I need a Bimini top for my O'Day 27 to protect me from both foul winter weather and hot summer sun. Where can I get a good one for a decent price? Names and phone numbers if possible. What materials should I consider? Are the Stainless Steel poles worth the cost? Are they necessary? How much of the Companionway should I cover? Fair Winds
- Status
Cheap Bimini!
You can order an custom made bimini or you can purchase a "blue tarp" at your local discount store. Buy one that is the length of your boom and wide enought to span the cockpit. Tie the center front of the tarp to the mast and the front corners to the mast stays. Use an telescoping boat pole laid across the top of the rear end of the boom, attach the rear corners of the tarp to the ends of the pole and "drop" lines from the ends of the pole to the respective rear corners of the cockpit then secure the center of the pole to rear of the boom. The total cost of my "bimini" was less than $5.00! Good Luck
You can order an custom made bimini or you can purchase a "blue tarp" at your local discount store. Buy one that is the length of your boom and wide enought to span the cockpit. Tie the center front of the tarp to the mast and the front corners to the mast stays. Use an telescoping boat pole laid across the top of the rear end of the boom, attach the rear corners of the tarp to the ends of the pole and "drop" lines from the ends of the pole to the respective rear corners of the cockpit then secure the center of the pole to rear of the boom. The total cost of my "bimini" was less than $5.00! Good Luck
bimini recommendation
I recently bought a bimini for my Oday 25'. West Marine (Taylor made) has some relatively inexpensive (`$200 ) biminis, however a bit of caution. Check the positioning of the bimini as I've had to cut the top to modify it due to the backstay. This bimini has a single point pivot on the cockpit. I have seen biminis that pivot on a track that would allow for better fore and aft postioning. Steve!
I recently bought a bimini for my Oday 25'. West Marine (Taylor made) has some relatively inexpensive (`$200 ) biminis, however a bit of caution. Check the positioning of the bimini as I've had to cut the top to modify it due to the backstay. This bimini has a single point pivot on the cockpit. I have seen biminis that pivot on a track that would allow for better fore and aft postioning. Steve!
SailRite
You can build your own, "REAL," bimini very inexpensively from Sailrite. They have a great CD that walks you through the entire job and depending on your shopping skills, materials can be very cheap. Since learning about Sailrite I build all my own canvas although I've never sewn anything before. It's much easier than you'd think. As for SS versus Aluminum, that's a judgement call. For local waters, etc. aluminum is fine. If you want to do offshore voyaging, stainless is the only way to go. All of this is explained in the CD (or video). Good Luck Ron/KA5HZV
You can build your own, "REAL," bimini very inexpensively from Sailrite. They have a great CD that walks you through the entire job and depending on your shopping skills, materials can be very cheap. Since learning about Sailrite I build all my own canvas although I've never sewn anything before. It's much easier than you'd think. As for SS versus Aluminum, that's a judgement call. For local waters, etc. aluminum is fine. If you want to do offshore voyaging, stainless is the only way to go. All of this is explained in the CD (or video). Good Luck Ron/KA5HZV
Bimini
John; Here's something I did while in the hot sun of Mexico. I have an existing bimini, but it was much too small for the task, so I bought a painters drop cloth from a hardware store and took it to a canvas shop and had grommets set into the edges. A painters cloth is treated to shed water and they come in a variety of sizes that could be slung over the boom. PVC pipes make for a cheap from, or you could use varnished wooden dowels tied to the lifelines for a slightly more easthetic look, but whatever you, DO NOT USE A BLUE TARP! THEY ARE TACKY! NO SELF-RESPECTING SAILOR WILL USE A BLUE TARP ON HIS SAILBOAT, NO MATTER HOW SMALL THE VESSEL OR CHEAP THE TARP! ANYONE WHO USES A BLUE TARP PROBABLY SAILS WITH HIS FENDERS DOWN! There, I've had my say. Larry W.
John; Here's something I did while in the hot sun of Mexico. I have an existing bimini, but it was much too small for the task, so I bought a painters drop cloth from a hardware store and took it to a canvas shop and had grommets set into the edges. A painters cloth is treated to shed water and they come in a variety of sizes that could be slung over the boom. PVC pipes make for a cheap from, or you could use varnished wooden dowels tied to the lifelines for a slightly more easthetic look, but whatever you, DO NOT USE A BLUE TARP! THEY ARE TACKY! NO SELF-RESPECTING SAILOR WILL USE A BLUE TARP ON HIS SAILBOAT, NO MATTER HOW SMALL THE VESSEL OR CHEAP THE TARP! ANYONE WHO USES A BLUE TARP PROBABLY SAILS WITH HIS FENDERS DOWN! There, I've had my say. Larry W.
