Need advice on a bimini for the 23

[asuserkey]

After purchasing a 1987 23 this year I was able to get her in the water for a week and successfully checked out all systems. Before that I had some restoration work to complete. I had to remove the rub rails and fix a section on each side where the rivets had broken and the joint was not sealed. I dug out the old caulking on the outside and cut away the caulking bead on the inside. After talking with Gerry at Hutchins I used bolts and sealed the joint inside and out with 3M 4200 and it is tight as a drum. Also re-did the inside. i put new HullBlanket Headliner fabric from SailRite on the v-berth ceiling and above the cabinets in the quarter deck. Also cut new side panels for the v-berth area using 1/4" pvc board, covered it with the HullBlanket Headliner fabric and then made new teak slats which were not with the boat when I purchased it. The teak outside was weathered but cleaned up nicely. I am partial to Boatlife Teak Oil and Sealer and after applying that it looks great.
I am interested in experience and advice about a bimini and any possible dodger that anyone has installed. I believe the boom on the 23 is high enough to have the bimini up while sailing (that wasnt the case on our previous CP19) but I would like to know the size of any that you have installed and how you use them. There are some snaps on the deck near the hatch that would be consistent with having a dodger in place, but I have not seen any pictures of 23s with a dodger.
Thanks in advance
Dave

[brackish]

Boat looks good! Oil with sealer? how long before clean and recoat using that system?  I used to get about three months with oil alone.

I have and use a bimini.  I can sail with it up, however I prefer not to if I don't have to.  My wife won't go without it in hot weather, so there it is.  With it up, the boom just clears the top of it, the sheets sometimes hang on the back of it and visibility is obviously not as good. Additionally, it is bad enough not having standing headroom in the cabin, with it up same thing in the cockpit. With regard to size, I'll have to measure, It came with the boat when I bought it.

No experience with a dodger.

[asuserkey]

With the oil and sealer i rub on a light coat every 2 months or so, but it needs no cleaning and doesn't build up anything like a Varnish layer so the overall maintenance is much less.

[Paul HD]

Here is the dodger on my 23.

[asuserkey]

Thanks for the pictures Paul. I think the snaps that I see on my cabin top and side must have been for a dodger at one time. The pictures are worth the thousand words. Did you make the dodger or know where it came from?  Also, what year is your 23?

[Paul HD]

Hi Dave,
The dodger came with the boat. Not sure if it came from the factory or if it was a later addition.
I got in touch with Gerry at Compac, He said the 23D was built in 1996 and was shipped to Southampton in the the UK that year. I think I am the very lucky 4th owner of the boat.

All the best,
Paul

[asuserkey]

I enjoyed the pictures Paul - I did gather that you were in the UK because of the canal boat in the background of the one picture. My wife and I and another couple did a week on the canal last October (Alvechurch to Startford-On-Avon and back). A little different than sailing on the Chesapeake but a fun trip nevertheless.