Bimini ideas

[jgsharpe]

Hey everyone, my CP23 will be out of the water for a bottom job in September and I'm considering using the down time to add a Bimini.  What do you recommend, like or dislike about your biminis?

Thanks in advance for your input!

Jeff

[Tom L.]

Check out sailrite for ideas. There are as many possibilities as there are Bimini's. If money is not an issue make the bows SS. I would check to see how Com Pac makes their Bimini. They know the boat.

[HeaveToo]

If you are going to do it, do it right.  Stainless steel frame is a nice start.  Sunbrella material is another part to this equation.

I have a bimini and dodger with a connector.  I like this set-up as I can leave the companionway open, usually, during rain.  Having ventilation during rain is nice.

You might be able to order some canvas through Compac.  It is worth a try!

[jgsharpe]

Thanks guys.  I also found this excellent thread on the same subject - I should have searched before asking!

http://cpyoa.geekworkshosting.com/forum/index.php?action=printpage;topic=115.0

[Shawn]

Since I participated in that original thread.... the bimini worked well but was almost too big as it tended to make going forward more difficult. You had to sort of crawl between the coaming and the frame of the bimini. If you have roller furling this would be less of an issue.

The track was very handy as it allowed you to adjust how you store the bimini. I initially had it stored forward on the cockpit but that was in the way a bit. I ended up storing it laying flat along the back of the cockpit under the tiller. That worked well without being much in the way.

Shawn

[jgsharpe]

Thanks for the update, Shawn.  Do you happen to have any photos?

[Shawn]

Yes, but not when the boat was fully rigged.

This is how I liked to store it.



This is at the back end of the track. Rigged it couldn't go back this far due to the aft stay and mainsheet.



Fully forward on the track



This is roughly where it needed to be to have it up while sailing, maybe 6-12" further aft. Basically just far enough for the jib sheet to feed to the winch cleanly. The frame prevented full rotation of the winch handle.



You have to keep it pretty far forward in the cockpit to clear the mainsheet on the corners of the bimini.

This is the second track.



The end of the track is only useful for storage, not when the bimini is up. If you do this leave a gap between the two tracks. Water tended to pool between the two tracks in this setup.

Should also mention mainsail handling was much more difficult with the bimini up. Reefing, flaking and so on involved working around the bimini. I'm tall with long arms so that helped but it did complicate things. However, on the brutally hot day the bimini was wonderful to have. Esp. when I hung misters from it and fed them from the pressurized water system.

Shawn

[HeaveToo]

I think that having a bimini and a dodger is the best set-up for a cruising boat.  The layout of the Compac 23 allows me to look around the bimini to see my sails.  The smaller dodger is nice but, later on, I may fabricate a dodger that is a little bigger and higher (it would give me better standing room at the base of the companionway).  I would also have a different set-up for the connector because the current set-up will drip water into the companionway when it rains (this is mainly because of the zipper placement).  It is a little tricky to get around the bimini and dodger to go forward but it is a trade off for having the covered cockpit and the covered companionway.

Here are some shots of my canvas:

[HeaveToo]

One other thing...Having a bimini gives me an excellent place to put my flexible solar panel.  I have 100 watts of solar that I currently tie on to the bimini.

[jgsharpe]

Many thanks, gents, for the pictures and tips.  This kind of detail is what makes this forum so valuable.  Having a bimini will be a huge improvement.  I love the dodger, too, so useful and looks great on the 23.  Thanks again!  -Jeff

[Bob23]

No problem Jeff. Where do we send the bill? Hahahaaa!!!!!
b23