Bimini top advise

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ehudm

.
Apr 12, 2009
67
Macgregor 26D Vancouver
finally I'm about to order a Bimini top but need an advise.
I'm not sure about the length, 5' or 6'.
I saw that Sumner used 5' and sliders, but is it going to be better with 6'?
and do I need a sliders even for the 6' length.
Any advice?
 

Sumner

.
Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
finally I'm about to order a Bimini top but need an advise.
I'm not sure about the length, 5' or 6'.
I saw that Sumner used 5' and sliders, but is it going to be better with 6'?
and do I need a sliders even for the 6' length.
Any advice?
I'm not sure if the 6' length would interfere with stepping up at the head of the cockpit to go below or not (we aren't at the boat now to check).

The other item is seeing the sails and the windex. I can look ahead of the bimini now and see while working the lines. If it was longer that would not be as easy.

I can say that in the 3 months we were out in Florida we never used the sliders, but did when it rained in Idaho and Canada while anchored. If I was doing it again I'd go with the sliders again just to have the option.

I will say that to not have a bimini would not be an option for us,

Sum

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]============================[/FONT]

Our Endeavour 37

Our MacGregor 26-S Pages

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links
 

ehudm

.
Apr 12, 2009
67
Macgregor 26D Vancouver
I'm not sure if the 6' length would interfere with stepping up at the head of the cockpit to go below or not (we aren't at the boat now to check).

The other item is seeing the sails and the windex. I can look ahead of the bimini now and see while working the lines. If it was longer that would not be as easy.

I can say that in the 3 months we were out in Florida we never used the sliders, but did when it rained in Idaho and Canada while anchored. If I was doing it again I'd go with the sliders again just to have the option.

I will say that to not have a bimini would not be an option for us,

Sum

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]============================[/FONT]

Our Endeavour 37

Our MacGregor 26-S Pages

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links
Thanks Sumner, I was looking on the your bimini top and it look like there is more then a foot or 2 extra on the boat, that's why I wondered if I can have more shade space and still see the windex from the side.
 
May 4, 2005
4,062
Macgregor 26d Ft Lauderdale, Fl
I have a 4' no tracks and its pretty good.

I can scoot to the back of the seat and see the teltales and windex. and climb out front. larger might have been better but I don't suffer with 4'

+ mount it low like sumner did.
 
Nov 23, 2011
2,023
MacGregor 26D London Ontario Canada
I have a 5' with out a track. I'm still no sure if I like it or not. It gets in the way when it's down. Ie; To start the motor, open the laz...
I do like the shade it provides!
I'll fight with it some more this summer and make a final decision. (I may sew a window into the front and do a bit of tube bending at the back to keep it just off the backstay.)
 

Sumner

.
Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
...To start the motor, open the laz...
I do like the shade it provides!............. and do a bit of tube bending at the back to keep it just off the backstay.....


Do you have telescoping support poles at the back like above? I would for sure recommend getting those if you don't.



It would eliminate the problems with the laz and the outboard starting.



on the highway the bimini is up and we can get on the boat and in and out of the cabin while it is on the trailer easily.

...I may sew a window into the front...
We sewed a window...




... in the bimini for the Endeavour and if I sailed alone on the Mac would consider doing...



...the same,

Sum

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]============================[/FONT]

Our Endeavour 37

Our MacGregor 26-S Pages

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links
 
Nov 23, 2011
2,023
MacGregor 26D London Ontario Canada
Sumner those poles are a heck of a good idea! Ware did you get them?
I think that they would just make the difference as to keeping it or not.
Right now there is a system of adjustable straps that keep it just balanced. Not the easiest system to use for sure.
 

Sumner

.
Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
Sumner those poles are a heck of a good idea! Ware did you get them?
I think that they would just make the difference as to keeping it or not.
Right now there is a system of adjustable straps that keep it just balanced. Not the easiest system to use for sure.
Well you are already in the right country ;)....

http://catalogue.anp.ca/products/89180-Bimini_Top_Accessories/

I'm sure other places also have them. Note where I ended up with them....



Liked them better there than where they were...



...at the start but you will have to figure what is best for your application. They adjust over a larger range for us down on the sides. More on the new location here....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor2/outside-32.html

..... and the rest of the install on the pages preceeding that one,

Sum

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]============================[/FONT]

Our Endeavour 37

Our MacGregor 26-S Pages

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links
 
Nov 23, 2011
2,023
MacGregor 26D London Ontario Canada
Thanks for the link!
I've got some playing around to do because the sides of my cockpit are lower than your track. I have a SS bar to work around as well and am thinking about adding a raised SS hand rail at the back on each side.
 

