I am looking for ideas/suggestions for a homebrew sun awning system to cover my cockpit. I have a hunter 25.5 and I am looking for something that can be put up quickly and easily (like if I anchor for a lazy afternoon of naps in a cove.) I had an idea of using an extra "slider" on the mast (ie putting one extra on top.) and using that to clip one end of the awning into to hual it up to maybe 8 feet or whatever works to allow us to move around in relative comfort. There would have to be a slit in it to get around the topping lift. The rest I haven't worked out yet. Anyone work out their own solutions? Thanks, Jeremy
Homemade Sun Awning Ideas?
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Homemade Awning
There was an article in Cruising World (April 2005) in which Lyn Reynolds tells how to makea non-rigid Bimini for about $20. If you cant get the article I'll email it to you.
There was an article in Cruising World (April 2005) in which Lyn Reynolds tells how to makea non-rigid Bimini for about $20. If you cant get the article I'll email it to you.
Dock....
I see the article you are talking about "Getting Rid of the Rods", but I can't view it. If you can email it to me jarntz at gmail.com. Thanks, Jeremy
I see the article you are talking about "Getting Rid of the Rods", but I can't view it. If you can email it to me jarntz at gmail.com. Thanks, Jeremy
sun awning
joe; when in Mexico a few years ago, I needed to add to an existing bimini and used a painter's drop cloth bought from a hardware store. took it to a canvas shop and had grommets set in around the edges then threw it over the boom and tied it to the lifelines. worked great.
joe; when in Mexico a few years ago, I needed to add to an existing bimini and used a painter's drop cloth bought from a hardware store. took it to a canvas shop and had grommets set in around the edges then threw it over the boom and tied it to the lifelines. worked great.
Ross...
The only problem with that is my boom doesn't over much of my cockpit. Shading the cockpit is my main concern. Thanks! -- Jeremy
The only problem with that is my boom doesn't over much of my cockpit. Shading the cockpit is my main concern. Thanks! -- Jeremy
maybe there is some confusion...
Maybe I am confusing everyone in the fact that I am calling it an awning. Really what I want (I guess) is a Bimini that is only up when I am anchored. Dock I am really interested in reading that article you suggested. Thanks, Jeremy
Maybe I am confusing everyone in the fact that I am calling it an awning. Really what I want (I guess) is a Bimini that is only up when I am anchored. Dock I am really interested in reading that article you suggested. Thanks, Jeremy
I made an awning
That is battened fore and aft and streched from side to side with fiberglass bows and supported at the corners with four sticks and and tied down so it won't blow away. I forget that most booms are shorter thjat my 14 foot monster.
That is battened fore and aft and streched from side to side with fiberglass bows and supported at the corners with four sticks and and tied down so it won't blow away. I forget that most booms are shorter thjat my 14 foot monster.
Mine
I have an awning on my 25.5 that works fairly well. It is made of sunbrella and has aluminum tubes fore and aft that fit into a sewn fold. The tubes are in sections like tent poles and I suspect fiberglass tent poles would work fairly well if they were heavy enough to support the eight of the canvas. The tubes end in small pockets at the corners to hold the tubes in place. The aft edge of the canvas is split to make room for the backstay and allows the canvas to extend the shaded portion of the cockpit some. There are ties to the front which tie around the mast. I use some thin lines at each corner to attach each corner to a part of the boat to keep the thing in place. The stearn tube ends up behind the backstay to hold it in place front to back. I had the awning made so the forward tension from the ties around the mast and the corner tie downs are all that is needed to keep the rear tube in place. The whole contraption (except the part that extends to the backstay) rests on top of the mast when it is in place and is kept below rolled inside a relatively small cover when not in use. Since the boom on a 25.5 is rather low, I decided not to get a bimini. Just not enough head room. The awning is fine on anchor or dock and I have not found it difficult to put up or take down.
I have an awning on my 25.5 that works fairly well. It is made of sunbrella and has aluminum tubes fore and aft that fit into a sewn fold. The tubes are in sections like tent poles and I suspect fiberglass tent poles would work fairly well if they were heavy enough to support the eight of the canvas. The tubes end in small pockets at the corners to hold the tubes in place. The aft edge of the canvas is split to make room for the backstay and allows the canvas to extend the shaded portion of the cockpit some. There are ties to the front which tie around the mast. I use some thin lines at each corner to attach each corner to a part of the boat to keep the thing in place. The stearn tube ends up behind the backstay to hold it in place front to back. I had the awning made so the forward tension from the ties around the mast and the corner tie downs are all that is needed to keep the rear tube in place. The whole contraption (except the part that extends to the backstay) rests on top of the mast when it is in place and is kept below rolled inside a relatively small cover when not in use. Since the boom on a 25.5 is rather low, I decided not to get a bimini. Just not enough head room. The awning is fine on anchor or dock and I have not found it difficult to put up or take down.
Why not a Bimini
When I bought my H22 the Bimini wasn't a selling point on the boat. I thought that it was nice that it had one, but I never knew how much I would use it. Sailing on the Potomac River and Chesepeake Bay during the summer it is an absolute must! I don't know how I would get along without one now. Mine is pretty easy to set up and take down also. Why now just put a Bimini on the boat and put it up when you don't want it.
