Bimni recommendation needed

[Jenna]

We just bought a 1983 H22 and the first new addition will be a bimini to protect us from this hot Georgia sun! Could someone who's added a bimini to this year or model suggest where to place the bimni mounts, size, width and how they handled the traveler position. Also any suggestions on where to buy one and what to expect to pay.Jenna

 

[Ed Schenck]

Can you sew?

I can't either but it didn't stop me from making my own, about $300 from Sailrite(sailrite@sailrite.com). It's a little more with stainless tubing. What a difference that shade makes!My boat has real metal toerails so I drilled and tapped for one small foot on each side. I fitted the frame for width, height and mounting position BEFORE I sized the bimini. Make sure you have clearances for boom, mainsheet, winch handles, etc.Then I built a simple 2x4 frame in the basement to mount the frame in the exact same position. Now I could get all my bimini dimensions just right.Sewing instructions were excellent but I still had to call for help. Sailrite was excellent. On saltwater I would have gone with stainless.Ed(schencked@bfusa.com)

 

[Peggie Hall/HeadMistress]

You can buy one from Overtons...

They offer a complete selection of sizes and Sunbrella colors (a few colors in stock, about 25 "special order" which takes about a week to get). I bought mine from them...tallest aluminum frame, 84 x 84, was $375. The size you need should run you about $250 or even less. It's been on the boat for 3 years--in the same hot GA sun that you need protection from--and still looks new.

 

[Ed Schenck]

A followup to my previous....

post. Peggy's prices are excellent. But I notice that your boat, like mine, has a single rear stay and a cockpit traveller. And the boom is relatively low and extends well into the cockpit. Any option you choose is going to have to deal with those problems. When making my own I was able to customize around those areas. For example I installed a three frame model. The middle frame is against but in front of the stay. The aft most frame hangs well over the stern to provide the best shade. This requires a long slit which I close with velcro instead of the provided zippers. The front most frame was adjusted low enough that the boom barely clears it when not sailing. With air in the main there is plenty of clearance, even with a tight vang. Whichever, you will be glad you made the investment.

 

[Dick Vance]

Slider Tracks

Jenna,I used the same method as Ed with a top from Overton's on my 25.5, which has a similar problem with low boom. I went one step further by attaching the bimini to 3' slider tracks from Overton's, which allows the top to slide forward with the boom swung out of the way while motoring, docked or anchored. This shades the entire cockpit and a bit of the companionway. With the sliders attached as far outboard as possible, against the toerail, the top and sliders don't interfere with sitting on the coaming or sail handling.HTHDick VanceH-25.5 "Honey Bear"