Bimini

[Justin]

I am presently in the market for a bimini top for my 1988 Hunter 23. I recently drilled out the pop rivits for the main traveler and slid the attachment point to the boom forward so i would have more space for the bimini. This recent modification has made the distance from the travler to the back stay 6 feet, however i would like to extend the future bimini aft of the back stay, however will the bimini still be able to fold? I have searched the archives and there is nothing that adresses the "fold-ability" of a bimini that is run through the backstay, if anyone has any answers to this or a diagram of how it can be done it would be greatly apreciated.

 

[Wanderer138]

Possible conflict with the backstay

Check your bimini in the folded position. Depending on the height of the frame you may have to move the mounting brackets forward so the bimini lays flat when folded and doesn't interfere with the backstay mounting tangs at the aft end of the deck.I'm curious though...why do you want the bimini to extend past the backstay? If all you need is some extra shade, a drop-down awning off the back edge of the bimini frame might be a simpler solution.If you haven't already done so, you might want to contact AmeriSeam about a bimini. Theirs is low enough to clear the boom when sailing but still high enough for adequate headroom in the cockpit. It also clears the stock mainsheet bail under the boom.PeterH23 "Raven"

 

[S. Sauer]

Split Backstay Bimini

On my 28.5, we have a 5' long by 7' wide bimini with two frames forward of the split backstay and the third frame aft of the backstay. Furthermore, North Sails was able to mount the bimini on the forward portion of the stern pulpit and have full width cockpit coverage without interfering with the winches. All three frames fold up to the backstay and the 'boot' zips around the backstays and folded bimini together.You should check if your boom would be high enough to clear the bimini while sailing. If not, you would need to have the foot of the main recut to raise the end of the boom. Otherwise you might be stuck with having a shorter bimini aft of the boom to the backstay and aft of the backstay to the stern.

 

[UnderDog]

folding with back stay

On my 25.5, the bimini, like S. Sauer's, folds with 2 frames forward of the stay, and one aft. The canvas has a zipper from one edge so that it can be placed around the stay. Actually, the nice thing about having it around the back stay is that it provides a nice place to fold to, out of the way, and looks good too. It is a few inches below the boom when up, but it is low (no head room) when up, one of the downsides with a smaller boat.