Looking to add a bimini to 1985 Oday 35. Does anyone have any experience doing this. Looking for sizing, structure recommendations
Oday 35 Adding Bimini
- Thread starter lord byron
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I have installed biminis on every one of my saill and power boats....good investment. This sailor added one to an O'Day 35 looks like aft of the end of the boom 1985 O'day 35 sailboat for sale in New York (sailboatlistings.com). See this article for sizing How to Measure Bimini Top Dimensions - Covercraft. Recommend stainless steel frame since it is stronger especially at the connecting fittings....aluminum will oxidize and pit wherever it is exposed to elements and sunbrella canvas. You can measure, fabricate and install one yourself with DIY kits DIY Bimini Kits, Make Your Own Bimini (sailrite.com), buy one on-line from a number of suppliers and install it yourself or have your local canavas shop measure, fabricate and install it.
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This is mine;
It has been installed for 10 years now. While the dodger is faded, the Bimini looks like new (because I keep it rolled up and covered when not in use). It is on a single support, aft of the backstay. When I want to deploy it, I unroll it, and snap/zipper it to the dodger.
It has been installed for 10 years now. While the dodger is faded, the Bimini looks like new (because I keep it rolled up and covered when not in use). It is on a single support, aft of the backstay. When I want to deploy it, I unroll it, and snap/zipper it to the dodger.
Whew! That is a really nice set up! I'm guessing you had a professional set this up for you. If so can you refer me to them please.
I had one made by a canvas shop at my marina. It was expensive at $4,500 and I waited almost a year for it. He almost followed my instructions. I have a couple of suggestions. Make it as tall as possible, say, 7 feet above the cockpit floor. This will give you a clear view of the horizon even when slightly heeled. Make it as wide as possible. Try to have it generally follow the toe rail. This will result in an Isosolese trapezoid shape. Make it reach behind the cockpit as far as possible. I have seen many biminis that fail to shade the helmsman because they do not reach far enough back. Of course, you must not interfere with your boom. I really enjoy being in the shade and so does my poodle, good luck.
The shop, Mobile Marine Canvas from Harpswell, ME, seems to be out of business. I reached out to them last season to have the Strataglass dodger windows replaced; and received no reply. However, I believe that any experienced canvas maker could replicate it. This is not a DIY project.
The owner carefully measured and patterned the cockpit and cabintop of my boat. He then built a frame for both the dodger and bimini, and built the dodger and bimini to fit. All of this took place over the winter of 2011/2012. In the spring of 2012, he returned to the boat to install, and everything fit beautifully. He took the bimini back with him, however, because he wasn't happy with the fit. I also asked him to install a window in the bimini, so that I could see the mainsail trim when the bimini is deployed. He mailed it back to me after making these adjustments.