I am thinking about having a local welder make me a hard bimini. I would like it to be strong enough to stand on to look out for coral heads etc. I would also like to have a couple of dinghy davits welded to it such that they swing out as needed. I also want to mount a solar panel and possibly radar to the structure. Fianlly I'd like it to be able to catch rainwater to pipe to the water tanks. Anyone of you ever seen or made such a beast??? If so how did it work??? Design ideals most appreciated.
Hard Bimini???
- Thread starter MoonSailer
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Permanent hard bimini?
It will be expensive. You would need at least four supports of at least two inch stainless. Although I did sail on a Morgan CC44 that had four painted steel supports, I think three inch tubing. That boat had a molded fiberglass cover and included the boom crutch. With four supports that will hold your weight they will have to be well positioned. So there is the problem of sheet and winch handle clearances. To save money I would position the back supports so that I could use a production set of davits, probably from Garhauer. I wonder if you could make do with one of those fiberglass tops like we see on the larger golf carts? Then you could stretch over a piece of sunbrella that matched your other canvas and still have that soft top look. Might be a nickel's worth of ideas there.
Love to see the end result.
It will be expensive. You would need at least four supports of at least two inch stainless. Although I did sail on a Morgan CC44 that had four painted steel supports, I think three inch tubing. That boat had a molded fiberglass cover and included the boom crutch. With four supports that will hold your weight they will have to be well positioned. So there is the problem of sheet and winch handle clearances. To save money I would position the back supports so that I could use a production set of davits, probably from Garhauer. I wonder if you could make do with one of those fiberglass tops like we see on the larger golf carts? Then you could stretch over a piece of sunbrella that matched your other canvas and still have that soft top look. Might be a nickel's worth of ideas there.
Love to see the end result.Good thought
I'd really like to see alot of things that do double duty to cut down on the junkyard look. Sailing should appear graceful in my mind anyway. Multifunction bimini is a good place to start. Clamshell transom extension to store the dingy and fuel jugs would be nice too.
I'd really like to see alot of things that do double duty to cut down on the junkyard look. Sailing should appear graceful in my mind anyway. Multifunction bimini is a good place to start. Clamshell transom extension to store the dingy and fuel jugs would be nice too.
Gee, moonsailer, my cousin Earl made one years ago.
You could stand on it if you did not mind it buckling here and there. Rain water ran down to the cockpit where is was easily collected. He painted it black as he had some leftover paint from painting his wheels; on hot sunny days it gave out this Sauna effect. He had no radar but did get hot water from his solar panel. He added some hooks to hang the inner tube from them. Knowing him he probably spent $30 on it ( being a business man he is kind of loose with his money). "Big Earl's Flower Shop" you know. I think he used the good stuff like galvanized pipes and a camper top. It was sure pretty.
You could stand on it if you did not mind it buckling here and there. Rain water ran down to the cockpit where is was easily collected. He painted it black as he had some leftover paint from painting his wheels; on hot sunny days it gave out this Sauna effect. He had no radar but did get hot water from his solar panel. He added some hooks to hang the inner tube from them. Knowing him he probably spent $30 on it ( being a business man he is kind of loose with his money). "Big Earl's Flower Shop" you know. I think he used the good stuff like galvanized pipes and a camper top. It was sure pretty.
Good idea
Thats a good idea, even though I am not a big fan of hard biminis. Particularly like the idea of using it to catch rain water. Have you considered building something like the arch on the newer hunters. They are pretty good looking, and appear to be super strong.
Thats a good idea, even though I am not a big fan of hard biminis. Particularly like the idea of using it to catch rain water. Have you considered building something like the arch on the newer hunters. They are pretty good looking, and appear to be super strong.
Yep. I hear ya
All soiar wires and all water hoses run out of sight through the supports. Maybe a flat solar tank on top that fills itself before sending excess to storage tanks. A shower head mounted over head with a little pull cord for when you want a quick warm rinse off.Welded on rod and flag holders. Over head one of those flipdown LCD tv stereo combos so you can watch Americas Cup while at anchor. Just as a conversation piece I would incorporate a beer tapper with hidden line to fridge(no not kidding) Yep,I've thought about a top like that too much.
