Bimini top edge flap?

[Hermit Scott]

Hey guys. I was getting ready to sew together a bimini out of 9.25 oz sunbrella. I have my old one and was going to go by it for the pattern. I noticed there is a vestigial looking flap at the front and rear edge of the bimini. Other than this part the rest of the old bimini is a flat almost rectangle with a slight curve to the front and rear edge to match the bow of the poles at the angle they are mounted.
What are the flaps for? Will it look weird without it? I thought of doing a simple fold back over the pole like in the second pic. The first pic is the flap.

 

[BLIGHT]

From what can be seen the flap looks like a way to hide and protect the raw edge of the fabric. A single fold back as you illiustrate would leave the raw edge showing which is not good since the fabric will friz on the edge unless you cut it with a heat knife. Would suggest first a 1/2" foldover to protect the raw edge and then you do the pole foldover. To make removing the bimini easier I would suggest the addition of a zipper flap overt the poles using #10 zipper.

 

[Hermit Scott]

If any one has any pics of how their bimini goes over the poles I would much appreciate it.
Blight-in the first picture my fingers are in the pocket where the pole goes through. The flap actually sticks out from that kinda like a sideways mowhawk protruding off the front most and rear most edges of the bimini when it is installed.
I will sew a proper seam that is doubled twice for the pockets for the poles so nothing is fraying about. I have a soldering iron with a flat blade I use to coterize the edges also.
I made a mainsail cover a year ago or so using the old one as a pattern. I made it almost exactly the same. On this bimini it has been repaired so many times I can't tell what the original seems on the end originally looked like. If you look in my avatar you can see the first time this bimini failed me, the first time I motored the boat anywhere.
I haven't seen anyone with stripes for a bimini yet with solid pacific blue on everything else. I hope it doesn't look out of place.

 

[MJWarner]

The eyebrows serve the function of routing water straight down off the edge. Without them, the tendency is for it to pool and run up under the edge and migrate across the underside until it drops, usually when it is just over your back.

 

[Joe23455]

The piece you are refering to is called a hang down tail and per previous post by MJ, it is for deflecting water and acts as a drip edge. We ( my first mate and I ) just finished making a new dodger and bimini, so I am learning the parts 1st hand. Sailrite is very helpfull on any questions,also some decent videos if you get stuck on detail
Happy Sailing,
Joe s/v Trinity

 

[Hermit Scott]

The piece you are refering to is called a hang down tail and per previous post by MJ, it is for deflecting water and acts as a drip edge. We ( my first mate and I ) just finished making a new dodger and bimini, so I am learning the parts 1st hand. Sailrite is very helpfull on any questions,also some decent videos if you get stuck on detail
Happy Sailing,
Joe s/v Trinity

Thanks for telling me the purpose of those. I was going to omit them, I probably wouldn't have noticed until the rains came. I will include them as soon as I figure out how the seem should go.

Joe did you use polyester thread or acrylic? I have polyester thread. I didn't see any acrylic at the shop I was at. Sunbrella is acrylic, it seems that the thread should match the fabric.

 

[Joe23455]

I used the polyester- you enlightened me about the thread match- was not aware about the match. However, the polyester shore seems strong, I guess only time will tell. The sewing and binding seemed to go well with this thread although it seems the bobbin really has to be wound right for the polyester wants to unwind as the bobbin
gets smaller. It is definetly a more nylon feel ?? then a regular thread.
enjoy
Going sailing tommorrow winds suppose to be 10/15 2/4 seas, have a good weekend.
joe s/v trinity

 

[Hermit Scott]

I used the polyester- you enlightened me about the thread match- was not aware about the match. However, the polyester shore seems strong, I guess only time will tell. The sewing and binding seemed to go well with this thread although it seems the bobbin really has to be wound right for the polyester wants to unwind as the bobbin
gets smaller. It is definetly a more nylon feel ?? then a regular thread.
enjoy
Going sailing tommorrow winds suppose to be 10/15 2/4 seas, have a good weekend.
joe s/v trinity

Some outdoor fabric is polyester. Sunbrella is acrylic. Acrylic lasts longer. I am going to use the polyester. I have it and the upholstery place I used to go before I got a sailrite machine uses it too. But I have learned just because everybody is doing it doesn't mean it is best.

