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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Bimini / Dodger for Cat 25

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oregonworld
1st Mate

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USA
68 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/28/2010 : 20:42:57

In the quest to nail down some upgrade costs I would love to know where to buy a bimini and /or dodger and how much they go for. Any advice is welcome.

Thanks,

Jared

Jared Cruce
1997 250WK "Inspiration"
#299
Honda 9.9
Ashland, OR

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 01/28/2010 : 20:46:14

I used boatcoversdirect.com. Good experience and pricing.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 01/28/2010 : 21:25:56

Jared: You can delete the duplicate thread (the other one) as long as nobody has replied to it. (Edit: Too late.)

In the Tech Tips section, there's a nice example of a bimini that has an attachment that makes it into a dodger. I had a bimini made by a place in Canada (don't remember the details off-hand) and was thinking of adding the same thing, with zippers going up from both sides of the pop-top to allow it to be raised with the dodger in place.

One significant price issue is the frame--I chose stainless instead of aluminum, for strength when the frame is used as a grab-bar or somebody falls against it. I added adjustable struts that attached to the stern-rail, in place of straps, allowing me to fold the bimini back and keep it overhead instead of across the back of the cockpit or on top of the companionway and pop-top. I vaguely recall the total was around $500--not the cheapest, but a good price for that configuration with a custom color.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 01/29/2010 08:06:05

Unsinkable2
Captain

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USA
273 Posts

Response Posted - 01/28/2010 : 22:10:19

When I put mine on, I went with stainless steel tubing for the reasons Dave mentioned.

I also bought two stainless steel genoa track slides and had the bimini pole mounts welded to them. That way I can adjust the bimini position forward and aft depending on conditions. It's also really easy to slide the whole thing back and tie it off to the backstay so it's completely out of the way.

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oregonworld
1st Mate

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USA
68 Posts

Response Posted - 01/30/2010 : 17:17:13

Dave -

can you point me to the tech tips where the bimini is located. I looked e erywhere an can't find it.
Thanks

Jared

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 01/30/2010 : 20:22:04

Click on Tech Tips on the left side of the forum screen, then the C-25 logo, then the bimini picture. This will take you to Brooke Wilson's bimini set-up for their tall rig (TR) C-25. I didn't move the mainsheet/traveler on our TR because I wanted the bimini to cover the main hatch and the aft cabin bulkhead which is the admiral's backrest while reclining in the cockpit while I sail the boat. We attached the mounting brackets on the deck in front of the genoa winches in a fixed position. As I wrote on the other thread, the only drawback is that where I poisitioned our bimini, it makes it a bit harder to go forward as the frame restricts the walkway by the cabin top. Coming from our C-22, it is 36" tall, same as Brooke's, but not wide enough to reach the genoa tracks.

Edited by - dmpilc on 01/31/2010 18:04:44

piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 01/31/2010 : 12:27:12

Jared, I have a C250 which so the setup and needs are different than a 25. For me, the off the shelf bimini did not meet my needs. I went with a custom one made for my needs and requirements. It took a 3rd local company before I found what I wanted.(See the pic below). I paid $1000 but it included a couple of others things he did for me. I am extremely happy with the job. Good luck.
Steve A

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 01/31/2010 : 13:18:16

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by oregonworld
 Dave -

can you point me to the tech tips where the bimini is located. I looked e erywhere an can't find it...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">[url="http://catalina-capri-25s.org/tech/tech25/fwtbt.asp"]Bimini/Dodger[/url]. (You can find it only by selecting "all tech tips" option. It should be accessible from the bimini drawing, but it isn't.)

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 01/31/2010 13:18:36

montl
1st Mate

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Canada
30 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2010 : 10:03:42

I had my dodger built by Genco Marine in Ontario Canada. It has zippers in it for optional pop top cover, awning and companionway cover/door.
I got stainless frame and not sure of cost anymore as it was a few years ago, but I think around $800.
It has been great.

Lloyd

Edited by - on

skrenz
Captain

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USA
351 Posts

Response Posted - 02/05/2010 : 09:27:31

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by oregonworld
 In the quest to nail down some upgrade costs I would love to know where to buy a bimini and /or dodger and how much they go for. Any advice is welcome.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Sailrite sells a semi-custom "kit" for a very reasonable price.
http://www.sailrite.com/Bimini-3-Bow-Aluminum-Frame-Top

Its a "kit" only in that you need to cut some of the support tubes to length. No sewing involved. This product sells for $350.

Edited by - on

glen
Captain

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359 Posts

Response Posted - 02/05/2010 : 11:26:28

Just my opinion I have a bimini with a stainless steel frame. It’s pretty solid, but I don’t feel aluminum is. If you have a frame people WILL grab it when they go forward. If it fails it can get pretty ugly very quickly

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piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 02/05/2010 : 12:01:02

Glen, agree SS is the way to go. Its on mine and it is grabbed quite a bit- getting on, getting off, etc. It is certainly with the extra couple of bucks.
Steve A

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sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 02/06/2010 : 09:12:50

I used a WM off the shelf and attached it to cars on the track of the 79. I can move the bimini back to the back stay for clear sailing and attached the straps to the base of the lifelines. I did adjust the length of the main bow and found the tubing to be double which is very strong. It works and can sail in the rain and hot summer sun.

Edited by - on

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4018 Posts

Response Posted - 02/06/2010 : 11:10:24

A point to keep in mind when adding a Bimini is where you want to have it mounted. If you mount the Bimini on the deck outside of the coming you will have a few inches more shade to the sides but you will have cut off any access to going forward along the side and will be limited to shimming through the opening above the cabin top. The second option is to mount the Bimini on top of the coming. This will give you a few inches less shade on the sides but you will still be able to go forward along the sides or over the cabin top. I chose the second and mounted mine on top of the coming for the easer access forward. Definitely go for the all stainless because the Bimini WILL become a grab bar/handle and for a little more versatility you can mount it on a sliding track. A stock off the shelf will do but may need some cutting of the tubes to get the proper height I think I paid $330 for mine from http://www.go2marine.com/index.jsp

Edited by - on

u20sailor
Deckhand

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USA
5 Posts

Response Posted - 02/10/2010 : 14:39:37

Jared. I Have a bemini top with the boat,, actually allot of extras.
Mark Stieber
Colorado 719 499 0218

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