LOL!
Now I know my problem, I have no self-respect!! Either that or I'm just really cheap. Yup, I use the blue tarp - well, actually it's grey. I guess my only saving grace is that I don't use it very often!
LaDonna
Now I know my problem, I have no self-respect!! Either that or I'm just really cheap. Yup, I use the blue tarp - well, actually it's grey. I guess my only saving grace is that I don't use it very often!
LaDonnaSo John, what are you . . . .
going to do based on the advice here? Do you need just a bimini or a dodger as well(you mentioned winter weather)? Like Ron I made my bimini from a Sailrite kit. Gave me the flexibility to cut the tubing and canvas for the proper clearances. My traveler is in front of the companionway and my boom is relatively low. And I wanted no interference with the winches. I have a dodger but would rather get wet than have limited visibility and no wind in my face. So I keep it in a locker. Would probably rethink that in real heavy weather or a storm.
going to do based on the advice here? Do you need just a bimini or a dodger as well(you mentioned winter weather)? Like Ron I made my bimini from a Sailrite kit. Gave me the flexibility to cut the tubing and canvas for the proper clearances. My traveler is in front of the companionway and my boom is relatively low. And I wanted no interference with the winches. I have a dodger but would rather get wet than have limited visibility and no wind in my face. So I keep it in a locker. Would probably rethink that in real heavy weather or a storm.
blue tarp.......
Ladonna, I am with you girl! Except down here in Texas with 100 degree days, I use mine fairly often. When anchored during the summer I typically put the tarp up to provide protection from the sun (for me and my kiddo) and it does a heck of a job keeping the cabin cooler as well. Sorry Larry, but I quit worrying what other people thought about me a long time ago. Hmmmmm.......so you are actually suppose to pull your fenders out of the water when you sail.... just funnin, Sean Austin, TX
Ladonna, I am with you girl! Except down here in Texas with 100 degree days, I use mine fairly often. When anchored during the summer I typically put the tarp up to provide protection from the sun (for me and my kiddo) and it does a heck of a job keeping the cabin cooler as well. Sorry Larry, but I quit worrying what other people thought about me a long time ago. Hmmmmm.......so you are actually suppose to pull your fenders out of the water when you sail.... just funnin, Sean Austin, TX
I'm confused... help me out
I use a white water-resistant cloth as a cockpit canopy. It is laid across the boom, has a split at the rear so that I can tie it behind the backstay, and grommets on the corners and edges which I use to tie it to the stanchions and lifelines. It works well at anchor, but I could never sail with it in position. In what I am reading in the posts about biminis, some are describing cockpit canopies and some are describing what I understand to be a bimini. Isn't a bimini self-supporting with the canopy below the boom? I too have dreamt of an economical way to make a bimini, but all of my ideas have ended in frustration because the canopy interferes with the sail controls unless it is a "conventional" bimini, as seen at the sailmakers or in catalogs. I like the Sailrite suggestion. Thanks to all Tom
I use a white water-resistant cloth as a cockpit canopy. It is laid across the boom, has a split at the rear so that I can tie it behind the backstay, and grommets on the corners and edges which I use to tie it to the stanchions and lifelines. It works well at anchor, but I could never sail with it in position. In what I am reading in the posts about biminis, some are describing cockpit canopies and some are describing what I understand to be a bimini. Isn't a bimini self-supporting with the canopy below the boom? I too have dreamt of an economical way to make a bimini, but all of my ideas have ended in frustration because the canopy interferes with the sail controls unless it is a "conventional" bimini, as seen at the sailmakers or in catalogs. I like the Sailrite suggestion. Thanks to all Tom
definitions
John, you are correct that a bimini has stainless or aluminum bows and is self supporting and is under the main so you can sail with it up (in most cases.) The others are describing cockpit canopies, or in my case I have a boom tent. I bought some matching Sunbrella fabric, sewed it together and lay it over the boom and bungee the ends and corners to the lifelines. I can't sail with it up (unless its headsail only) but I can motor with it up, and it only cost about $100. Someday I'll get a real bimini and/or dodger.
John, you are correct that a bimini has stainless or aluminum bows and is self supporting and is under the main so you can sail with it up (in most cases.) The others are describing cockpit canopies, or in my case I have a boom tent. I bought some matching Sunbrella fabric, sewed it together and lay it over the boom and bungee the ends and corners to the lifelines. I can't sail with it up (unless its headsail only) but I can motor with it up, and it only cost about $100. Someday I'll get a real bimini and/or dodger.
- Status