I am about to buy a new bimini and I just want to check to confirm the dimensions. The width and height are pretty clear. But I am wondering what your experience is with the height? The choice seems to be between 32" and 36" high. I want to allow for it to come under the boom when sailing. What do you all think is best?
bimini dimensions
- Thread starter jimforest
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Biminis
This is another question that comes up pretty regularly. IMHO, the questions to ask are: 1)do you want to sail with the main while the bimini is up, 2)do you want to stand up under the bimini, and 3)how much sun can you tolerate? On my previous two boats, I had a tall bim and could only use the jib for sailing in hot weather. I could stand up under the bimini but in the mornings and evenings, I would get a lot of sun. When I bought my current boat, a 26s, it had a short bim that allowed the main to be used. That was nice but the main advantage of the short bimini, I found, was that it is more effective when the sun is at sharper angles, in the morning and evening. A taller bim let the sun in before, say, 10:30am and after 3pm, where the shorter one would only let it in before 9am and after 5pm, when the sun is lower in the sky and not as intense. The main tradeoff is that you can't stand up straight under the shorter bimini. Short answer: Short bimini: can sail with the main, better protection from the morning and evening sun, can't stand up straight. Tall Bimini: opposite of above I'm out of town this weekend but I hope to be at the boat next weekend and can take bimini measurements then. Mine is the short, stock bim that came with a 1994 26s. I would think that the fore and aft and width dimensions will be the same. It's just the height that might vary if you want to stand up under it. Your question indicates that you want the short, stock bimini. If after this overly long answer you still do, I'll get the dimensions next weekend unless someone on the forum gives them to you sooner.
This is another question that comes up pretty regularly. IMHO, the questions to ask are: 1)do you want to sail with the main while the bimini is up, 2)do you want to stand up under the bimini, and 3)how much sun can you tolerate? On my previous two boats, I had a tall bim and could only use the jib for sailing in hot weather. I could stand up under the bimini but in the mornings and evenings, I would get a lot of sun. When I bought my current boat, a 26s, it had a short bim that allowed the main to be used. That was nice but the main advantage of the short bimini, I found, was that it is more effective when the sun is at sharper angles, in the morning and evening. A taller bim let the sun in before, say, 10:30am and after 3pm, where the shorter one would only let it in before 9am and after 5pm, when the sun is lower in the sky and not as intense. The main tradeoff is that you can't stand up straight under the shorter bimini. Short answer: Short bimini: can sail with the main, better protection from the morning and evening sun, can't stand up straight. Tall Bimini: opposite of above I'm out of town this weekend but I hope to be at the boat next weekend and can take bimini measurements then. Mine is the short, stock bim that came with a 1994 26s. I would think that the fore and aft and width dimensions will be the same. It's just the height that might vary if you want to stand up under it. Your question indicates that you want the short, stock bimini. If after this overly long answer you still do, I'll get the dimensions next weekend unless someone on the forum gives them to you sooner.
Recent Discussion
on the other BB. A few of us plan to install ours on the outside of the coamings. The size we decided upon is; 5 ft, 40+ inch high, 79-84 inch wide with aluminum poles and stainless connectors, sunbrella, from GMI, looks like the best price and size needed. http://www.gmitopdesign.com/ Eric J. ordered from there, he said the cost is about $350 delivered. Check out the discussion on the other BB starting here: http://bbs.trailersailor.com/forums/macgregor/index.cgi/read/36046
on the other BB. A few of us plan to install ours on the outside of the coamings. The size we decided upon is; 5 ft, 40+ inch high, 79-84 inch wide with aluminum poles and stainless connectors, sunbrella, from GMI, looks like the best price and size needed. http://www.gmitopdesign.com/ Eric J. ordered from there, he said the cost is about $350 delivered. Check out the discussion on the other BB starting here: http://bbs.trailersailor.com/forums/macgregor/index.cgi/read/36046
I found an old link- in archives
I used the advice I found in an old link in the achives. The 32" h is what I got. The boom will scuff across the top/front of the bimini but not too hard if your sailing in light breeze (which is about the only time I have it up). I'm thinking about sewing in a tinted clear panel in order to be able to watch the main sail without doing acrobatics under the bimini. The 32" height works well for us- but as always, its a tradeoff. http://www.tompatterson.com/Sailing/Sailing/Bimini.html
I used the advice I found in an old link in the achives. The 32" h is what I got. The boom will scuff across the top/front of the bimini but not too hard if your sailing in light breeze (which is about the only time I have it up). I'm thinking about sewing in a tinted clear panel in order to be able to watch the main sail without doing acrobatics under the bimini. The 32" height works well for us- but as always, its a tradeoff. http://www.tompatterson.com/Sailing/Sailing/Bimini.html
A couple of comments
Mast rake and bolt rope stretch/sail shrinkage will have a major impact on boom clearance. If in doubt, free/re-seize the bolt rope. Any sail stretch will have an impact. If the bolt rope slides 4 inches down that translates to almost 7 inches at the boom end. We have experimented a great deal with mast rake and Teliki is easiest to balance with approx 6 inches rearward rake. More forward and I get lee helm - unless I mis-adjust the sails i.e. balanced but a higher drag configuration. Unfortunately, the rearward rake decreases boom clearance. Again it's a compromise - more height via less rake usually equals more rudder deflection on some points of sail. I measured last weekend and close hauled yields 30 inches (to the gunwales). This was in 15 kt winds with the traveller fully leeward and cranking the boom straight down. I think that translates to 32 inches being fine for most sailing - but I'll order 40 inches since I want to mount at the rub rail (and go a little wider). Those extenders sure look interesting for use when anchored. Chris
Mast rake and bolt rope stretch/sail shrinkage will have a major impact on boom clearance. If in doubt, free/re-seize the bolt rope. Any sail stretch will have an impact. If the bolt rope slides 4 inches down that translates to almost 7 inches at the boom end. We have experimented a great deal with mast rake and Teliki is easiest to balance with approx 6 inches rearward rake. More forward and I get lee helm - unless I mis-adjust the sails i.e. balanced but a higher drag configuration. Unfortunately, the rearward rake decreases boom clearance. Again it's a compromise - more height via less rake usually equals more rudder deflection on some points of sail. I measured last weekend and close hauled yields 30 inches (to the gunwales). This was in 15 kt winds with the traveller fully leeward and cranking the boom straight down. I think that translates to 32 inches being fine for most sailing - but I'll order 40 inches since I want to mount at the rub rail (and go a little wider). Those extenders sure look interesting for use when anchored. Chris
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