Has anyone had a dodger fabricated and installed on their 260? My main purpose is to enable me to keep the cribboards out while sailing, at the dock or at anchor while it is raining. Because of the severe angle of the bulkhead, you cannot keep the boards out even in a light mist, or the cabin gets soaked. None of the prefab outfits seem to have a dodger for a 260. Any input would be great!!
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Greg - what I did
We also would have liked to have a dodger, but just didn't seem to fit. At anchor I would drap a tarp over the boom from the mast to the end of the boom and this provided cover. If we were out sailing and got caught in the rain I would just put the companionway cover on and it would allow things to be passed back and forth without the pinboards. Of course I would be stuck outside while my crew hundled below. Jim S/V Java
We also would have liked to have a dodger, but just didn't seem to fit. At anchor I would drap a tarp over the boom from the mast to the end of the boom and this provided cover. If we were out sailing and got caught in the rain I would just put the companionway cover on and it would allow things to be passed back and forth without the pinboards. Of course I would be stuck outside while my crew hundled below. Jim S/V Java
Greg- what I did
I had the same problem as everybody else, I use the companionway cover as Jim does, but I use mine when I store the boat next to the house to keep the rain out and the UV from destroing the doors I made up. The doors I made up work great and fold up like an accordian or can be completly removed and stored below decks. (you can see more of them in the photo forum under 260 improvements). As far as measurements... I have looked at other 260 and it seems that each is a little different and would have to be measured for each boat. I went thru a lot of cardboard templates before I was satisfied and cut the wood
I had the same problem as everybody else, I use the companionway cover as Jim does, but I use mine when I store the boat next to the house to keep the rain out and the UV from destroing the doors I made up. The doors I made up work great and fold up like an accordian or can be completly removed and stored below decks. (you can see more of them in the photo forum under 260 improvements). As far as measurements... I have looked at other 260 and it seems that each is a little different and would have to be measured for each boat. I went thru a lot of cardboard templates before I was satisfied and cut the wood
Thanks guys-looking for more
Thanks to both of you. I am frequently on the forum and did a couple of posts under "Zigracer." I've propably read just about every post regarding the 260/26. I've read both of your posts before--nice work. I am looking specifically to engineer some kind of dodger. I've done the tarp thing at anchor and even while motoring. The doors are a great idea and I may make some, but unfortunately the rain will pour in when the doors are open. I do a bit of singlehanding, and again, leaving the cabin open can make life a whole lot easier. If no-one has done a dodger yet, I may make a pvc tube frame mock up before I put down the $$ for a canvas guy. I'd sew one myself using a Sail-Rite kit, but although I've got plenty of mechanical experience I've got no sewing experience and a dodger is proably not a good project to start with. Again, thanks to all for help.
Thanks to both of you. I am frequently on the forum and did a couple of posts under "Zigracer." I've propably read just about every post regarding the 260/26. I've read both of your posts before--nice work. I am looking specifically to engineer some kind of dodger. I've done the tarp thing at anchor and even while motoring. The doors are a great idea and I may make some, but unfortunately the rain will pour in when the doors are open. I do a bit of singlehanding, and again, leaving the cabin open can make life a whole lot easier. If no-one has done a dodger yet, I may make a pvc tube frame mock up before I put down the $$ for a canvas guy. I'd sew one myself using a Sail-Rite kit, but although I've got plenty of mechanical experience I've got no sewing experience and a dodger is proably not a good project to start with. Again, thanks to all for help.
Contact and picture...
I have seen a H26 with a dodger. The boat was purchased at Sailing Specialties in Mystic, CT many years ago and the dodger was probably fabricated by an outfit that they use. Try contacting Mark McLeod at mark@sailingspecialties.com for suggestions. Attached is a picture. It does restrict easy access going forward. Also, the Hunter poptop cover includes a frame that extends over the companionway for some protection. You may want to take a look at that option. It leaves the side deck open for accessibility Fair winds, Tom
I have seen a H26 with a dodger. The boat was purchased at Sailing Specialties in Mystic, CT many years ago and the dodger was probably fabricated by an outfit that they use. Try contacting Mark McLeod at mark@sailingspecialties.com for suggestions. Attached is a picture. It does restrict easy access going forward. Also, the Hunter poptop cover includes a frame that extends over the companionway for some protection. You may want to take a look at that option. It leaves the side deck open for accessibility Fair winds, Tom
Thanks Tom
Thanks for the pic Tom. I actually know Mark McLeod and will contact him. Your pic is kind of what I'm looking for. I plan on leaving enough "weatherdeck" room on each side of the cabin top as if the top was narrower like a traditional style boat.