When I bought my H22 the Bimini wasn't a selling point on the boat. I thought that it was nice that it had one, but I never knew how much I would use it. Sailing on the Potomac River and Chesepeake Bay during the summer it is an absolute must! I don't know how I would get along without one now. Mine is pretty easy to set up and take down also. Why now just put a Bimini on the boat and put it up when you don't want it.
Sorry...don't have that good of a pic
Don't have that good of a pic of it from the side. It stops just before where the boom begins. It allows for shade for the helmsman but you can see the sails easily. Here is a pic of it up.
Don't have that good of a pic of it from the side. It stops just before where the boom begins. It allows for shade for the helmsman but you can see the sails easily. Here is a pic of it up.
Here is my boom tent
Please note it was not tuned . I was expecting company so I let the boom tent fly near the cockpit. It is Sunbrella with commercial 1/2" fiberglass awning rods to hold the shape. Nice thing is you set the shape and the fiberglass rods compensate for the wind. I sewed this on my wifes Singer from the 60's. I bought a new TuffSew Zigzag machine to sew the main sail I am planning. r.w.landau
Please note it was not tuned . I was expecting company so I let the boom tent fly near the cockpit. It is Sunbrella with commercial 1/2" fiberglass awning rods to hold the shape. Nice thing is you set the shape and the fiberglass rods compensate for the wind. I sewed this on my wifes Singer from the 60's. I bought a new TuffSew Zigzag machine to sew the main sail I am planning. r.w.landau
Bimini Sun Awning Mosquito Netting O'Day 240
I've made two Sun Awnings for my O'Day 240. One mounts below the boom and is used while sailing. The other is larger and is used if at dock or at anchor for more than a day, or so. Both use a pole behind the backstay and a forward pole supported by lines tied to the shrouds. (Some times the lines to the shrouds interfere a little bit with the main sheet when on a run, but it's not a big deal.) Smaller lines from the ends of the pole tie, and lines from side flaps on the awning(s), to lifelines, rear pulpit, or whatever, to stablize it.[I believe that this system is similar to the one described earlier by "Bill."] I've also made a mosquito netting that can be hung under either of the sun awnings. It creates a whole "upstairs" feel to the boat/cockpit. Neat! (The composit photo should show all)
I've made two Sun Awnings for my O'Day 240. One mounts below the boom and is used while sailing. The other is larger and is used if at dock or at anchor for more than a day, or so. Both use a pole behind the backstay and a forward pole supported by lines tied to the shrouds. (Some times the lines to the shrouds interfere a little bit with the main sheet when on a run, but it's not a big deal.) Smaller lines from the ends of the pole tie, and lines from side flaps on the awning(s), to lifelines, rear pulpit, or whatever, to stablize it.[I believe that this system is similar to the one described earlier by "Bill."] I've also made a mosquito netting that can be hung under either of the sun awnings. It creates a whole "upstairs" feel to the boat/cockpit. Neat! (The composit photo should show all)
Do you already have a dodger?
We have a canapy over the cockpit. Easy to make. It is a almost square piece of Sunbrella. One edge is zippered to the aft edge of the dodger, the opposite edge is stretched to the backstay. We have a split backstay, so we tie the 2 aft corners of the canapy to the 2 backstays. We also have 2 side curtains. We roll it up when not needed, and drop it down when raining sideways, or just want more privacy. When the curtains are down, we tie them off to the life lines. This configuration does not require any additional hardware installed on the boat, or any additional frames. Very sturdy, and can be easily stowed. We even use it when underway, but remove it when docking in order to have a better visibility.
We have a canapy over the cockpit. Easy to make. It is a almost square piece of Sunbrella. One edge is zippered to the aft edge of the dodger, the opposite edge is stretched to the backstay. We have a split backstay, so we tie the 2 aft corners of the canapy to the 2 backstays. We also have 2 side curtains. We roll it up when not needed, and drop it down when raining sideways, or just want more privacy. When the curtains are down, we tie them off to the life lines. This configuration does not require any additional hardware installed on the boat, or any additional frames. Very sturdy, and can be easily stowed. We even use it when underway, but remove it when docking in order to have a better visibility.
I found this...
...on a great Catalina site. It's truly a homemade bimini, but fairly small and easy to manipulate. I'm hoping to do something similar this spring.
...on a great Catalina site. It's truly a homemade bimini, but fairly small and easy to manipulate. I'm hoping to do something similar this spring.
No Dodger...
Nope we don't have a dodger and I really don't want to add a Bimini. Our boom is too low for a Bimini and the boom doesn't cover much of the cockpit. I guess what I need to do is find a way to rig a pole on the transum. Then I can use the mast to make an A-Frame type tent that would go up quick. Thanks, Jeremy
Nope we don't have a dodger and I really don't want to add a Bimini. Our boom is too low for a Bimini and the boom doesn't cover much of the cockpit. I guess what I need to do is find a way to rig a pole on the transum. Then I can use the mast to make an A-Frame type tent that would go up quick. Thanks, Jeremy
Get the color right
If you are sailing in hot weather go for white. If you go with a dark color you will find a significant increase in temp under the bimini. It is nice for frost-bite sailing though.
If you are sailing in hot weather go for white. If you go with a dark color you will find a significant increase in temp under the bimini. It is nice for frost-bite sailing though.
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