Hi, All!
We are pretty excited, as we are getting rid of our crappy/crusty dodger and bimini and upgrading to a custom Iverson this week. Jason Iverson and Kyle just showed up and are out there bending and welding pipe as I write!
Great guys - totally fun/easy to work with... The hardest part was picking our colors and getting the old hardware off the boat...
Just glad we don't have kids, because we'd be stealing from their college funds for this project! (Not cheap...)
I'll be taking pictures along the way to share, if anybody is interested in the process.
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Steve Ramsey - Puget Sound
S/V Manonash - '96 C36 mkII (#1586) - M35B
Steve, I've also got a crusty dodger. Curious why you chose to get a new one and not just replace the canvas?
Nick Tonkin
*Former* Website Administrator, C36/375IA
*Former* owner, C36 tr/fk #255, Santa Barbara, CA
One reason is that Iverson's dodgers are gorgeous.
Another is (I am told) they don't recover old frames, since they seldom conform to their design.
Thirdly, and possibly most important, is that when Jason Iverson says his crew will be there tomorrow right after lunch - THEY SHOW UP - and on time. When he says the dodger will be on the boat in two weeks, it will be - not 6-9 months after it was originally promised.
Iverson dodgers are not inexpensive as noted. However, they are truly a thing of beauty, which I am sure will be evident from Steve's pictures of the finished product.
My only concern, after seeing his work, is that I prefer an overhang that comes a bit further aft over the companionway to protect from rain in a wind over the stern.
However, that is a small issue and if Jason said "Here's my design. I don't try to incorporate custom ideas - take it or leave it." If I could afford it, I'd take it. I believe his dodgers probably run 20-25% over the competition. A small price to pay for not having to wait through interminable postponements when you'd rather be out sailing.
I have no financial or other interest in Iverson's outfit. It's just that after being shined on by canvas makers over the years, he is a real breath of fresh air.
Hope this helps.
Jack
Jack Heaston
1987 C36 Mk I #692
Fin Keel, Std Rig, Rocna 15
Silent Passage, M25 XPB Repower
I had a very similar experience. My Dodger was old and not well constructed to begin with (i had to have a new fram). Iverson was able to get to me much faster that the "Cheaper" dodger guys. Kyle told me they would be on site at 1:15, I drove in at 1:12 and they were the next vehicle in the lot. I wanted my overhang to go to the end of the boom and that was not a problem. They worked and tweaked the mock up. Fabrication takes 2-3 weeks bu I have a short window (2 Weeks Firm) and my dodger is planned to be installed on day 14. I'll post pictures after the install.
Totally sold on Iverson
Greg Perkins
Port Orchard, WA
1986 Catalina 36
Sail #528
Channel Islander - As far as replacing vs. recovering. I couldn't stand the original dodger on our C36, and it wasn't the fabric that was the biggest problem. Overall, the old frame was so lightweight and loose that I just didn't trust it... Plus, the angles for exiting the cockpit were all off, making it awkward to get back into the cockpit in my opinion...
So, while a recover would have been nice and easy, it was more than just fabric. Plus, I was getting recover quotes in excess of $1,800 vs. buying a brand new custom dodger for around $2,900. Plus, I upgraded to 1-1/4 tubing like I had on my last boat. It is *sturdy* as hell...
Over the years, I have dodgers built for a C-30 a C&C 40 and they always felt boxy as hell. Iversons are much dodger rounded with fairly complex/compound curves, etc... Plus, they come with handy pockets for your flashlight and padlock! ;^>
And, I have to say, I was *wildly* impressed and surprised by their new window options. Seriously - the stuff is heavy duty, strong, and clear. I'd replace my airplane windshield with the stuff...
Jack - he'd likely make you anything you want. There are two other C36s in my marina with completely different designs/layouts, based on the sailor's preference. One is a low/narrow/tight design that you'd think of for offshore use, the other is a big/tall/wide design connected to a full room enclosure. (We decided on something in between.) If you want the aft end higher and further back, he'd do it in a heartbeat (assuming it's possible with rigging, etc...) Actually, he talked me into going further back than I would have thought, able to keep the foot farther forward than the old one (for easier entry/exist), but the top further back to cover folks manning the winches. And, he totally talked me into figuring out how I could change my bimini to accept solar panels, etc...
Here's another pic - frame up, just getting ready to make their patterns... They'll drive back up next week to install the fabric!
I can't wait!!!
I should note: I don't have any financial interest in Iverson either (except for giving him all of my money this month...) Just a fan for good business men who are as talented (and nice) as his whole team...
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Steve Ramsey - Puget Sound
S/V Manonash - '96 C36 mkII (#1586) - M35B
Wow! Just the frame looks great! I like the idea of planning for solar. When I take my boat to Mexico, I will be needing the solar to keep the batts up to snuff. Please take lots of pictures. Surely I can't be the only one that wants to see the whole process.:D
Cheers, Bill
S/V Wild Wind, 1988 SR, #813,
Channel Islands Marina, CA
I agree. Lots of photos of the process will be very welcome. We are happy with our Florida-style bimini, but watching artistry is always nice.
