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Bimini regrets?

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Paul
1st Mate

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57 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/21/2006 : 09:19:36

I'm tempted to add a bimini, but wonder if the shade is worth the hassle of climbing over and around the extra straps and hardware if I don't do any extended cruising; four hours is about the limit of my crews' interest.

Opinions welcome.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/21/2006 : 10:47:06

Paul,

The main reason I installed a bimini was for cruising, but as a side benefit, my crew's sailing limit on hot, sunny days was extended considerably with the edition of the bimini. Before the bimini, the baking sun sapped the energy out of the crew which resulted in grumblings of wanting to head back to port. With the bimini, the crew is shaded as if they were on a hammock under an elm tree. My kids occasionally take naps in the cockpit, and to do so without turning into a sweaty, red lobster is very relaxing.

As far as climbing around the straps to get around, I have quick disconnect straps on the fore and aft bows which allow me to temporarily disconnect the straps to both allow entry aft of the bimini and also to allow easier access to the foredeck.

When it is a little on the cool side, I'll stow the bimini to gets the sun's warming rays, but when its blazin' outside, nothing beats a bimini.

Additionally, my bimini can be tilted, as shown in the photo, to provide cooling shade to the inside of the cabin when the sun is not directly overhead. It helps to have an adjustable topping lift to get the boom high enough for the bimini to clear.

Edited by - dlucier on 03/21/2006 11:02:23

ct95949
Captain

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Aruba
300 Posts

Response Posted - 03/21/2006 : 18:33:09

Four hours in the sun is too much for me.Do you ever go out alone and what is the limit of your interest?

Edited by - on

Brooke Willson
Admiral

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USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 03/21/2006 : 19:27:24

Paul: it depends, of course, on how you locate the hardware and the straps. If you look in the Tech Tips (click on the bimini) at my setup, you'll see there's ample room for me to move my 6'3", 250 lb. carcass forward without any problem.

I don't know where you sail, but summers in the Chesapeake can be brutal. My wife says that the bimini made all the difference in her sailing pleasure last year -- so much so that she's asking for us to do the two week July vacation on the Bay we did without bimini six years ago and roasted to a crisp. There are few hotter places than the unshaded cockpit of a sailboat on a windless August day (Tucson, AZ, in July is one). Our bimini is one of the best mods I've made to the boat.

Brooke

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1889 Posts

Response Posted - 03/21/2006 : 21:39:57

Here in Florida, a bimini is a basic necessity for summer sailing. Climbing around one on a standard rig C-25 isn't too bad. One trick I've developed is standing on the corner of the aft dinette seat back to climb out from under the bimini when headed forward. (I reinforced that seat back to handle the added force.)

Like Don mentioned above, I disconnect one of the aft bimini straps at the lifeline gate to make it easier to step aboard from the dock.

-- Leon Sisson

Edited by - on

Ed Montague
Captain

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USA
499 Posts

Response Posted - 03/21/2006 : 21:46:21

OK, so we know and all agree that a bimini has value in keeping the crew comfortable on hot sunny days. Here are a few practical observations from someone who has had a bimini for 7 years.

First, I installed my bimini on the genoa tracks because I thought that I would move it forward and aft as needed. In fact I sent in the tech tip for this installation. I hated the fact that I had trouble moving forward with the all the hardware in the way. And the reality was I very seldom moved the bimini forward or backward. So I moved the support structure to the combing.

Second, I purchased the widest bimini I could to cover the widest area. Once again not a good idea. The darned thing was so wide that I still could not move past it to go forward. So I had to narrow it up by cutting the cross members.

My bimini stays up year around, summer for shade and winter or coastal cuising. I have made up dodger like windows for the front and sides.

So in conclussion, not too wide and mounted in board for ease of movement and shade.

Edited by - on

Justin
Admiral

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502 Posts

Response Posted - 03/22/2006 : 09:04:57

So Ed, you are actually recomending against installing on the genoa tracks? Do you have a picture of your final installation on the combing?

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 03/22/2006 : 09:51:28

I hope I never have a bimini. On the rare occasion that I have wanted shade in the cockpit more than the ability to sail well, (remember I never hold a tack longer than an hour and usually about 15 minutes) I drop the main and use a boom tent.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/22/2006 : 10:46:21

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by fhopper@mac.com
 I hope I never have a bimini. On the rare occasion that I have wanted shade in the cockpit more than the ability to sail well, (remember I never hold a tack longer than an hour and usually about 15 minutes)I drop the main and use a boom tent.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Huh???...How does having a bimini equate to not sailing well?