 

[zeehag]

the most durable thread for sunbrella is gore tex. others dont last 5 yrs. goood luck.

 

[Hermit Scott]

the most durable thread for sunbrella is gore tex. others dont last 5 yrs. goood luck.

And it's only $130 for an 8 oz. spool.

 

[Joe23455]

Agree the gore tex was out of my range, my old bimini/dodger was + 10 years and the thread was common thread. The fabric was wearing more then the seems.
The polyester from sailrite I have is v-92 (forgot what is was called on last post).

 

[Merlin Clark]

My old main sail cover was pretty worn when I got it and the exposed stitching lasted another 5 years.........

 

[Hermit Scott]

The V-92 seems to be pretty tough stuff. That is what I use for everything. I only have $80 in the sunbrella material, I'll just resew it when the time comes.
I haven't been to my boat in 4 months. As soon as I finish this I am headed that way though.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Also made a Sailrite bimini using V-92. Eight years later not a bad seam. All my edges are four-ply using their binding. I originally sewed pockets front and back for the frame. I have since replaced with zippers. This makes it much more likely that I will remove for storms. Putting up the frame with fixed pockets was a real hassle. For the middle bow I just sewed in velcro straps to position it.

P.S. for $5.00 you can download the Sailrite instructions: http://www.sailrite.com/3-Bow-Bimini-Kit-Downloadable-Instructions-PDF-Format .

 

[Bill Roosa]

The eyebrow also serves as a place to attach the zippers for the curtains if you have them.
I've used the V-92 and it is tough and can be used on a machine

 

[Hermit Scott]

I have a big rectangle sewn together the width of the bimini, edges double folded and a seam down the middle. I marked the curved parts with a taylors pencil and then stared at it for an hour.
I then downloaded the bimini instructions as Ed recommended. That was $5 well spent. I will read those over carefully and then proceed. I barely have enough to do the top. I got 10 yards and will use every scrap.
I have a 4 bow bimini. Almost all the patterns including the one I just downloaded have elipse shaped pieces. The bimini I took off my boat is just a big flat rectangle with curved ends. I am going to copy it as close as I can instead of using elipse shaped pieces.

 

[Hermit Scott]

I got the eyebrows sewn in. I left the pockets unsewn because the zipper idea sounds great. I will pick those up tomorrow and finish it up. Last time there was a hurricane blowing through I took the 4 bows apart and got the bimini off by my self. and that was no fun.
I am going to wait until I get to the boat to finish the center pockets to make sure the center bows make it tight enough.
On the end pockets, do you guys have two zippers per pocket to zip them from the outside to the middle, or is there just one zipper on the pockets that goes all the way across?

 

[Ed Schenck]

I made mine to extend about a foot behind the backstay. For the split I sewed in the wide velcro with a reinforcement at the hole for the stay. Then two zippers, one each side of the split.

You are right to make it as square as possible. Getting the shape on three bows is not easy. I made a 2 x 4 frame in the basement and had my tubing mounted on it. Took some work to get the shape right.

As I mentioned previously, I don't think the middle bows need pockets or zippers. They need to remain in their proper place but that is easily done with a couple of velcro loops.

 

[jibes138]

I made mine from scratch using the sailrite instructions. The key point was to use double sided tape on the bows and clear plastic to fit the shape. Then you trace the shape on the plastic with a sharpie and use that as a pattern for the sunbrella. It worked fantastic. Their instructions were great, unfortunate that you now have to buy them, used to be free.

 

[Mookie B]

+1 for both zippers and the V92 thread. I did just what you're doing this past winter, Scott--used an old bimini for a template. I do have just one long zipper for each of my 3 bows, but agree with Ed that the middle could just be velcro loops. I've had mine on for a few months now and love it...can't imagine life without it! My only complaint is that I left my topping lift too lose after my install and now have a slight rub mark above the middle bow where the boom contacted it over a period of a couple of weeks. I'd like to reinforce the tops of the front and middle bows this winter with either a matching naugahyde or a "sacrificial" strip of the same fabric to provide for wear in those spots most likely to see occasional contact. Just keep the boom in mind when setting it up and yours should last quite a while. I am also hoping to fashion some sort of underside webbing for minor storage (VHF, horn, cat 'o nine tails, etc...). Can't wait to see pix of your finished product--that is some good looking material!