Rail Mounted Bimini Recommendation

[primetime]

Hi,

I just purchased a 1980 Catalina 30 and I'd like to purchase a stern rail mounted bimini.

They are pretty expensive so I'm looking for any advice or experiences you could share before I go ahead and purchase one.

Thanks,
Alex K.

 

[Steve Dion]

Check here with SBO!

 

[jtm]

You could go to a brokerage site or yachtworld and input your make/model and check out the boat photos that may have their biminis set up and take some ideas and screenshots from that.

That's what I did for my H28.5. I also reviewed the gallery photos for my model on this site and related model usergroup sites. I contacted some owners to ask them what they liked or would differently on their current setup- eg- mastop window, S/S and diameters of bows, (Boom) abrasion patch on forward bow, zippered interleaf to dodger and any strut/strap support.. All were very helpful- even telling me who made theirs - as they already had the pattern/measurements.

Note that on some boat models you may need to consider cutting a wedge in the mainsail foot to lift the boom so the bimini can fit under it. Some people had short biminis that were more like helmsmen seat "bonnets" to avoid going under the boom & cutting a mainsail - but they felt they didn't offer enough shade for all the expense.