I tack all day long (singlehandedly) and sail for performance as a matter course, and having a bimini does not impede on my ability to properly trim my sails.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/22/2006 : 10:56:25

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ct95949
 Four hours in the sun is too much for me.Do you ever go out alone and what is the limit of your interest?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Do I ever go out alone??? 99 percent of my sailing is alone!

What is the limit of my interest? I don't know, I haven't reached it yet!

In season and weather permitting, I may sail pretty much every day. On the weekends, my routine may go something like this...

Be at the boat shortly past sunrise, sail singlehanded for 4-5 hours and return to the slip for wife, kids, nieces, nephews, or friends. Sail another 4 hours or so then return crew to slip. Depart again for another 4-5 hours of singlehanded sailing and return a few hours after dark. I then go home sleep for a bit then do the same routine the next day.

Without the bimini, there is no way I could sail as much as I do without getting fatigued and burnt to a crisp!

Edited by - dlucier on 03/22/2006 11:04:24

Paul
1st Mate

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57 Posts

Response Posted - 03/22/2006 : 10:58:47

I was originally leaning toward Ed's approach: simple, least expensive, with maybe enough room to go outside the bimini (with great balance).

But Don's approach is very cleaver. Beyond the stated benefits, it allows me to skirt the anxiety of drilling holes for the mounts in exactly the right place. I also assumed a wider bimini will provide a little more coverage when the sun isn't directly overhead.

I'm still wavering.

Justin, you can find a picture of another C25 that adopted Ed's approach by searching the forum for bimini and clicking on the resulting folder named Bimini Installed, Lightnup is the member.

Edited by - on

sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 03/22/2006 : 11:00:29

I debated with myself about the size but used the stock 6' and the width for the genoa track for the cars and it was the best thing I could do for our use on the lakes and crusing in the NW. It stays up almost all the time except when racing. It stores in the cabin for trailering and can be quickly folded to allow guest aboard and again set up for their comfort. I have sailed with a reef in the rain in comfort and it keeps the cushions fairly dry from the morning due. I try to treat it with UV protection once a season and it is over 10 years old with another season left. When folded I use the cover that came with it and it is very compact. The attachments are to the lifeline fittings. The access forward is the difficulty because of the height which I can still do. I make sure the forward edge is as high as possible to make sure I can get forward. It sure made a difference with our comfort and I haven't used a boom tent since. There are a lot of good ideas here on the forum for attachment and I did reduce the height of the bimini by cutting back the main legs and reattaching the fittings.

Edited by - on

djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 03/22/2006 : 11:26:36

I have a dodger that goes back to about where the winches are. It has a full wrap around clear wind screen and also along the back edge there is a full length zipper. When I get it all set up the spring, my sail maker will come out and we are going to devise a bimini that will zip to the back of the dodger and go back to some sort of frame at the back of the boat. I think it will work well and I will post pics when complete. All my life, I have been absolutly drained by direct sun and need the shade here on the Great Lakes. Cheers.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 03/22/2006 : 16:56:08

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dlucier
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by fhopper@mac.com
 I hope I never have a bimini. On the rare occasion that I have wanted shade in the cockpit more than the ability to sail well, (remember I never hold a tack longer than an hour and usually about 15 minutes)I drop the main and use a boom tent.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Huh???...How does having a bimini equate to not sailing well?

I tack all day long (singlehandedly) and sail for performance as a matter course, and having a bimini does not impede on my ability to properly trim my sails.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Hi Don, see you didn't really miss me at all.

This is what we sail in a lot and bimini tend to go away. Yes that is a twin keeler. It is a miracle that bimini made it back to the dock but it wasn't the drivers boat!

I do not see how a bimini sailor can watch the sails the way I do.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/22/2006 : 17:21:50

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I was startin' to get worried!

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by fhopper@mac.com
 I do not see how a bimini sailor can watch the sails the way I do<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Easy!

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5881 Posts

Response Posted - 03/22/2006 : 19:12:09

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> I hope I never have a bimini. On the rare occasion that I have wanted shade in the cockpit more than the ability to sail well, (remember I never hold a tack longer than an hour and usually about 15 minutes) I drop the main and use a boom tent.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> Like you, Frank, I always sail the boat as if I'm racing, even when I'm not, just because I like to see the boat perform it's best. But, Brooke is right that it can get ungodly hot on the Chesapeake, and, now that I have a bimini, I've decided that comfort is good. Now the question is what to do about the biting flies. I have a fly swatter, but that gets bug juice spots all over the cockpit, instruments, charts and seat cushions, not to mention my arms and legs. Does anyone have any ideas?

