Dawson 38 Convertible--?????

[Glenn W]

What do ya'll know about this boat--- good, bad, indifferent. I am told it is the same hull as the 37 Bertie, but don't know for sure. Mainly interested in hull construction and actual hull design.

[Tunaman5]

What do ya'll know about this boat--- good, bad, indifferent. I am told it is the same hull as the 37 Bertie, but don't know for sure. Mainly interested in hull construction and actual hull design.

I dont know much about the Dawsons, but in that size range the 38 Henriques cannot be beaten. Check them out before you buy. It's a real battle wagon.

[Bay Fishin]

Just to clear it up the Dawson 38 hull is the same hull as the Bertram 37.

[Glenn W]

I dont know much about the Dawsons, but in that size range the 38 Henriques cannot be beaten. Check them out before you buy. It's a real battle wagon.

Yea, Yea, Yea. Sorry, I didn't ask about them--- if I wanted to know about slow boats to China I would have asked. No offense really.

Is the 38 Dawson the same hull as the 37 Bertie? what about hull integrity?

[Bite Me]

Glenn, If it floats just buy the damn thing. I have realized that the best boat on the water is your friends boat.
Come on big dog, take the plunge. I'll even get you a helluva deal on a slip

[ocnslr]

Have a friend who had a Dawson 38 for quite a few years. Fished on it both inshore and offshore. He just moved to a Luhrs 36, as he wanted to be down in the action, nearer the pit, and not up on the flybridge all the time. Also hard on the legs in a rolling seaway.

He knew big sportfishers much better than I do, but I recall him saying that the Dawson weighed a lot less than a Hatt or a Bert. In fact, he wanted to get a 36 Bert.

If I recall correctly, his Dawson had big Detroits. We would run out to the Fingers at about 20.5-21kts. WOT was just a bit higher than that.

I can likely put you in touch with him if you like.

Brian

[Glenn W]

Have a friend who had a Dawson 38 for quite a few years. Fished on it both inshore and offshore. He just moved to a Luhrs 36, as he wanted to be down in the action, nearer the pit, and not up on the flybridge all the time. Also hard on the legs in a rolling seaway.

He knew big sportfishers much better than I do, but I recall him saying that the Dawson weighed a lot less than a Hatt or a Bert. In fact, he wanted to get a 36 Bert.

If I recall correctly, his Dawson had big Detroits. We would run out to the Fingers at about 20.5-21kts. WOT was just a bit higher than that.

I can likely put you in touch with him if you like.

Brian

Thanks Brian.
I need more than 21 kts. so am considering the Cat 3208's on this boat. I just don't know about the hull. If you have a deep V, weight is everything.
I demand a good ride in the Hatteras slop and will pay the extra $$$ in fuel to get decent speed and ride.
Perhaps back to the 38 Hatt?

[Bay Fishin]

Glenn, check out a Topaz 38 Flybridge or a 36 Hatt. As to speed the dawsons on yachtworld claim 23 knots to 28 knots cruising.

[Banshee]

How about a 36 Hatteras? Click this link.
36 Hatteras For Sale
JW

[Tuna Taxi]

On a Dawson 38 that is not used as a storage closet you can get a solid 24 kts with the 3208TA's (375 HP) without violating the 90% rule. The hulls with the 6-53's will be slower (and harder starting, smokier, leak oil, etc....but I think Detroits are sweet anyway ). As for the interior, SWMBO will like the Dawson much better than the small Hatts & Berts. The engine compt is big enough that you will (foolishly) think that doing all the work yourself is a good idea.

In a couple months, you'll be able to see the one by me out of the water and you'll see how much V they have. If it had any more V, you'd have to lash 2 of them together and call it a Glacier Bay

In the size range, you certainly cannot go wrong with that boat.