All soiar wires and all water hoses run out of sight through the supports. Maybe a flat solar tank on top that fills itself before sending excess to storage tanks. A shower head mounted over head with a little pull cord for when you want a quick warm rinse off.Welded on rod and flag holders. Over head one of those flipdown LCD tv stereo combos so you can watch Americas Cup while at anchor. Just as a conversation piece I would incorporate a beer tapper with hidden line to fridge(no not kidding) Yep,I've thought about a top like that too much.
Hard Biminis
I wonder why you don't see many hard biminis. The cloth ones can tear, the stitching comes out, and they only last a number of years. A fiberglass bimini that was properly put on the boat would last a long time and I think that it would be useful. I don't know if I would want one that I could stand on, but mounting solar panels on it would be nice. I don't know about the dingy davits either because of strength. I would like to see a hard bimini, reasonably priced, that would mount similar to an existing cloth bimini, that was rigid enough for small impliments but it could be taken off with not much work. Then again, fiberglass can be heavy so the bimini would be a little heavy. Maybe it could made out of the same material as canoes or kayacks (Crosslink 3). The rigidness could be made from the support poles. It would be best if it was painted white or light gray. It could be paired with a hard dodger also. If it wasn't cost prohibitive, I would want one.
I wonder why you don't see many hard biminis. The cloth ones can tear, the stitching comes out, and they only last a number of years. A fiberglass bimini that was properly put on the boat would last a long time and I think that it would be useful. I don't know if I would want one that I could stand on, but mounting solar panels on it would be nice. I don't know about the dingy davits either because of strength. I would like to see a hard bimini, reasonably priced, that would mount similar to an existing cloth bimini, that was rigid enough for small impliments but it could be taken off with not much work. Then again, fiberglass can be heavy so the bimini would be a little heavy. Maybe it could made out of the same material as canoes or kayacks (Crosslink 3). The rigidness could be made from the support poles. It would be best if it was painted white or light gray. It could be paired with a hard dodger also. If it wasn't cost prohibitive, I would want one.
Hard Biminis
I wonder why you don't see many hard biminis. The cloth ones can tear, the stitching comes out, and they only last a number of years. A fiberglass bimini that was properly put on the boat would last a long time and I think that it would be useful. I don't know if I would want one that I could stand on, but mounting solar panels on it would be nice. I don't know about the dingy davits either because of strength. I would like to see a hard bimini, reasonably priced, that would mount similar to an existing cloth bimini, that was rigid enough for small impliments but it could be taken off with not much work. Then again, fiberglass can be heavy so the bimini would be a little heavy. Maybe it could made out of the same material as canoes or kayacks (Crosslink 3). The rigidness could be made from the support poles. It would be best if it was painted white or light gray. It could be paired with a hard dodger also. If it wasn't cost prohibitive, I would want one.
I wonder why you don't see many hard biminis. The cloth ones can tear, the stitching comes out, and they only last a number of years. A fiberglass bimini that was properly put on the boat would last a long time and I think that it would be useful. I don't know if I would want one that I could stand on, but mounting solar panels on it would be nice. I don't know about the dingy davits either because of strength. I would like to see a hard bimini, reasonably priced, that would mount similar to an existing cloth bimini, that was rigid enough for small impliments but it could be taken off with not much work. Then again, fiberglass can be heavy so the bimini would be a little heavy. Maybe it could made out of the same material as canoes or kayacks (Crosslink 3). The rigidness could be made from the support poles. It would be best if it was painted white or light gray. It could be paired with a hard dodger also. If it wasn't cost prohibitive, I would want one.
I agree with Some Comments
If it isn't done correctly it would look like crap. But face it davits and rubber boats hanging off the back of a boat looks like crap. I have seen several boats with solar panels mounted on their davits. The only boat that I have seen with a hard bimini was a Lord Nelson and he had the rain gathering ideal. He said that he could collect enough water for showers etc and didn't have to go to a marina and buy water as often when cruising in the Bahamas. Hard biminis are fairly common on fishing boats. Usualy they have a rigid heavy frame with some cloth. I am not opposed to cloth . But for collecting water plastic would seem better.
If it isn't done correctly it would look like crap. But face it davits and rubber boats hanging off the back of a boat looks like crap. I have seen several boats with solar panels mounted on their davits. The only boat that I have seen with a hard bimini was a Lord Nelson and he had the rain gathering ideal. He said that he could collect enough water for showers etc and didn't have to go to a marina and buy water as often when cruising in the Bahamas. Hard biminis are fairly common on fishing boats. Usualy they have a rigid heavy frame with some cloth. I am not opposed to cloth . But for collecting water plastic would seem better.
