This accursed bimini top

[zpeteman]

Bought an 84 Mac 25 about a month ago and just got it in the water this weekend. Love the boat. One of the things I was happy about when I bought it was that it had a bimini top on it. Now, after sailing it for 2 days, I'm ready to rip the darn thing off and stomp on it.

The first issue is that it's mounted on the cockpit coaming about 3 inches aft of the winches. That means that the winches are almost impossible to use, and you can't cleat off the jib sheet easily because the bimini mount is between the winch and the cleat.

Problem two: When the bimini is up, the boom sits on it. Ridiculous.

Problem three: When the bimini is down, it either leans back against the aft cockpit rail and therefore gets in the way of the mainsheet rigging (pins it against the rail), or it leans forward and is therefore blocking the winches altogether as well as preventing access to the cabin.

Basically there is nowhere, up or down, that this thing is not in the way. Maybe the previous owner only used it when anchored. I don't know. But if that's the case, how the heck did he sail it when it was down?

So I'm interested in hearing from others who have a bimini. Where did you mount it? How do you manage it when it's down? Do you top-up the mast to use it? I'd really like to have the use of the thing, but as it is right now, I'm about to toss it in the garbage.

 

[finding41]

Yea... I have a bimini top in my shed. The next place it will be is for sale on line.
I have SPF 60 sunblock and a nice wide brim hat now. (Keep an extra hat on board as they blow off at the most inappropriate times. Making retrieval imposable.)
Enjoy the new boat!
Welcome to the site too.
You can almost tell from the photo that my hat is in my right pocket. I'm wearing SPF 60. I call it "liquid hat".

 

[centerline]

its possible that the boat never sailed with the bimini installed.... I have found there are many people who own sailboats, but the sailing part isnt on their list of "things to do".... but they are happy to motor around and anchor out, or sit at the dock and enjoy their boat and visit with their neighbor....
there is a way to mount the proper bimini to make it all work together, and there is a high possibility that there is a way to do some minor rearranging of the deck fittings to make the one you have work....
and it can be cut down a couple of inches so the boom clears it, but for most of us, we like the standing room in the cockpit and a bimini would just be in the way.

when on the hook and the sun is beating down, we raise the boom on the topping lift and spread the boom tent over it. we have standing headroom and cover. we have also used it in rainy weather when there is absolutely no wind but just drizzling rain.... and we can motor along with the poptop up and everything stays dry....

 

[Mike B1026]

I can't speak for the Mac25 but it sounds like there may be a few things wrong for that setup. For one, it sounds like it's mounted in the wrong spot. (winch issue)
Does the boom drag on it, when the sail is hoisted? My boom just barely touched the bimini when the sail is down, otherwise it's ok. If you sail is blown out that may be another reason the boom is too low.

I would go look at some pictures of other 25's and see how their's are mounted.
Only an idiot would sail down here without a bimini.
Good luck!

 

[StinkBug]

All the reasons you mentioned are why I built my own bimini top. I've yet to see one one a Mac that doesn't get in the way at some point, and that really works well while sailing. I shall soon see if I have all those problems solved for myself.

Take a look at the thread I posted a few days ago.
http://forums.macgregor.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=155420

 

[timebandit]

I know this might sound silly but is there any chance thar you might have the thing on backwards??

 

[MrBill_FLL]

any pics of your setup you can post?

I think some track will fix the problem... sumner has a decent setup you could copy...

 

[caguy]

Here are a few pictures of the setup I used. I rarely used it while under sail, just too confining, though it worked ok.
The adjustable supports are on a 18" track. I don't think it would have interfered with the stock main sheets, and it definitely did not interfere with the companionway traveler.
I did not use the winch and cleats, instead I made up some swivel fairleads with cam cleats that worked well. They too were mounted on 2' tracks.
As suggested I also used a boom tent when anchored or moored. Much less confining an effective.

My split back stay was replaced with an adjustable backstay mounted to the stern rail.

Hope pictures help.