Kestle

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Jun 12, 2011
702
MacGregor 25 San Pedro
Well you are already in the right country ;)....

http://catalogue.anp.ca/products/89180-Bimini_Top_Accessories/

I'm sure other places also have them. Note where I ended up with them....

Liked them better there than where they were...

...at the start but you will have to figure what is best for your application. They adjust over a larger range for us down on the sides. More on the new location here....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor2/outside-32.html

..... and the rest of the install on the pages preceeding that one,

Sum

============================

Our Endeavour 37

Our MacGregor 26-S Pages

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links
Sum:

What is the headroom under the Bimini, on the Mac?

Admiral wants standing headroom, and I'm looking for ideas...

Jeff
 

Sumner

.
Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
Sum:

What is the headroom under the Bimini, on the Mac?

Admiral wants standing headroom, and I'm looking for ideas...

Jeff


I'm 6'-1" and that is the headroom, but I probably didn't have the cushion in for that shot but I easily fit under it but there is no way to stand under it. The only way to stand under it would be to move the boom up the mast aways and then have the main re-cut. I think John did that,

Sum

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]============================[/FONT]

Our Endeavour 37

Our MacGregor 26-S Pages

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links
 
May 4, 2005
4,062
Macgregor 26d Ft Lauderdale, Fl
Sum:

What is the headroom under the Bimini, on the Mac?

Admiral wants standing headroom, and I'm looking for ideas...

Jeff

you can NOT have standing head room under a bimini on a macgregor.

sorry, not going to happen.
 
Apr 24, 2006
868
Aloha 32 Toronto, Lake Ontario
Actually, I did see a solution that gave standing head room on a 26S.

The Bimini was about 7 feet above the cockpit floor but back far enough to not interfere with the boom or main.
As such, it was only about 2 or 3 feet in length and the majority of it was over the aft locker and motor well.
Not sure if it provided any useful shade in the cockpit area but you could stand under it.

Looked really out of place too - sort of made the boat look top heavy.

The owner also planned to make it a "hard top" by putting a few hundred pounds of solar panels in place of the canvas.

He had a few other "different" mods as well. The centerboard was replaced with a keel from a Mac 25. That tore itself out along with a sizeable portion of the boat bottom (fortunately all destruction was on the other side of the ballast tank so the boat didn't sink). To deal with he weight, he added not one but two axels to the trailer.

Wish I could catch up with him and see how it all worked out!

Chris
 

Kestle

.
Jun 12, 2011
702
MacGregor 25 San Pedro
Sometimes, you just have to work with the Admirals's orders.

I convinced her that a tent style cover at anchor would be the only option.

Thanks guys!

Jeff
 
Dec 7, 2012
515
Kittiwake 23, Irwin 43 .. Indianapolis / indianatown, fl
Hello all

i just ordered a new bimini (royal blue) ... i ordered a 36"H x 72"W x 6'L... this was the smallest i could find... if i measured right, it will fit under the boom, and behind the traveler at the cabin entrance, and the back bow pole will attach to the rear pulpit.... it is big enough to almost cover the entire cockpit, i do not think i need a slider set up for it.... i can't wait to get it on my boat and see how it works...

i am off work for the next 2 days, so i am hoping to get my mast up and fitted for the shrouds and stays.... then take my boat to the lake for some sailing...

sincerely
Jess
 
Dec 8, 2007
303
-mac 26M -26M tucson-san carlos mx
you can NOT have standing head room under a bimini on a macgregor.

sorry, not going to happen.
That for sure ain't true, or my 26M is not real and ive been dreaming for the last five years.I put a 6foot by 74" wide by 48" tall mounted on the genoa tracks so it slides fore-aft 3 feet, works great,will allow a 72" tall person to stand fully upright at helm.
 
May 4, 2005
4,062
Macgregor 26d Ft Lauderdale, Fl
Ok, its possible. but not really practical.

note the OP has a 26D, not the new power sailor boat. (26M).

as others noted, you'd need to have a short bimini or raise the boom (and cut /reef the sail.)



I would like to see the 26M's Bimini, though.


---
That for sure ain't true, or my 26M is not real and ive been dreaming for the last five years.I put a 6foot by 74" wide by 48" tall mounted on the genoa tracks so it slides fore-aft 3 feet, works great,will allow a 72" tall person to stand fully upright at helm.

you stand behind the bimini at the helm?
 
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