Duane Ising - Past Commodore (2011-2012)
s/v Diva Di
1999 Catalina 36 Hull #1777
Std rig; wing keel, M35B, Delta (45#)
Punta Gorda, FL
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/diva-di/
Tao's dodger was a year or so old, in great condition, but the sides angled too far back. They were in the way of everything, hampered access for boarding, interfered with a natural spot to sit on the coaming, and that last snap broke off on both sides anyway. I've noticed that last snap gone on any number of boats, and that portion of the canvas just hangs there (stretching wrong too). I just had them recut to be almost, not quite vertical, maybe ten degrees angle back. Redid the windows, they put on new leather strips. I'm really happy with the result. A bit less protection going to weather or from sun, but worth it.
The canvas guy noted that having that last snap non-functional also meant that because Sunbrella continually shrinks, it would eventually tear, so if you have this problem, get it fixed.
Dan
S/V Tao
#114
S/V Tao
Catalina 36
1983, Hull #114
So, we got out dodger and bimini a week ago, and Jason Iverson came back out with Kyle to measure/plan the enclosure panels. I told him not to worry about installing after the holidays, but - knowing that we were going to have some old-fogeys staying aboard this weekend for Christmas, he magically appeared yesterday to install things.
In two words: Amazing Work.
Side note: Jason called me kind of last-minute to let me know that he was overnighting me a sample of this new "SolarScreen" vinyl to think about for the enclosures. It's kind of like the perforate screen graphics you see on cars that are "wrapped" with graphics, except it is sandwiched between the window vinyl - white on the outside to reflect heat/sun (and create privacy) and black on the inside, to help you see through to the outside. Uhm, in a word - the stuff is AWESOME! I was a little skeptical with the sample he sent, but on the boat, it looks pretty slick from the outside, and from inside you still have complete visual ability. (Hard to explain, you'll have to see it...)
I know that Iverson's is going to be at the Seattle boat show in January, so be sure to stop by and check out their "crash test dummy" dodger that they've put through the ringer....
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Steve Ramsey - Puget Sound
S/V Manonash - '96 C36 mkII (#1586) - M35B
Steve. the enclosure came out amazing, thanks for sharing the pics! One thing that caught my eye is the fantastic companionway doors you made. Would you happen to have plans on fabricating those?
Mike
1999, C36 MKII, Wing, In-mast furling, tall rig
Phinney's Harbor, MA
Jackfish Girl, 1999, C36 MKII, Tall Rig, Wing Keel, In-mast furling, Monument Beach, Bourne, MA
That is the nicest canvas work I've ever seen. Congrats...!!
Gary and Cathy Price
1997 C36 Mk II Tall Rig/Wing Keel Imagine...
Hull # 1617
Worton Creek, Md.
Northern Chesapeake Bay
Wow, Steve, that really looks incredible!
I have an unrelated question after seeing your pedestal mounted instruments. How tall does one have to be to see effectively over your Raymarine (chartplotter, I assume)?
I just installed a Std Horizon Chartplotter and found the only place that seems to work was in that same area, above the other instruments. At 67 inches tall, I can just barely see well over it, but my 62" tall admiral cannot. I told her she can steer looking to one side of the CP, but she is skeptical.
Duane Ising - Past Commodore (2011-2012)
s/v Diva Di
1999 Catalina 36 Hull #1777
Std rig; wing keel, M35B, Delta (45#)
Punta Gorda, FL
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/diva-di/
Steve, very nice work and a unique color.
Question: Do you sail with the entire cover intact and if so how do the jib sheets work under, through or what with the bottom of the enclosure?
Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)
Hi Duane -
Hmm - yeah, that chartplotter is pretty high, though - I'm always standing while directly at the helm, or perched on one of the stern seats. If you were to sit at the main helm station, there's no way you'd even see around the compass, let alone the instruments. ;^>
Are you saying that your chartplotter is 67" tall, or that you are 67" tall? the bimini directly above that are is 77" tall, and I'm guess that the top of the chartplotter is about 58-62. So, yeah - standing up, I'm 74" tall and have no trouble seeing over it. My admiral is 70" tall and hasn't ever mentioned any problems.
That said - I still rarely ever use chartplotters on my boats. Don't get me wrong - I *love* electronics, especially in my airplane. However, when sailing - I just can't stand things beeping at me, or screwing up my night vision. (As such, I'm probably not the best judge of height on a chartplotter, because I mostly ignore it...)
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Steve Ramsey - Puget Sound
S/V Manonash - '96 C36 mkII (#1586) - M35B
Thanks, Steve. That clears it up; we are both pretty short and you are both pretty tall.
I am going to do my best to see if there is a way to mount that somewhere lower.
Duane Ising - Past Commodore (2011-2012)
s/v Diva Di
1999 Catalina 36 Hull #1777
Std rig; wing keel, M35B, Delta (45#)
Punta Gorda, FL
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/diva-di/