| Morgana |
| (regular) |
| 24/06/2008 18:00 |
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Bimini
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A question regarding Bimini configuration....
We currently have a rather good cockpit tent, that has generous zip up sides and rear to allow all round views, plus a bit of a breeze through, but it does require the centre to be supported by a tie up to the boom, the front zips to the sprayhood, and the top section when the sides/rear are rolled up is rather smaller than you might expect from a normal Bimini....
So.... we got to thinking about how we might add a Bimini, but it raised a few questions....
1] Does it need to be useable while sailing?
2] Does it need to be useable without the sprayhood (breeze through and all that!)?
3] Should it be collapsable against the backstay, as its too much hassle to completely remove regularly?
4] How much of the cockpit should it ideally cover?
5] Do you have a radar arch as part of the Bimini?
Our options are to use the existing cockpit tent poles for a bimini, but then this would either make it just cover a small area of the cockpit over the helm position, or would require it to be fitted to the sprayhood, in which case we wouldn't be able to use it without the sprayhood being raised (or face the time consuming exercise of removing the sprayhood from its frame).... another options is to make a dedicated bimini with its own frame....in which case i'd rather get it right.... or finally, to save and fit a radar arch and fit the bimini from this (I like this option as the arch would serve many other useful purposes such as solar panel and wind generator mounts)
We're planning eventually to take this boat off long distance cruising, so would rather get it right now, rather than have a bimini that is only for 2 days a year in the UK, and then needs replacing when we clear off!
Thoughts and suggestions much appreciated... how do you rig and use yours?....
| OliveOyl |
| (regular) |
| 24/06/2008 20:01 |
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Re: Bimini
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Popeye has always refused to sail with the bimini up, since you can't see the sails, and it can be vertically restrictive. On the other hand, he tends to leave the sprayhood up. On my dazed kipper week in Greece, the instructor normally put the sprayhood down, but was insistent about having the bimini up when the sun was very hot.To me, this makes a lot of sense when sailing in sunny climates, after all, if you are a really skilled sailor you "feel" the boat rather than having to look at the telltales,wind direction thingy (sorry, can't remember its name in English). So my vote goes to a bimini which covers the helmsperson, with supports high enough to avoid head banging, and maybe a plastic window in the canvas to be able to cast an eye up the mast.
| Tranona |
| (regular) |
| 24/06/2008 21:20 |
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Re: Bimini
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To try and answer your questions
The bimini should be strong enough to use when sailing, although there are obviously limits
It should cover the helm and most of the cockpit, particularly if you have a table and want to eat outside - although recognise there will be times, for example when moored EW when the sun will come in either morning or evening.
It should be usable with the sprayhood up - they perform different functions.
Constraints in design are
Head clearance at the forward end. To fit under the boom, may be too low when coming up the companionway. This also introduces compromises when trying to link up to spray hood to make enclosed cockpit.
Clearance aft, particularly around backstays, and having enough headroom to get through transom gate.
Folding in such a way that there is still headroom for helm.
Using a radar arch for the aft mounting is a good thing in general as it results in a more secure mounting. However introduces new problems such as does the arch sweep back or forward and what else you are mounting on it.
Refinements include drop down sides and aft to provide additional shade or enclose cockpit.
If I were starting from scratch, I would try to design it using a radar arch, but the other details would depend on the specifics of the boat. I would avoid if possible having the backstays go through the cover, but this requirement often conflicts with giving cover to the helm.
All you can do really is have a look at as many designs as possible, particularly for your boat and find someone who understands what you want. Also recognise it will never be perfect.
Hope this helps
| Morgana |
| (regular) |
| 24/06/2008 21:25 |
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Re: Bimini
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Yes, thanks.... your comments echo much of my thinking....