Extra shower water
I bet it would be amazing how much water you could harvest from a hose screwed into the drain plug of a large uncovered dingy hanging on davits in the rain
I bet it would be amazing how much water you could harvest from a hose screwed into the drain plug of a large uncovered dingy hanging on davits in the rain
im not sure what boat we are talking about
The hard top can be really nice, if you build a bullit proof top. and support and cross support to make it strong. The one ed shenck is talking about it about 3 inches thick, has an outside skin foam coreing and an inside skin. It can be done but a lot of boats cost less than the top. If what you build conforms to the lines of the boat it wont be so awkward. As for as riding up there looking for rocks. I dont think you would do that unless the water was flat flat flat. The boom swinging arround up there gives one pause. i guy south of here in tampa built a frame with alum fittings form what looks like playground pipes and elbows. then put a dingy lift, solar pannels and antennas up there. he likes it but it is not too pleasing to the eye.
The hard top can be really nice, if you build a bullit proof top. and support and cross support to make it strong. The one ed shenck is talking about it about 3 inches thick, has an outside skin foam coreing and an inside skin. It can be done but a lot of boats cost less than the top. If what you build conforms to the lines of the boat it wont be so awkward. As for as riding up there looking for rocks. I dont think you would do that unless the water was flat flat flat. The boom swinging arround up there gives one pause. i guy south of here in tampa built a frame with alum fittings form what looks like playground pipes and elbows. then put a dingy lift, solar pannels and antennas up there. he likes it but it is not too pleasing to the eye.
Lance, Allow that a dink is 8 feet long and 4 feet wide
32 Square feet open area. a half inch of rain equals then 16 square foot inches or 1.33 cubic feet at 7.5 gallons per cubic foot and you get almost 10 gallons now you will need a place to put it. ;D
32 Square feet open area. a half inch of rain equals then 16 square foot inches or 1.33 cubic feet at 7.5 gallons per cubic foot and you get almost 10 gallons now you will need a place to put it. ;D
Ross I was just thinking of the dink as a funnel
I wouldnt let it accumulate, I would use hose in drain plug to transfer into boats water tank. In the back of my mind (really its right up front) I dream of soon taking a month or two off and hanging on the hook totally independent of support. Conversations like these just make that fantasy a little closer!
I wouldnt let it accumulate, I would use hose in drain plug to transfer into boats water tank. In the back of my mind (really its right up front) I dream of soon taking a month or two off and hanging on the hook totally independent of support. Conversations like these just make that fantasy a little closer!
I've seen pictures of sail collecters and hear they work
well. As I've done more sailing, I have found that I really like some of the quiet and close to nature experiences I have had. This has increased my interest in the solar and water catching devices. The marinas in Fla. are getting tighter and more formal all the time. Just thinking ahead and learning all I can so I can travel as independently and as much under the radar as possible (like alot of you}. Hope everybody had a good day!
well. As I've done more sailing, I have found that I really like some of the quiet and close to nature experiences I have had. This has increased my interest in the solar and water catching devices. The marinas in Fla. are getting tighter and more formal all the time. Just thinking ahead and learning all I can so I can travel as independently and as much under the radar as possible (like alot of you}. Hope everybody had a good day!
Lance
Ross rarely compliments anyone on a great idea...in words...but if you get a big grin out of him thats usually what is meant... And it was a good idea...He likes the numbers too...His boat is just to small to hang a dink off of....He.Heee.Hee...
Ross rarely compliments anyone on a great idea...in words...but if you get a big grin out of him thats usually what is meant...
And it was a good idea...He likes the numbers too...His boat is just to small to hang a dink off of....He.Heee.Hee...
I totaly get Ross was letting me know that I might have
more water than I bargained for. I also agree with Ross that the forum is alot like a pub. I would even say its a great pub where you can chat, chat real loud or if you want just sit in the corner and hang out and everybody remains friends. At this moment I'm glad Ross and Still Raining are on the next stools! Who's Buying? P.S I just got Bianca to agree to a four day boat camping trip for mid March.
more water than I bargained for. I also agree with Ross that the forum is alot like a pub. I would even say its a great pub where you can chat, chat real loud or if you want just sit in the corner and hang out and everybody remains friends. At this moment I'm glad Ross and Still Raining are on the next stools! Who's Buying? P.S I just got Bianca to agree to a four day boat camping trip for mid March.
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