Bimini Top
- Thread starter XCIIGTWhipple
- Start date
My 22 came with one. It couldn't be used while sailing because it was higher than the boom. It was a cheap one, maybe a custom made one would of worked.
I would think it would be tough to put one on a 19.
I would think it would be tough to put one on a 19.
I was thinking more for when not sailing so It would be folded down while sailing.
My wife and son are white as sheets so when we are just chilling they would have some shade.
My wife and son are white as sheets so when we are just chilling they would have some shade.
I would suggest experimenting with tarps. I did this for years on my 222 and still do it on my 25. Joe Alves (on Trinnka) was a master at rigging tarps while at anchor. His photo album has a lots of pictures and plenty of great ideas for tricking out a small boat. http://forums.oday.sailboatowners.com/album.php?albumid=2732&pictureid=17432
Good luck,
Dave
s/v Lagniappe
O'Day 25
Good luck,
Dave
s/v Lagniappe
O'Day 25
Greg & Jill Delzynski are also well versed in bimini coverings for sail boats and they are members. They have extensive long term sailing experience, especially in the Sea of Cortez. Chief
I think the biggest problem with a 19 is that it just isn't that big of a boat. Plus, there are the issues of the mainsheet getting in the way, if you tried to stow it rolled up facing aft. Stowed facing forward, there would be the issues of the companionway and vang, potentially. It all depends on the geometries involved. I think you'd have to get the measuring tape out and do some serious thinking.
As suggested above, it might just be easier to rig a tarp. On my 192, I tried to use PCV electrical conduit, because it has sockets molded in, and I could use them to make 2 piece poles. I put one at the stern, and one about 2/3rds forward, going transverse across the boat. This allowed for more room sitting in the cockpit. I also have an adjustable topping lift that allows me to raise the boom up at an angle, and provide standing headroom towards the back of the cockpit. For the forward edge of the tarp, I tied it to the base of the more forward stanchions, so that it dipped down over the cabin top. This allowed me to have a rain cover and keep the companionway open during rain. It significantly increased living area, knowing you could go in and out of the cabin with impunity during rain.
This year, I bought an ultralight backpacking tarp, which I have not tried to rig yet. It won't provide as much sun shade (kinda translucent,) but will take up far less room than the bulky polytarp. The PVC poles assumed a bent shape during a warm day last year, so I'm considering aluminum tent poles this year. I have to rig and measure the new tarp, so there might be some re-thinking this weekend if I try to work it out. Also, I'm considering if a better pole pattern would be to go on diagonals from corner to corner with the poles crossed.
Finally, one of these days, I should really decide what I like best, and then make a custom tarp from old sails I have. The way, I could cut the sides with a concavity, and probably get the works to set better considering wind. Or, just say "chuck it" and go sailing
Apparently, I have a few pictures of the tarp rigged with just one PVC pole. This was from the July 4th flag parade and raft up, which I spent the majority of the afternoon in the water. It was hot that day! You can see that I tried to attach the tarp to the pole using S hooks. I think I abandoned that in favor of holes drilled into the PVC, and tied directly to the tarp. As old Gwen (who was at the raft up) said, "Awww, look how sweet, playing with your pre-bimini! Don't get offended, we ALL did it, before we finally invest in a real bimini." Hahaha!
As suggested above, it might just be easier to rig a tarp. On my 192, I tried to use PCV electrical conduit, because it has sockets molded in, and I could use them to make 2 piece poles. I put one at the stern, and one about 2/3rds forward, going transverse across the boat. This allowed for more room sitting in the cockpit. I also have an adjustable topping lift that allows me to raise the boom up at an angle, and provide standing headroom towards the back of the cockpit. For the forward edge of the tarp, I tied it to the base of the more forward stanchions, so that it dipped down over the cabin top. This allowed me to have a rain cover and keep the companionway open during rain. It significantly increased living area, knowing you could go in and out of the cabin with impunity during rain.
This year, I bought an ultralight backpacking tarp, which I have not tried to rig yet. It won't provide as much sun shade (kinda translucent,) but will take up far less room than the bulky polytarp. The PVC poles assumed a bent shape during a warm day last year, so I'm considering aluminum tent poles this year. I have to rig and measure the new tarp, so there might be some re-thinking this weekend if I try to work it out. Also, I'm considering if a better pole pattern would be to go on diagonals from corner to corner with the poles crossed.
