Bimini window

[John T1594]

I have a 2000 H340 with an OEM bimini and dodger installed on the SS arch. The bimini has a small plastic window overhead so that one can theoretically monitor the set of the main sail. The window has a small Sunbrella flap on its top surface to protect it from the sun. The flap is held in place over the widow by a strip of Velcro. However, unless I am missing something, there is no way to keep the flap out of the way when sailing. The slightest breeze blows the flap back over the window and I can't see the main. I am planing to sew some Velco patches on the bimini to keep the flap open and I wonder what others may have done to remedy this situation. BTW, you have to climb way up on the arch to get to the flap.

 

[JeffC21331]

should have velcro to hold it open

It should have velcro on it so that when you roll it back, you can then attach the velcro together and make it stay in place. That is the way the one on my 25 works.

 

[elle]

Refit

Take the flap off, sew velcro to the underside of the bimini put the flap on the underside of the bimini. Then roll & stick the flap to open it & unroll & stick to close..all from down in the cockpit.

 

[Hugh4753]

Refit

Wouldn't putting the flap on the underside defeat the purpose of protecting the window from UV? Mine has a couple of pieces of line with loops that I use to tie it up so the wind doesn't make it flap back over the window. And like a previous post I will admit that getting the thing open and closed involves some acrobatics.

 

[Ed Caldwell]

Another approach

John, on our 99 340 we have two windows, one in front and one behind the fiberglass arch. When the seams along the edge of the bimini started unraveling, I took advantage of having them in the shop and had the flaps removed and replaced with a UV resistant woven mesh material, so we don't have to fool with opening and closing the flap at all. We got a dark blue to match the bimini color, and visibility through the mesh is just OK, but our flap velcro was worn out as well, and this seemed like a better alternative.

 

[Benny]

Be glad it has lasted this long.

The bimini top on our 2000 h320 is about ready for a replacement. All the stiching is coming apart. We are going to fabricate a hard top for the rear portion and redo a soft top for the front. In the meantime we will restich the material to keep it going a little longer. The sun here in Florida is brutal on canvas. We never shut our plastice window off and the plastic has remained clear. Consider removing that flap.

 

[Andy]

Flasher flap

Our 340 has a flap opening but no plastic window. You can stick your hand through the "moonroof" and reach the boom and traveler if you need to. The velcro that held the flap open wore out and was not holding in winds greater than 5 knts. For a temporary fix until we remove the bimini I got two of those little plastic work clamps at Home Depot. I roll the flap and clamp it in the roll. Acutally one in the middle will work. When not being used for the flap the clamps are handy to use as closepins, chip clips, and various other little boat projects.

 

[s sauer]

Velcro Flap Edges

We have a 12"x12" sail trim window with the flap on the underside having velcro on its two sides. All you need to do is roll it forward and the velcro sticks to itself and holds it in a rolled up shape at the front of the 'window'. We roll up the Bimini and put on its boot cover when we leave the boat each weekendI can't believe all the boats that are hauled for the winter and still have their biminis, dodgers and sail covers on. However, many of those with sails off still have dodgers up. The stitching will sun rot three times faster aqnd you have to specifically order UV resistant thread.