility i.e. would I have to look over the thing with the boat sailing and heeling.

What prompted the decision? Picture this scenario. It’s the end of the day and we’ve sailed far from the anchorage. There is maybe an hour of daylight left. No problem. Just fire up the Etec and get back in no time at all. Right? Not really. The sea is choppy and motoring beyond 6-8 kts means getting completely soaked. Burr! Unfortunately this happens way too often.

My scenario: Run the boat on autopilot at full throttle while standing under the dodger keeping lookout, staying warm & dry. Ahhh. In this position, I can still easily reach the throttle in case of an emergency. Question is, is this the only scenario where I would stay dry. Any chance the dodger would provide some shelter at the helm? What do you guys think, did I make the right decision?

Leon

[Night Sailor]

Effective dodgers on a Mac are a tough decision indeed. I agonized over a year before deciding to make my own from scratch for just the reasons yo mentioned... cost, width and rapid foredeck accessibility.

I realized that the only chance a narrow dodger would give good protection from spray at the helm is if it were full width from rubrail to rubrail. that's because the spray doesn't come from directly ahead at any speed unless the boat is going directly into the wind and then it doesn't get into the cockpit anyway. Any other angle and the bow wave and spray comes over the side of the boat starting about midcabin and aft of it. In a rain with not much wind, a narrow dodger would suffice as you describe using it, at speed leaving the helm and crouching or standing under the dodger overhang.

I'm too chicken to go fast without being right at the helm for emergencies. I came close to running over a kayaker on the lake last year because even though he had a flag raised on a fiberglass whip about 6 ft above the water, he and his boat in camo colors were invisible in the conditions and his flag blended in with fall colors on shore. At three miles from shore I never expected to encounter him but I'm always on the look out for logs especially after record flooding.

For better visibility, I resewed my mainsail cover to be three inches more narrow on the aft end of the boom so I could have a three inch higher dodger than most, thereby giving me better visibility from the helm by looking through the vinyl windows or screens.

In your case, if you find the narrow dodger is not adequate, you should be able to get a local shop to add some wings to the side by means of zippers, so that the full width of the boat is covered, but you can rapidly unzip the wing and step through or over it if need be. That's my design plan. I'm fortunate enough to have been in the business before and have my own machines, tooks, etc.

I also have three lines led aft on each side to stoppers and cockpit hangers. I will simply allow enough space for the lines to run under the leading edge of the dodger. Wind and water can come through, but it will not likely be enough to get me wet at the helm or go into the open hatch before drainingoff the cabin side or into the cockpit.

[waternwaves]

If I may add,

for the first couple of years I had my boat..... I used a BWY narrow dodger, bimini. and the 2 doors I made that clipped to the sides of the narrow dodger.
The pacific northwest is known for wind and rain and spray or is it spray and rain and wind.....

In any case.....When the weather got nasty......even in my foulies, it was cold and wet.

After holding out for 3 years...... I switched to the wide dodger, and full enclosure (BWY), I have to admit I am much drier, in a better mood and more attentive, and I travel with the radar safer. However, when things get really dicey, Waves over 8 ft. I am buttoned up tight, radar is on, speed is crawling, Waves crashing into the side of the mac... do tear the snaps and vinyl, snap the bows, and snap those plastic bow clips on the deck. SO when it get really nasty....The binini has to come down anyway.
I dont know what speed of wind breaks it, as I was a little busy at the time. I think the dodger alone will withstand a storm better, but it will provide no protection at the helm. I will be adding 4 new clamps and bow braces to the enclosure this year to replace the old webbing and cut down on the amount of wiggle in the wind.


I have a sling seat from a hunting chair that uses yakima rack clips to hold onto the companionway slider track, but that is a pretty much useless piece of equipment. you need throttle and steering control in the companionway if you are going to sit their, and why do you want to soak the inside of the boat?

I guess my opinion of the dodgers/bimini and enclosures are that they are a necessity up here, and my narrow dodger is still for sale.

And 19 times out of 20 I set up the dodger and bimini when I go out. And you will very frequently use your side curtains if the water is cold.

[Highlander]

Leon

The Dowsar & Genco Dodgers are all S S hardware & piping & fittings. No plastic parts or alum tubing , the vinyl windows are made from thicker material & will last longer & I believe their front windows are removable for those hot days so's you's get what's you's pay for !!!!
PM Darren he has a narrow dodger off his 26X which is in good condition for sale & I believe he has the zippin doors for it too a bonus !
I posted all kinds of pic's on these this time last yr from the TO Boat Show !
Anyway I just purchased a full Dowsar enclosure for my boat !!! along with a set of stern seats


J.

[beene]

Hmmm

Didn't know they made that for a ...... must be new for 2008 EH



G

[Alex]

For my boat Mac19 it works well, I like it

[Shane]

Any chance the dodger would provide some shelter at the helm? What do you guys think, did I make the right decision?

