Bimini

[Larry D Calander]

Hey all
Have big Bimini that need to be taken down when under sail.first mate thinks
She can sew a slot to leave it up. Anybody had this done or did it themselves.

 

[Benny17441]

My first thought on the idea of a slot in the canvas is that bimini tops move backward and forward, twist and turn with the wind and boat changes in course. This will cause the canvas to rub strongly and frequently against the mainsheet line chaffing both the canvas and line in no time. The answer might be to relocate the current point of attachment to a forward mounted traveler but I'm sure some h26 owners will chime in with boat specific suggestions.

 

[John23883]

Move the boom padeyes

I looked at adding a traveler above the cabin but it got too complicated.

What I did is to move the reefing padeye on the boom forward about a foot or so by making sure it was just ahead of the bimini without rubbing and re-mount. Then I moved the mainsheet padeye forward and reattached to the old reefing location. When sailing in fair weather I attach the mainsheet to the same padeye as the reefing line, there is enough room for the line and the shackle. When I need the bimini up, I move the mainsheet to the most forward padeye.

Is it perfect? No. Does it take a little more effort to sheet-in the mainsheet? Yes. Are we happy with having the bimini up while sailing? You bet.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

the orginal bimini design was four feet long. It was redesigned for a 6 footer which required the movement for attachment on the boom forward as it did not really interfere with the operation of the main sheet.

As for a traveler on either the 26 and 260, I found it was never really needed but the only logical place to put one if someone wanted to was just in front where you step down into the cabin

 

[seadaddler]

Rollup

I don't know your boat but have seen where the bimini is
rolled up on the aft support.
Look around at some other boats and here in Florida my bimini never
comes off.
Nick

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Nick;

I am not sure if your message was directed toward me but I do not own a boat. I was deeply involved with the Hunter water ballast sailboats more than most would know. I was there when the original biminis were designed on both the 26 and 260 and the basic design was the bimini deployed while under sail. Otherwise installation was off.

 

[dewhunter]

This works for me, no chaff or rub interference from dead down wind to close hauled. Big arc with lock-less zippers coming from sides and meeting in the center.

 

[seadaddler]

As I said I don't know the boat and was just suggesting look around at other boats and here in Florida most times have sun protection but some like when cooler weather to have some thing easy to rollup works for both ways if possible.
I like looking at other boats for good ideas and my comment was not directed to any one.
Crazy Dave you don't remember me but spoke to you back in 2001 when I was looking at Hunter 260 water ballast and you were very helpful.
Nick