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 03/22/2006 : 19:38:09

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Steve Milby
 [quote] I have a fly swatter, but that gets bug juice spots all over the cockpit, instruments, charts and seat cushions, not to mention my arms and legs. Does anyone have any ideas?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

How about a net?

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 03/22/2006 : 19:55:24

fly strips
dust buster
water bottle full of soap solution

anybody ever use a glass of sudsy water to kill flies in the morning? Back before I became civilized and air conditioned my boats, I was like most people and would find flies on the ceiling of the boat in the morning, if you come up under them with a glass of sudsy water they just drop into the glass as you "capture" them with the glass. Every morning it was doink doink doink and they were dead and the dumped in the lake.

Edited by - Frank Hopper on 03/22/2006 20:00:12

ct95949
Captain

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Aruba
300 Posts

Response Posted - 03/22/2006 : 20:10:05

What is the limit of my interest? I don't know, I haven't reached it yet!

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Sorry Don, I was replying to Pauls comments but was too lazy to use a quote

.My point was that if he ever cruised for the day or the weekend he might decide a bimini was a good idea.I start to lose interest in sail trim when my skin begins to bubble

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/23/2006 : 05:10:07

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Oops! I shoulda read that more carefully!

.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I hear that!

Not only is a bimini great in the hot sun, but it really shines when its raining. On my last cruise, I spent a day motoring in a neverending light rain and I was quite comfortable in the cockpit. And since my bimini overhangs the companionway, I can leave the hatchboards out allowing those below fresh air and a less confining environment.

Speaking of rain, on days when it's raining and there is no wind, I might go down to the boat to just sit in my cockpit Sport-a-Seat and have my morning coffee and newspaper. Very relaxing!

Edited by - on

Brooke Willson
Admiral

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USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 03/23/2006 : 12:15:27

On a day when there's so much wind I'm worrying about the bimini blowing away -- if I were sailing at all -- I wouldn't be worried about cockpit heat. There's the sun, of course, and shade helps keep payments to dermatologists and oncologists down, but life is a never-ending series of compromises. As for checking sail trim, many biminis have windows for that purpose, but I peek before or abaft the bimini and do just fine. I suspect that if I were racing, I wouldn't deploy the shade for many reasons. It's those brutal 95 degree days with winds from the south at 5 knots (or less) that kill you.

As for the flies -- which are problems on those low wind days -- I look forward to seeing a solution. Venus flytraps all over the boat? Flypaper? Frogs? Asking Mr. Myagi to crew?

Brooke

Edited by - on

bjoyce
1st Mate

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51 Posts

Response Posted - 03/23/2006 : 15:27:02

There is an affordable almost disposable bimini on several sailboats in the Omaha area. We call it the "Wolfgang Edition". It's made with pvc pipe, 5x7 tarp, and bungy cords. If I can find a photo I'll post it but it's simple to make. Put pvc T's on both sides of the stern pulpit,undo the lifeline slide on T, secure with hose clamp, so it won't slide off when the lifeline is un-hooked. Then bow a 5' or 6' pvc pipe into the T's. Use 45 degree elbows fro the forward bar on the first stantion forward of the stern pulpit. Bow a larger pvc pipe in the same fashion as the back. Add a cross bar, and cover with tarp by securing the 4 corners with bungy cords. About $25 for the materials. It takes a little finessing to get the right fit.
Once on a trip the winds picked up to about 30 mph and the bimini was fine, we opted to take it down so we could easily move about the boat in the rough conditions. One person was at the helm and I removed it with ease. Great for rain and shade.
I'll look for pictures so ya'll can get a better idea. Barry

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 03/23/2006 : 16:44:59

Please do

Edited by - on

djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 03/23/2006 : 18:15:33

Making a bimini with PVC and tarp would be a lot cheaper than having one made by my sail maker. I look forward to seeing your pics. Cheers.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/23/2006 : 18:32:17

I bought an off-the-shelf, clearanced, blue vinyl Taylor bimini from BoatUS for $139.00. It had the correct width and length, but was too tall. After a couple of cuts with my pipe cutter, she fit like a glove.

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 03/23/2006 : 18:58:45

Okay - so I'm getting into this conversation late - Bimini - racer - rare combination.

I was able to sail under a bimini in the Abaco's on a Morgan 40. It was rather nice to stay out of the sun. However we were cruising - I have learned over time how to lock a set of sails in the cleats and just cruise but it took a long time. In my mind cleats on the jib sheets are for single handers that have to go forward....The bimini would greatly reduce the visibility to properly trim sails -

and Don - What lake was that on, it looks to be blowing, but no Lake Erie Chop?

Edited by - on

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