Replace Bimini - 37C (1983)

[tansey]

Hi all, this is my first post here. We (husband and I) own a 37 cutter (1983) and we need to replace the bimini. Is this something that I can buy somewhere premade for our boat or do we have to get it redone as a custom item?

Also, any 37 cutter owners out there have dodgers? Sure would like to have one but my husband doesn't think it would work -- or at the very least would be hard to get into the boat (from the port or starboard side; we don't back boat into slip).

Thanks,
Lisa Bond
Bond's Voyage

 

[Steve Dion]

Lisa:

Most every H37C that I have seen has a dodger. When designing one I suggest that you do a lot of looking around for ideas on material, design and features. One thing that you need in your part of the country is zip out windows. During the summer the heat build up under the dodger can increase the temp drastically and cut down on the air flow.

As far as boarding this is not a problem with just a dodger. Once you add a bimini then there are other issues that you need to address. On our Hunter Vision 36 we have a connector piece that connect the bimini and the dodger. We just zip in/out the connector as needed.

You can also change your boarding arrangement so you place a boarding gate just forward of the most aft stanchion like many other boats. Then if you have a dodger you may want to consider a hand hold for moving fore/aft.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Most non-custom biminis are made with 7/8" aluminum. So long as you get one large enough and with good Sunbrella you should be fine. You can easily cut the tubing to fit. I made my bimini from a Sailrite kit with 7/8" aluminum. Eleven years later the frame and cover are fine.

My dodger is the original that came with the boat, an Island Nautical. They have the patterns for our boats. Entry/exit is not a problem but then mine is smaller than yours would be. My '79 has the mainsheet in the cockpit so the the dodger has to be short. I don't like a dodger and only use it when conditions are bad. Otherwise I would have a new one that matches all the other canvas.

Pictured: my crew on the way to Florida in Dismal Swamp with dodger in normal folded down position. A rare picture with dodger up. Must have rained.

 

[Bill1565]

IMHO, you should look around at other boats and decide together what you want, not copy Ed's or ours. We have a tall bimini ( i'm 6-2) with a tall dodger in front and a transition panel that is only zipped in when we are not sailing. We plan to head north next spring and are looking into adding side and back curtains. Ours was custom made with 7/8" ss tubing

 

[Jim Legere]

Hi there...and welcome!

Our 1983 H37C has both dodger and bimini. We also have a zip-in transition piece that joins the two together and 4 side curtains that can be attached to enclose the entire cockpit. Unlike Ed S, we almost always have the dodger up and use the bimini less frequently up here in blustery and cool Nova Scotia. If we are cruising and it rains, we often use the bimini and side curtains - we call it our "poor man's pilothouse". In truth, it can be a bit awkward getting in/out of the cockpit when all this is in place. No problem with just the dodger. Dodger and bimini w/o the transition piece and side curtains is OK, but there is a knack to it.

Our boat came from the PO with this arrangement, all made of 'motorboat vinyl' that was white on the outside and blue inside but we recently replaced everything but the side curtains with blue Sunbrella, done by a local sailmaker.

BTW, I am the unofficial record keeper of the Hunter 37 Cutter - so if you care to send along HIN (hull #), vessel name, and homeport, I'll add you to the list.

Best wishes,

 

[Johnb]

On San Francisco Bay a dodger is a big asset and really extends the amount of time we go out sailing. We can be sitting in the cockpit in shorts and tee shirts watching the hard core racers in full foulies.

When we had a new one built last year we chose to have grab rails on the sides and along the back edge. We also had it made strong enough to feel confident we could use it for support.

It was built by a local entrepeneur who came to the boat and measured for custom fitting, including having us wind winches etc. It was a bit pricy $3600, but we are very satisfied.

 

[Steve Dion]

John:

I assume that you used Pacific Crest Canvas (formerly Pacific Coast Canvas). That was about the same price that they charged us 4 years ago for our dodger on the HV'36.

One major advantage to their dodgers is that they are self supporting, but they also do NOT fold down very easy if you were like Ed. This is normally not an issue in the SF Bay considering those 50-60 deg. summer sailing days.

 

[sail_4_me]

Good discussion. I also have a 1983 37c. I have a huge "Pram" dodger, and on my last trip up to the North Channel I added a 2nd-hand bimini top that I bought off another Hunter owner, and cut down to size. Looks like crap but it did the job.

A previous owner raised the boom 6 inches, and the large dodger is cavernous inside. It also sticks back too far and is hard to get inside, especially with the two side panels attached. Both side panels are now damaged from abuse.

The add-on bimini was also too large, and over-hangs the back of the boat, but boy did it offer good shade. ( See the picture, I'm 5'10" )

My plan is to modify the dodger stainless and reduce the dodger length by about a third, and also make it rigid, and do something similar for the bimini. If I can't get a canvaser to do a custom job I guess I'll have to redo the whole thing. I have cruising plans, not racing, and fair skin, so protection is important.

Also, get the premum plastic window for the front of the dodger, if you can't see over it. The thicker plastic is actually easier to see through.

Question - is it a crime to change the canvas color to a light tan? I have to do it all, sails, sailcovers and dodger/bimini, and I was looking at a Tartan 3200 this weekend with light canvas. Yes the boat was awesome, but the canvas added $$$$ to the curb appeal.

Colin

 

[emilbec]

I find that when buying canvas for a boat (Dodger and/or Bimini) you have to have it fit you! (like clothing). Make it high if you are tall, and low if are not. A good canvas maker will work with you to do this and you will be more pleased than buying something "off the shelf." That said, Sailrite provide kits for the handy and skilled.