Thanks for the pic Tom. I actually know Mark McLeod and will contact him. Your pic is kind of what I'm looking for. I plan on leaving enough "weatherdeck" room on each side of the cabin top as if the top was narrower like a traditional style boat.
Dodger Limitations
I have a H26 with Dodger just like the one in the pic above. Dodger was fabricated by a local company through Sailing Specialties in Mystic, CT. It provides all kinds of cover from the elements, but at a price. Be forewarned, moving fwd is difficult at best. You'll have to crawl through the fwd hatch or roll up the center window in the dodger.
I have a H26 with Dodger just like the one in the pic above. Dodger was fabricated by a local company through Sailing Specialties in Mystic, CT. It provides all kinds of cover from the elements, but at a price. Be forewarned, moving fwd is difficult at best. You'll have to crawl through the fwd hatch or roll up the center window in the dodger.
That's it Flan
You cannot safely go forward with a dodger on a 23.5,240, 26, 260 because of the design of the cabin top extending the entire beam of the boat. The pop top enclosure is probably the best compromise.
You cannot safely go forward with a dodger on a 23.5,240, 26, 260 because of the design of the cabin top extending the entire beam of the boat. The pop top enclosure is probably the best compromise.
We uesed to own that Hunter in the picture
The 1996 H26 pictured in this thread is the former sv Charis from Bedford NH and is now sv SeaLuff - home port Herrington Harbor South in MD. We had the dodger built for Charis before we took delivery from Sailing Specialties in Mystic Ct (approx Aril 1996). You can contact either Jeff Marshall or Mark McLeod there and they will know the boat. The dodger was constructed by Creamer Canvass in New London Ct. They did an outstanding job we cruised all over Lake Champlain (where the picture referenced in the thread was taken), Lake Winn. in NH, Lake Sebago, most of the coast of Maine, NH and Long Island Sound and the islands off Cape Cod, as well as each fall in the Chesapeake for the 7 years we owned Charis. The point is that the Dodger offered us excellent protection from the elements especially when combined with the detachable awning also mounted on the boat. The dodger side curtains are detachable to allow air flow, the windshield rolls up out of the way for more air flow if you would like. Access forward was was achieved most times by going out and around it. We very seldom felt the need to go throur the front hatch. It is definately worth the investment. If you would like more information I'm willing to answer any questions that I can (I'm sure the present ower would as well) Bruce
The 1996 H26 pictured in this thread is the former sv Charis from Bedford NH and is now sv SeaLuff - home port Herrington Harbor South in MD. We had the dodger built for Charis before we took delivery from Sailing Specialties in Mystic Ct (approx Aril 1996). You can contact either Jeff Marshall or Mark McLeod there and they will know the boat. The dodger was constructed by Creamer Canvass in New London Ct. They did an outstanding job we cruised all over Lake Champlain (where the picture referenced in the thread was taken), Lake Winn. in NH, Lake Sebago, most of the coast of Maine, NH and Long Island Sound and the islands off Cape Cod, as well as each fall in the Chesapeake for the 7 years we owned Charis. The point is that the Dodger offered us excellent protection from the elements especially when combined with the detachable awning also mounted on the boat. The dodger side curtains are detachable to allow air flow, the windshield rolls up out of the way for more air flow if you would like. Access forward was was achieved most times by going out and around it. We very seldom felt the need to go throur the front hatch. It is definately worth the investment. If you would like more information I'm willing to answer any questions that I can (I'm sure the present ower would as well) Bruce
Thanks a bunch Bruce
Bruce: Thanks for the post. I do have some more questions if you could answer them. Specifically, was your dodger only as wide as the widest dimension of the companionway, or was it as wide as the entire deck on top of the cabin?
Bruce: Thanks for the post. I do have some more questions if you could answer them. Specifically, was your dodger only as wide as the widest dimension of the companionway, or was it as wide as the entire deck on top of the cabin?
