Bimini 23.5 again....

Crazy Dave Condon · Mar 23, 2018

Call them and ask for Bimini 6 ft available w/o stern rails

rgranger · Mar 23, 2018

You can always measure your cockpit and order a bimini to fit. I've installed my own before. It is not as hard as it may sound. Most places are happy to have you call and talk you through it. Regarding your question about sailing with the bimini up.... you have two issues... some boats have three

1) What is the height of the boom while under sail?
You need a bimini that is shorter than the height of the boom

2) Where does your main sheet attach?
If your 23.5 is like my H26, it is a mid-boom sheeting system. Your bimini must not extend forward beyond the bail of the boom where your sheet attaches.

If both of those conditions are met, you can sail with your bimini up. And you are correct to assume it makes the sail much more enjoyable on a hot sunny day. All of this can be figured out with a good tape measure.

3) On boats with a back stay, (not your boat situation) you also have to make sure the bimini does not interfere with the backstay.

Will Gilmore · Mar 23, 2018

It sounds like a custom job is a possibility, you could look into.

just because pictures are good.

- Will (Dragonfly)

rgranger · Mar 23, 2018

Will brings up an interesting point. A well constructed hard bimini can also be a good place to mount a traveler. This pic also shows a dodger. With the placement of the mid-boom sheeting on the H23.5 a combo dodger/bimini might give you the best coverage.

Crazy Dave Condon · Mar 23, 2018

@jbreland

Sent you my number. Feel free to call

Dennis Kitchen · Mar 28, 2018

A hard bimini is not a good option for the 23.5 if you like to sail on windy days. As the boat likes to heel in the puffs it presents that surface as a big sail, greatly increasing your weather helm. Better to be able to stow it. Also, you can have standing room under the bimini if you place it aft of the boom.

Bones · Apr 5, 2018

I don't understand the below-the-boom logic. On my 25.5 that means I would have to stoop down to get under it and in an emergency it would simply be a hazard. Even the one they picture in the catalog looks low, thus they didn't picture it from the side so you can really see how low it is. Here is my thought: Find a Bimini with a wide stance (for half the price). Place it above the boom but clear of the mainsail swing (No, you will only get a little bit forward here). Once placed figure the back-stay and have your local canvas shop install the zipper access. Face it, these boats are difficult at best to provide shade. The custom application shown above can be mimicked with a soft Bimini. Note that it is slightly over the main and mostly provides shade rearward. The plus here is that you can stand under it.

Dennis Kitchen · Apr 6, 2018

Bones,
You don't understand the H23.5. First, it doesn't have a back-stay and the boom is long for a big high roached main. It is set low to keep the CE low as this trailer-able only has 1000 lbs of ballast in the belly of the hull. A bimini that stays behind the swing of the boom is nice but won't make shade for most of the cockpit. Folks who have one and want a bimini aren't going to re-design the whole boat and rig just so they can stand up under the boom. It is what it is.
Dennis

Crazy Dave Condon · Apr 7, 2018

Dennis is correct. I was instrumental in the design when being measured
For the first time.

Bones · Apr 7, 2018

My mistake, you're right. Thanks for the response.

Bimini 23.5 again....

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