bimini on a CP16

[Cevin c Taylor]

Hello:  I'm thinking of the projects for the off season, and one of them is a bimini on my '83 CP16.  I'm new to boats, and I have a few questions:
1.  can you sail with the bimini up?
2.  When not in use, does it fold forward?  backward?  From photos, it appears that most fold backward.  Doesn't that interfere with things like the main sheet block, access to the outboard, etc? 
Thanks

[mikew]

Hello- I built an bimini top for my 1983 Cp-16 modeled after the one in Bob Burgess book- Trailer Sailing Handbook. It is made from marine vinyl top material, 4 aluminum tubes, and 6 bimini top fittings. It covers the cockpit leaving some room in the rear for standing, and clears the mainsheet. It cost about $75 ten years ago and can be used while sailing. The best part is that it can be rolled up and stowed beside a bunk in the cabin. A picture in photobucket:
http://s1061.photobucket.com/user/ke2ee/media/Bimini.jpg.html?sort=3&o=1

Mike

[Bob23]

Is your tiller what I think it is?
Bob23

[carry-on]

That tiller looks like a post hole digger handle....good solution if you need a tiller while refinishing with seventeen coat of Spar varnish as prescribed by Skip.
Sailing my 16 with the bimini up is not ideal because I like to see the main. The max luff dimension for my rig is 15' 3" without the boom interfering with the bimini. The folded bimini rests on the mast crutch and is somewhat in my line of sight when looking astearn to see if the "dogs" are gaining. In the Pensacola summer heat while cruising, heaving to or at the dock, the shade is very helpful.
=http://s1160.photobucket.com/user/carry-on/media/000_0216_zps4cca1f25.jpg.html]

[philb Junkie19]

I've been learning to sew and am using a machine I bought at a thrift store so my wife's machine is now safe.  I picked up a second one, an older heavy duty rig as part of the deal. Both turned out to work fine. A bimini is in my 16's future, after a new sail.  Carry-on, Looks like your bimini folded aft must work well with what appears to be mid boom sheeting.  I'm thinking that one would need to unfasten the main sheet at the boom to move a bimini forward from that atf position with the standard main sheet set-up.

[skip1930]

Bob Burgess had some info about 'cover' on Com Pac's 16 and 19 in his book. Hand book for Trailer Sailors.

Here is Bob"s for a CP-19. Simple!



skip.

[carry-on]

The bimini is on tracks, so there is some flexibility in fore and aft location as well as the angle of the shade. The mid boom sheeting dictates stowing to the stern. With boom end sheeting, I think the stowed bimini could go either way, but seems better aft and resting on the coaming. Don't know if the aft stowage would interfere with the main sheets. Could be in the way for outboard controls. 

If you change your main sail, the length of the luff relative to the top of the bimini is important. You would like to tension the luff in some conditions so you need a little space between the bottom of the boom and the top of the bimini arch.

=http://s1160.photobucket.com/user/carry-on/media/000_0212_zpse3a4e502.jpg.html]

[philb Junkie19]

Nice looking set up, Carry on.  Head room would be a problem for my present original Johnson main without alterations. It's too stretched for a useful bimini.  The sail in the works is a Junk sail with a free standing mast which should have sufficient space. Skip, I have the handbook and really like the simplicity of Bob's design but with the stays removed I'll lose the place to fasten the forward ends. I converted an O'day 23 to the junk rig some years back and love the ease of sail handling and increased safety.

[mikew]

Yes Bob and Carry-on are correct, in the picture of the homemade bimini, my tiller is a post hole digger handle from Lowes- it cost me $7. It was only to be temporary while I was replacing the original one- well years later it's still on the boat.... The Bob Burgess bimini design does depend on using the side stays to support the front of the top.
Sometimes I run my Cp-16 in "rivercruiser" mode and leave the mast and rigging off, so I bought a conventional bimini. I went through
iboats.com and bought a TAYLOR ENDURA top. (5').  It seems like very good quality and cost about $250.
http://biminitops.iboats.com/BiminiTops54-60Width/BiminiTops30-36Height/?cart_id=258555112

Here is a picture of that one, my boat is docked for the night on the Erie canal at the Waterford town dock.  
http://s1061.photobucket.com/user/ke2ee/media/EC4.png.html?sort=3&o=0

[Tim Gardner]

Well, at least you should rename the vessel "HOLE DIGGER" or since you only have half a post hole digger, "Half Dug"  or "One Blister" or  "The fence isn't finished"

[Cevin c Taylor]

Thanks for the input.  I'm seeing what my options are right now. 

[PENN]

Yes Bob and Carry-on are correct, in the picture of the homemade bimini, my tiller is a post hole digger handle from Lowes- it cost me $7. It was only to be temporary while I was replacing the original one- well years later it's still on the boat.... The Bob Burgess bimini design does depend on using the side stays to support the front of the top.
Sometimes I run my Cp-16 in "rivercruiser" mode and leave the mast and rigging off, so I bought a conventional bimini. I went through
iboats.com and bought a TAYLOR ENDURA top. (5').  It seems like very good quality and cost about $250.
http://biminitops.iboats.com/BiminiTops54-60Width/BiminiTops30-36Height/?cart_id=258555112

Here is a picture of that one, my boat is docked for the night on the Erie canal at the Waterford town dock.  
http://s1061.photobucket.com/user/ke2ee/media/EC4.png.html?sort=3&o=0

Could the posters 'carry-on' and 'mikew' give some more details about their respective bimini tops that they ordered?

I have a 1987 16-2 with Jib tracks and I would like to get a bimini for it.

There are too many choices at the iboats website, and was hoping to hear some real feedback as to the canopy material
vs. the frames that you have, also knowing the brand and the price would be useful information.

I actually like the looks of these bimini tops in these pictures if anybody could identify them.





Thanks!

[carry-on]

The Bimini frame and canvas was with the boat when I purchased. The material is Sunbrella "Toast". I added the cover..also Sunbrella "Toast".http://i1160.photobucket.com/albums/q499/carry-on/000_0211_zps043445eb.jpg

[carry-on]

Penn,
I hit post before completing. I think you can see from the picture that the tracks for the Bimini are outside the combing. This could be a conflict with your jib tracks.
The April 2011 Hutchins part list for the CP-16 lists the Bimini top(Part OP026) at $591. Seems like that price would be frame, tracks and canvas. Fairly expensive and may not include a cover. 
You can check with Hutchins at 727-443-4408 and/or Kieth at ipass.net/sailboat.

[mikew]

Penn, the Bimini I have is made by Taylor or Taylormade. It is of good quality and was drop shipped from their New York state factory, through iboats. The top material is white marine vinyl with a grey denim -like backing underneath to reduce glare. The frame is a 3 bow aluminum one.
To size the top measure across to where your mounts are- mine was the 54"-60" which is adjustable when you put it together, the length is up to you 3-5', and the height should clear your head but allow the boom to swing- 30" or 36". You can cut the mounting tubes to customize this. Yes the iboats web site also carries Endura tops and Westland, and the price was good, about $250. So look for Taylor made and click on their logo.
I use the Taylor top when my boat is in "trawler mode" and a homemade top when sailing. I made the homemade top from white marine vinyl and aluminum tubes and nylon bimini fittings for about $75. ( Thank Bob Burgess on this one) Check an earlier post I made on this same page.
Mike