Finally, one of these days, I should really decide what I like best, and then make a custom tarp from old sails I have. The way, I could cut the sides with a concavity, and probably get the works to set better considering wind. Or, just say "chuck it" and go sailing
Apparently, I have a few pictures of the tarp rigged with just one PVC pole. This was from the July 4th flag parade and raft up, which I spent the majority of the afternoon in the water. It was hot that day! You can see that I tried to attach the tarp to the pole using S hooks. I think I abandoned that in favor of holes drilled into the PVC, and tied directly to the tarp. As old Gwen (who was at the raft up) said, "Awww, look how sweet, playing with your pre-bimini! Don't get offended, we ALL did it, before we finally invest in a real bimini." Hahaha!
Put on a bimini!
A bimini is much easier to use than a tarp. I have just spent a lot of time and custom parts to hopefully be able to use my bimini on my H26 while sailing. We'll see this weekend.
But, for 10 years we have had a bimini that we couldn't use while sailing but was wonderful when it was hot or raining. What I did was have adjustable poles in the rear to hold the bimini in place. Because they were adjustable I had one position astern and just under the mast for trailering, another for sailing, astern and high enough to see under, and another when the bimini is in use. Worked fantastic! The adjustable poles made all the difference.
Here's the bimini in the high position to see under while sailing.
A bimini is much easier to use than a tarp. I have just spent a lot of time and custom parts to hopefully be able to use my bimini on my H26 while sailing. We'll see this weekend.
But, for 10 years we have had a bimini that we couldn't use while sailing but was wonderful when it was hot or raining. What I did was have adjustable poles in the rear to hold the bimini in place. Because they were adjustable I had one position astern and just under the mast for trailering, another for sailing, astern and high enough to see under, and another when the bimini is in use. Worked fantastic! The adjustable poles made all the difference.
Here's the bimini in the high position to see under while sailing.
Attachments
While it is true that bimini tops are far easier to use and live with than tarps, with poles or not, the fact remains that we are discussing a bimini application on a small boat. Note that all the of the positive comments are from bigger boat owners, 25-26 feet long.
But I got to thinking, the O'day 19 (and my 192) are similar to the Precision 18. So I hopped over to the Precision forum on trailersailers.com, and did a search. http://forum.trailersailor.com/post_gb.php?id=1306626#1306626 It turns out, someone (Jack) was able to mount a 6'x6' bimini on his Precision 165, which is even smaller than an O'day 19. You'll note in the thread that he wanted something big enough to cover the companionway for rain purposes, and mounted it to the side decks rather than the coaming tops, just for this reason.
If you do measure up a bimini, and install one, make sure you properly pot the through deck penetrations with epoxy to prevent balsa core rot: http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/sealing_the_deck
And you might consider sealing the bimini mounts with Bed-it butyl tape: http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/rebedding_hardware
Hope this helps!
But I got to thinking, the O'day 19 (and my 192) are similar to the Precision 18. So I hopped over to the Precision forum on trailersailers.com, and did a search. http://forum.trailersailor.com/post_gb.php?id=1306626#1306626 It turns out, someone (Jack) was able to mount a 6'x6' bimini on his Precision 165, which is even smaller than an O'day 19. You'll note in the thread that he wanted something big enough to cover the companionway for rain purposes, and mounted it to the side decks rather than the coaming tops, just for this reason.
If you do measure up a bimini, and install one, make sure you properly pot the through deck penetrations with epoxy to prevent balsa core rot: http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/sealing_the_deck
And you might consider sealing the bimini mounts with Bed-it butyl tape: http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/rebedding_hardware
Hope this helps!
I mounted a 5' long overtons bimini to a 14' sailboat and had no issues with it. At first I thought I'd take it down while sailing. But, after two trips in the sun it went up permanently and I sailed with it for 3 yrs until the continuous "self bailing" puddle of water got to me and I sold it. Now I am looking at a Catalina Capri 16.5 keel. A much larger and stable boat. You sail it with the scuppers wide open and dry conckpit! She will get a Bimini before the first sail. For sure!