My husband and I have owned our 1975, 27foot Catalina for 9 years. Our only problem is that the boom is too low for a bimini. Our choices are to put one on and sit down while sailing or to raise the boom and cut the sail. Has anyone done this? Does the smaller sail affect sailing to any extent? We are located on the Chesapeake Bay and protection from the sun is a necessarity in this area.
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Ken Cave
A Sun Umbrella?
Believe it or not, we do get the sun in the San Juan Islands-and-when at anchor (or dock) I use a KMart blue light special-a sun unbrella for a mere $22.00 dollars. I had to cut the mast down so I could tie it to the boom when I am at anchor-but-works great-and everyone can find you do to its wild colors!! Might help-sure is a cheap way of handling some of the sun! Ken Cave Dragon Tail #789 Catalina 25
Believe it or not, we do get the sun in the San Juan Islands-and-when at anchor (or dock) I use a KMart blue light special-a sun unbrella for a mere $22.00 dollars. I had to cut the mast down so I could tie it to the boom when I am at anchor-but-works great-and everyone can find you do to its wild colors!! Might help-sure is a cheap way of handling some of the sun! Ken Cave Dragon Tail #789 Catalina 25
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LaDonna Bubak - Planet Catalina
Do you race?
I would imagine that cutting the sail would greatly affect performance if you're a racer, but if you're not hot about being the fastest on the bay, it probably wouldn't be that bad. Besides, anything you have up while sailing will probably affect your performance just as much as a slightly smaller main! Good luck & please share with us what you decide & how it works for you. I'd love some ideas for mine - I'll be heading for KMart this weekend with Ken's idea! LaDonna
I would imagine that cutting the sail would greatly affect performance if you're a racer, but if you're not hot about being the fastest on the bay, it probably wouldn't be that bad. Besides, anything you have up while sailing will probably affect your performance just as much as a slightly smaller main! Good luck & please share with us what you decide & how it works for you. I'd love some ideas for mine - I'll be heading for KMart this weekend with Ken's idea! LaDonna
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Bob
flattening reef
if you install a cringle about one foot up the leach of the main sail (assuming you have a jiffy reefing block on the aft of your boom) it will serve as intended as a flattening reef AND at the same time lift the rear of the boom higher! The boom on my 34 rubbs the dodger and this is a similar "lift".
if you install a cringle about one foot up the leach of the main sail (assuming you have a jiffy reefing block on the aft of your boom) it will serve as intended as a flattening reef AND at the same time lift the rear of the boom higher! The boom on my 34 rubbs the dodger and this is a similar "lift".
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Kevin McGrath
Don't Cut the sail
I owned a Catalina 27 for 12 years and cutting the main will kill the boat speed. I am also sensitive to the sun. I wear hat and sun Screen. You can use an awning when on the hook. I made a sun awning from a white canvas painters tarp that worked out great and looked very professional. All you need to do is buy a tarp at Home depot and wash the tarp once to remove the starch. apply two cans of scotch guard for waterproofing. I installed grommet holes and a D ring for the main halyard. When I sold the boat the awning went with it. I now have a Catalina 36.
I owned a Catalina 27 for 12 years and cutting the main will kill the boat speed. I am also sensitive to the sun. I wear hat and sun Screen. You can use an awning when on the hook. I made a sun awning from a white canvas painters tarp that worked out great and looked very professional. All you need to do is buy a tarp at Home depot and wash the tarp once to remove the starch. apply two cans of scotch guard for waterproofing. I installed grommet holes and a D ring for the main halyard. When I sold the boat the awning went with it. I now have a Catalina 36.
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PJ Walchenbach
Cut not your main
Lizzy: I suspect you will find sailing with a bimini supported by anything other than stout stainless steel tubing frustrating. This kind of bimini installation is both expensive and semi-permanent. Is that really what you want? Also, many biminis will become uncomfortably unpredictable in apparent winds over 12 knots. Yes, a strong bimini can be constructed to withstand much higher winds, but you will find that the bimini is really practical only while on the hook (or at the dock). So, build yourself a bimini that will sit on top of your boom. The tarp can be made of any of a variety of fabrics. Generally speaking, you will be happier longer if you use a high and more expensive grade of fabric—sunbrella comes to mind. I made mine and (trust me on this one) you can make yours. Support the tarp with three 1" pvc pipes. Two pipes rest on the boom and one is fastened to the backstay. I simply sewed sleeves for the pipes to sit in on the underneath side of the tarp. If you hold your boom up with a toping lift or main halyard, then sew a small hole in the tarp for the halyard to pass through. Attach a line at the end of each pipe to tie the tarp down to the life lines or toe rail. When it is time to pull up the anchor, role the whole thing up and tie it down it on the deck or cabin top. If you want more information or have questions, email me at: pjwalch@sprynet.com
Lizzy: I suspect you will find sailing with a bimini supported by anything other than stout stainless steel tubing frustrating. This kind of bimini installation is both expensive and semi-permanent. Is that really what you want? Also, many biminis will become uncomfortably unpredictable in apparent winds over 12 knots. Yes, a strong bimini can be constructed to withstand much higher winds, but you will find that the bimini is really practical only while on the hook (or at the dock). So, build yourself a bimini that will sit on top of your boom. The tarp can be made of any of a variety of fabrics. Generally speaking, you will be happier longer if you use a high and more expensive grade of fabric—sunbrella comes to mind. I made mine and (trust me on this one) you can make yours. Support the tarp with three 1" pvc pipes. Two pipes rest on the boom and one is fastened to the backstay. I simply sewed sleeves for the pipes to sit in on the underneath side of the tarp. If you hold your boom up with a toping lift or main halyard, then sew a small hole in the tarp for the halyard to pass through. Attach a line at the end of each pipe to tie the tarp down to the life lines or toe rail. When it is time to pull up the anchor, role the whole thing up and tie it down it on the deck or cabin top. If you want more information or have questions, email me at: pjwalch@sprynet.com
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Sean
Shade
I also have a '77 Cat 27, and I am considering the same problems. However, the traveler for my main runs across the aft seats, also impacting any bimini construction. Has anybody moved their traveler to the top of the companionway? Does this affect performance? If I am mainly a cruiser will removing the traveler and tieing into my aftstay (I have seen c25's without travelers) totally destroy my downwind performance? Thanks!
I also have a '77 Cat 27, and I am considering the same problems. However, the traveler for my main runs across the aft seats, also impacting any bimini construction. Has anybody moved their traveler to the top of the companionway? Does this affect performance? If I am mainly a cruiser will removing the traveler and tieing into my aftstay (I have seen c25's without travelers) totally destroy my downwind performance? Thanks!
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Sean
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Bruce Harkness
Bimini
I have a 1978 27 with the stock traveler at the rear of the cockpit and have a Bimini that came with the boat. No issues with sail clearance. I'd be happy to share dimensions etc. if you like. bharkness@valpsar.com
I have a 1978 27 with the stock traveler at the rear of the cockpit and have a Bimini that came with the boat. No issues with sail clearance. I'd be happy to share dimensions etc. if you like. bharkness@valpsar.com
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