I've never used one, so wandered about people's real world experiences of practical set ups....
| Kioni |
| (regular) |
| 24/06/2008 22:14 |
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Re: Bimini
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We have a bimini on our boat in the US. Essential kit as far as we were concerned in such a hot climate. Sprayhood should fold down (or unzip, as ours does) to allow through draft, ours also has the option of just unzipping the centre panel, which is useful. Clear panel above allows unfettered view of sails so no problem there. We sat our solar panels on top of the bimini frame which was useful but we realise we lost the ability to fold it all down should we need to. However, gain in battery charging capability more than compensated for this! The whole canvas can be de-rigged if necessary but we'd be left with the frame standing, so would look like a radar picket.
Make sure the bimini design has grab handles accessible outside the canvas! This is sometimes forgotten and can be a bit inconvenient when lurching out of the cockpit in a sea and finding nothing but acres of smooth canvas to scrabble at...
Having spent half a year on board with one we couldn't consider extended cruising without one now. Keeps the rain off too.
Neil
| jimbaerselman |
| (regular) |
| 25/06/2008 00:08 |
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Re: Bimini
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We considered bimini before going into the Med from N Europe. I'd already chartered in the Caribbean, and seen how important one was with the vertical sun . . . but we thought we'd test first.
The first year without worked fine, but we definately needed serious shade when at anchor, so designed our own (more comprehensive) sunshade. The arrangement was more fiddly tha a bimini, calling for an erection and stowage routine that was more complex than using a bimini. But more thorough shade and heat protection in harbour.
We fitted a bimini later, but never sailed with it up. Couldn't see the sails . . . and the sun. But it did make the sunshade routine much easier - and more robust.
| Kioni |
| (regular) |
| 25/06/2008 08:49 |
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Re: Bimini
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I think it really does depend on where you are sailing. In midsummer in the US we always sailed with the bimini up. In the Med on charter holidays we never had one but often wished we had, 'cos we roasted as a result
In the UK we've never used one, the overwhelming desire being to grab whatever stray photons happen to fight through the overcast
| Robin |
| (regular) |
| 25/06/2008 09:57 |
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Re: Bimini
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We have a gantry/goalposts on the stern and the bimini folds back against it for stowage with a zip on cover.
Opened up in 'sun' mode the bimini zips to the front of a canvas cover on the gantry which gives shade to the wheel position, our boat is aft cockpit, and straps tension the bimini frame forward taken down to the toerails. It can be used in this position under sail quite well. If needs be at anchor we have additional white 'aertex' type side shields that zip in to deal with low sun whilst not impeding airflow, these are half height and tie out to the guard rails. Still in 'sun' mode we can zip in an extension that zips again onto the sprayhood to fill the gap and our sprayhood has a zipped centre window that can be rolled up for our 'aircon'.
In wet or cold weather mode we have zip in sides and rear panels with windows to enclose the entire cockpit. In this format there are corner panels that are rolled away in bimini mode but come down to the cockpit aft corners to give support and tension, the sade and rear panels zip onto these as well as the bimini sides. We can have all 3 panels in place or just one side or one side and rear depending on wind direction mainly or if it is raining.
Ours was made by Quay Sails in Poole who adapted it an existing bimini frame and sprayhood but all parts were re-covered.
I only have a picture of it in full cover format but it is used most times we are on board and is used as a bimini very frequently even in the UK. In the picture, the roll away corner 'posts' are in place as are the sides and the connection to the sprayhood but the rear panel with a picture window is not in place.
| HoratioHB |
| (regular) |
| 25/06/2008 12:25 |
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Re: Bimini
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Cor - Robin thats just what we need. Our SO42 has a spray hood and Bimini. The Bimini stays up all the time as its too hot to stow it. The Spray Hood comes down inshore so I can see where I am going and avoid fishing floats. But when it rains we have a real problem and being able to join the two up would be fantastic as the rain pours through the gap.
Morgana if you have a blank sheet this is the way to go.
| mikehibb |
| (regular) |
| 25/06/2008 17:31 |
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Re: Bimini
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Try having a look at the Tecsew site for some ideas.
Never used them, just found them the other day when searching for spray hoods.
We have a bimini (came with the boat) which we find essential in the med sun.
Tecsew