Leon,

At the helm? No, but the water down your way (SF Bay, right?) is sooo much warmer, right?

As Darren pointed out, without the front quarter windows (an extra $250 IIRC) everyone on the windward side -except those hunkered down in the forward corner of the cockpit- gets to have a shower. I don't have them (yet; I'm ordering the rest of the full enclosure in the next month or so), so I'm not sure well they will hold their shape without the support of the rest of the canvas & frame of the bimini & insert panel (the connector piece of canvas between the dodger & bimini). BTW, the insert can not be in place while sailing; motoring only.

Structurally, you don't want to use it (dodger frame) as a handrail; If the frame bent, you could probably bend it back, but I see the plastic connectors breaking and needing replacing.

For our needs, I think its fine, but we're pretty fairweather sailors; and if that keeps the wife and 2 girls enjoying the boat then that's fine with me . If your using it as support entering the cockpit on a bumpy walk back from riding the rails, that might be a different matter .

The dodger also provides a little extra protection from the elements for the companionway, whether that be from rain or sun. We leave the dodger in place all season; the bimini & insert as weather dictates. With the full enclosure, I hope to have the boat in the water mid March.

Hope that helps.

Regards,
Shane

[waternwaves]

BTW, the insert can not be in place while sailing; motoring only. ...

we leave it up even when reaching and running. Just undo one zipper which ever side.....


Shane.....hmmmm
so we wont see you in february???? sailing is cheaper than skiing.....

[Shane]

BTW, the insert can not be in place while sailing; motoring only. ...

we leave it up even when reaching and running. Just undo one zipper which ever side.....

In the words of Homer (Simpson, that is) DOH. Sometimes the obvious more than escapes me

Shane.....hmmmm
so we wont see you in february???? sailing is cheaper than skiing.....

True, but the forced air heater I'd need to install isn't

Actually it was a year ago Jan 3 we took our boat out for the first time (and her teeth didn't chatter too much; a really crisp, sunny day (first sunny one since Halloween 2+ months previous). We may do a couple of day motoring trips, but days are too short (and my wifes' feet too cold) to do longer jaunts than that. But I'll keep working on it. She might surprise me yet.

Regards,
Shane

[delevi]

Ok, so if all the spray comes from the side, the only benefit to the side curtains would be for the people sitting all the way at the front. I will probably fold the dodger down while sailing and go up front directly under the dodger while motoring under autopilot. Usually at this point, the admiral is down below reading a book. The captain needs to stay dry too.

I don't mind the aluminum frame, but those plastic fittings sure have me worried.

Leon

[Night Sailor]

Since the black nylon fittings deform easier in the heat here in TX, I suppose they may also get more brittle and subject to breaking in really cold weather under stress. I've had no trouble with the temporary bimini I've used for four years resting on nylon fittings, but then we only see low 20s or teens for short periods of time, with maximum winds about 60mph for short periods, and not while sailing. For safety sake I think it a good idea to install the stainless steel fittings and forget about wondering if they will do the job under severe stress. A collapsing rig could injure the helmsman in a blow and that wouldn't be nice.

[Catigale]

I have the Old-Havencraft supplied dodger on my which is the whole width of the boat. Its tough to go forward, so we either go through the front hatch in rough weather or I zip out the front window and crawl forward.

It does a great job keeping the helm dry - if water breaks over the front you duck to the side and stay fairly dry. I can seat 4 in the cockpit who will stay completely dry behind the dodger. On anchor it zips into the full enclosure which is really nice for crusing since it opens up the cockpit for wine and food while the kids watch Larry Moe and Curly down below.....why SOYTENTLEE!!!

[delevi]

So Darren,
How much for your narrow dodger with side curtains? What about the snap fittings? Probably not something one would remove from the boat once installed...

Just inquiring for now. As I mentioned, I already ordered the BWY dodger, but if they haven't shipped it yet, I may be able to cancel.

Leon

[waternwaves]

I put in new plastic hardware for the wider dodger, left the old clip pin fittings for the narrow dodger in place. SInce I did not want to hassle with the issue the weekend I was originally installing.

My narrow dodger comes with the clear plastic doors....

The fittings are available from BWY and any local westmarine/boatersworld

The doors were the reason I got it in the first place. I have not gotten wide doors for the wide dodger yet...... arrrrghhhhhh another goody to get......

The new narrow dodger from BWY is 650
The doors are 229

but leon....... the X dodger is going to be a little long for the M boat.....

it is cut for a 95 or 96 or a 97

I would be happy to get 375 for the set.

[delevi]

Hmm. Forgot about the X dodger extending further aft than those made for the M in order fo the traveler/sheet to clear. I guess that wouldn't work for me. I don't quite udnerstand the side doors. Aren't those made for the enclosure? Any pics?

Leon