 

[zpeteman]

Nice to see how you've got it set up. I'll get some pics of mine next week some time. I think for the moment I may end up just removing it altogether until I can get the rigging set the way I like it. Then I'll figure out the best way to play the bimini around the rigging.

 

[THECUSCUS]

This is how I mounted my Bimini on my V25. I think you have the right idea, set your running rigging how it works best for you, then fit the Bimini around it all.

 

[jenquay]

I added a 4' Bimini in August. It was hard to find a smaller one but located one on eBay for $76 new. My boom is also 1' shorter than it should be. It's not the original. The Bimini overhangs the stern a little and the boom ends 1-1/2" forward of the Bimini. Mine is also quite low, only 34" high, which means it doesn't have to be very deep either. It is mounted further back as well.

 

[trainmanjess]

hello

I too have a Bimini I added to my Mac25.... I fitted it back next to the stern pulpit so at to be out of the way of all my hardware and running rigging... when I have mine up it stops just short of the cabin doors, and lets the mainsheet work on the traveler without interference... and it goes all the way back to the rear of the cockpit... as mentioned earlier, I too like to stand a lot when i am sailing, so I tend to leave it down... I use it mostly when I am stopped at anchor or tied up to the dock, when I am relaxing or entertaining... here are some pictures of my setup...

sincerely
Jess

 

[nosnebjim]

I noodled this same issue for months for my 86. Last summer was brutal out in the sun. I made a rear riser out of 2x2 aluminum and mounted it to the rear railing using s.s. u bolts. I then reinforced the railing mounts from underneath using aluminum plate drilled to match the mounting holes. Basically sandwiching the deck. The upside down u shaped riser holds my main sheet and a rerouted back stay. Adjusting the main sheet is simple from either side of the chick pit. I also mounted a solar panel to the top. I will post some pictures as soon as I can. The bimini can be up for sailing. I attached the mounting legs to slides on the sides similar to what Sumner did.

 

[justsomeguy]

Looking forward to those photos, Mr. Benson.

 

[nosnebjim]

I stopped by the boat yesterday and too a couple of pictures. The track running horizontally midway up is the mainsheet traveler. Works very well. Mainsheet line comes down behind the bimini when it is up and doesn't run into it. I also raised the boom 4" on the mast. This allows us to sail with the pop top up and the Bimini without it hitting. Still get a tight main sail. If we are in heavier winds I usually lower the pop top. We are into relaxing cruising mostly.

 

[Piotr]

All of this decided for me NOT to add a bimini. My son has epilepsy and the drugs he is taking cause him to overheat easily, so we seriously considered it. However, after looking at measuring it for a long time, we decided that a) we'll all feel claustrophobic if it's up while we sail, and b) there is no way to install it so it's not always in the way - stowed or opened. As a compromise, I bought an anchor shade from West Marine for when we are on the hook or at the dock, and on the hot days with little wind we stop, drop the sails, and take a dip to cool off. Worked like a charm so far.

 

[justsomeguy]

I stopped by the boat yesterday and too a couple of pictures. The track running horizontally midway up is the mainsheet traveler. Works very well. Mainsheet line comes down behind the bimini when it is up and doesn't run into it. I also raised the boom 4" on the mast. This allows us to sail with the pop top up and the Bimini without it hitting. Still get a tight main sail. If we are in heavier winds I usually lower the pop top. We are into relaxing cruising mostly.

Thanks.

I went with a boom tent during the last outing, and loads of sunscreen when under sail.

Pretty noisy in 25 knot winds!

 

[vizwhiz]

Those're some funky brown clouds out on the horizon! Never seen 'em look like that before!

 

[justsomeguy]

Then the dust came...

 

[MrBill_FLL]

fwiw, I went w a 48" bimini, and its worked well. I can see the sails by going back a bit, and exit forward without much trouble.

but I only need to keep 2 or 3 people in the shade.

not sure you all really need the 5' and 6' wide bimini's since the wider it is the harder to get around..

only thing I would change if I did it over was mount it to the hull joint like trainman jess did. since it does rub the boom when close hauled...


after the Autopilot, its been the best upgrade.