Answers
Greg, The Dodger is as wide as the cabin top. We asked for it to be constructed that way because we wanted to the fullest protection in the cockpit as possible. There are other pictures that I can send you. Have a look at the picture I posted. This shows the Dodger with side curtians mounted the awning attached and the test fit of the side curtins that my wife made in ordere to be dry when on the mooring and the hook during serious rain. Do you want to take this discussion to regular email or land line? Fair Winds, Bruce
Greg, The Dodger is as wide as the cabin top. We asked for it to be constructed that way because we wanted to the fullest protection in the cockpit as possible. There are other pictures that I can send you. Have a look at the picture I posted. This shows the Dodger with side curtians mounted the awning attached and the test fit of the side curtins that my wife made in ordere to be dry when on the mooring and the hook during serious rain. Do you want to take this discussion to regular email or land line? Fair Winds, Bruce
Bruce, here's my e-mail
Bruce: Please send me an e-mail at zigracer@aol.com. If you're comfortable giving me a phone number, I'll call you. Otherwise e-mail would be cool. Thanks again, Greg
Bruce: Please send me an e-mail at zigracer@aol.com. If you're comfortable giving me a phone number, I'll call you. Otherwise e-mail would be cool. Thanks again, Greg
Hi Bruce...
Hope all is well! I haven't seen you cruising these HOW waters before. Your contribution would be very much appreciated by many here on the Small boats as well as on the Big boats Forum, too. Your old friend Kevin (the L. Champlain Video producer from Oregon) has a thread going here as well: Coastal Cruising the H260. Follow the link... Fair winds, Tom
Hope all is well! I haven't seen you cruising these HOW waters before. Your contribution would be very much appreciated by many here on the Small boats as well as on the Big boats Forum, too. Your old friend Kevin (the L. Champlain Video producer from Oregon) has a thread going here as well: Coastal Cruising the H260. Follow the link... Fair winds, Tom
Hi Tom
Tom, Rich clewed me in on the string regarding the dodger and we loved what the that addition did for us on the boat for cruising, so I jumped in. Good to hear from you. PS the 37.5 is a dream!
Tom, Rich clewed me in on the string regarding the dodger and we loved what the that addition did for us on the boat for cruising, so I jumped in. Good to hear from you. PS the 37.5 is a dream!
Reefing
No real hardship really...we never sailed the boat without the dodger so we knew no other situation. In good weather (read no rain) we never had the dodger side curatins in so you can walk along the edge of the top-deck. Same with the windshield (rolled up if not raining). If the weather was bad then we would just unsnap and couple of snaps on the side curtain grab the shoruds and walk along that "little" rub rail gunnel. While reefing (always meant to run it back to the cockpit but...)we just had to becareful not to step on the solar panel that I mounted there. That project is a discussion for another time though. Fair winds, Bruce
No real hardship really...we never sailed the boat without the dodger so we knew no other situation. In good weather (read no rain) we never had the dodger side curatins in so you can walk along the edge of the top-deck. Same with the windshield (rolled up if not raining). If the weather was bad then we would just unsnap and couple of snaps on the side curtain grab the shoruds and walk along that "little" rub rail gunnel. While reefing (always meant to run it back to the cockpit but...)we just had to becareful not to step on the solar panel that I mounted there. That project is a discussion for another time though. Fair winds, Bruce
Main Sheet
The Mainsheet had a zippered large "button hole" to come through. We had designed as an awning only so we could not sail with it up. In hinde-site we would probably opt for a bimini with a connector bridge to attach to the dodger. But it was very serviceable and gave protection and a "spare room" for the seven years we oened the boat. Fiar winds, Bruce
The Mainsheet had a zippered large "button hole" to come through. We had designed as an awning only so we could not sail with it up. In hinde-site we would probably opt for a bimini with a connector bridge to attach to the dodger. But it was very serviceable and gave protection and a "spare room" for the seven years we oened the boat. Fiar winds, Bruce
Please post more pictures
Bruce, could you please post more pictures of Charis' dodger in the photo forum. This looks like a great addition for the 260. Did you also have the canvas pop-top for when anchored? Brigg
Bruce, could you please post more pictures of Charis' dodger in the photo forum. This looks like a great addition for the 260. Did you also have the canvas pop-top for when anchored? Brigg
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