If not a bimini, what?

[chrispala]

Greetings, ye willful victims of Neptune,
After over two decades on non-boat ownership (or boat non-ownership) I succumbed and got a '78 O'Day 23 for a suspiciously slender sum of money. Months later, the Honda 8 now purrs reasonably reliably and I find myself in want of what I thought was a bimini: a simple rectangle of tarp-like plastic with half a dozen imbedded battens. At anchor, you rest it on the boom. It has eyes on either side and aft which you tie to cleats or whatever you can find on deck. You roll it up when you sail. They are flimsy, cheap and practical and take no room.
Well, exhaustive and exhausting online search and a trip to West Marine avers that the only biminis available are the aft brothers of dodgers, expensive, bulky and made of canvas, with custom-twisted aluminum ribs and bulging prices.
Can anyone tell me what the flimsy ones are called and where to find one for this boat?
Many thanks.
Chris

 

[lloydyboy53]

try looking for a boom tent

 

[chrispala]

try looking for a boom tent

A tent traps heat, my thing is basically flat and allows the air to circulate underneath.
Thanks, though.

 

[lloydyboy53]

How about something like this??
http://www.duckworksbbs.com/plans/korhonen/oozegoose/Boomtent-OozeGooze.pdf

 

[lloydyboy53]

I have a cheap poly tarp that has had pockets sewn in along the two sides so that plastic electrical conduit can be slid in to stiffen it . the tarp is then put over the boom and tied to the lifelines. It ends up above the lifelines so that plenty of air gets in. cost about $10

 

[Indysailor]

I have a very nice boom tent and I store it by hanging it (rolled) on a couple of Velcro straps hung over the shelf behind the starboard settee. Buy a few yards of sunbrella and make a rectangle roughly the length of your boom by 7-8 feet. Sew ash or oak battens into the ends, add grommets on the corners, and that's it. You can also add straps on the fore and aft edges so you can tie it to the mast and the backstay, but laying it on the boom works well enough. the advantage to the added straps is that you can raise it up, making access to the side decks easier, which suits my kids. Mine is actually longer than the boom, with a slot that allows the topping lift to pass through, but the added foot or so does not really matter much. The battens are the thing, providing height, as opposed to just a tarp. Mine came with the boat, but making one in a few hours is doable and a lot cheaper than what you'll see available.

 

[pcjrusso]

For our last boat my wife made this with a singer sewing machine and fabric from Joann's fabric

 

[caguy]

I don't like the confined feeling of my bimini so I use a boom shade that is made from 1//2" pvc pipe and what looks like a sheet. It goes up easily and I use only while moored or motoring. It is amazingly stable in strong windy conditions.
I did not make this one but will copy it with hems on the end that I can run the PVC though rather than using grommets. It will look cleaner and more finished.

 

[chrispala]

I have a cheap poly tarp that has had pockets sewn in along the two sides so that plastic electrical conduit can be slid in to stiffen it . the tarp is then put over the boom and tied to the lifelines. It ends up above the lifelines so that plenty of air gets in. cost about $10

Great. Where did you buy it and what is it called?
Chris

 

[FastOlson]

a vendor you might want to consider

http://www.intheshd.com/

Good product, and the price seems reasonable.

I have seen one and spoken to the owner who said it stood up to 30 kts of wind with no damage.

 

[chrispala]

http://www.intheshd.com/

Good product, and the price seems reasonable.

I have seen one and spoken to the owner who said it stood up to 30 kts of wind with no damage.

Nice indeed, but $500 is above my budget. So it does seem that the simple flat piece of tarp with a few battens simply no longer exists?

 

[lloydyboy53]

You can buy plans or diy kits from Sairite. I just bought the material and plastic conduit and made my own. Any upholterer/mum/girlfriend/sister would be able to whip you up one in about an hour, you don't need special sewing machines or tools.The best bits on your boat are ones you made yourself.
This is a link to sailrite http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ap-6HwSDnI

 

[lloydyboy53]

http://leesailcovers.com/Boom_Tents.php

 

[chrispala]

I don't like the confined feeling of my bimini so I use a boom shade that is made from 1//2" pvc pipe and what looks like a sheet. It goes up easily and I use only while moored or motoring. It is amazingly stable in strong windy conditions.
I did not make this one but will copy it with hems on the end that I can run the PVC though rather than using grommets. It will look cleaner and more finished.

Very nice, but for the terminally clumsy, is there something like this for sale anywhere?

 

[lloydyboy53]

google "boomtents for sailboats"

 

[chrispala]

google "boomtents for sailboats"

Thanks, but a tent is more for protecting the boat at anchor. If you're sitting in the cockpit in a hot summer, a boom tent cuts the air circulation and blocks the view. This still-unnamed thing I'm looking for is flat, or slightly bent, so you get both the breeze and protection from the sun.

 

[lloydyboy53]

Look at the sailrite clip on u-tube that I posted. It has three different types and one of them is the one you want. You can get a kit to make yourself or buy one ready made from them.

 

[chrispala]

OK, I finally found it: it's an awning, not a bimini. Now the question is: where to find a simple and inexpensive one? No sign of any on the web yet.

 

[lloydyboy53]

If you go to any upholsterer and show them the clip or buy the plans from sailrite they will make you one for way cheaper than anything you can buy. Use plastic conduit or colapsible f/glass tent poles as the stiffeners and Bob's your Dads brother.

 

[lloydyboy53]

If you wat to get really simple go out and buy a ready made shade sail in the size you want and a couple of extendable tent poles. Some bungee chords or string and you're good to go. Don't go anywhere near boat suppliers as the price will automatically double.