Traveling with a 260 Bimini

[Brigg]

I just brought home a new Hunter Bimini for my 260, which sits next to my house with the mast down. I was eager to put it up just to see how it looked and to be sure all the parts were there, when surprise, there is not enough room under the mast with it laying in the crutch. This, then brings me to my problem. Since the mast must be down in the crutch when I trailer the boat, where do I store the Bimini while traveling. It certainly won't fit into my Toyota SUV, it was all I could do to get it home. I'm also fairly sure it's not going into the cabin. Somewhere on deck is the only thing I can think of so far. Any suggestions?Brigg

 

[Pat]

Have Bimini, will travel

Brigg - I have put some hours into trailering with a bimini mounted and I found it best to remove the aft supports then fold it up and lean it forward dropping it over towards the companionway. Then drop your mast onto the crutch as usual. Make sure that the bimini cover is on tight and that it is lashed down well and not resting against any shrouds. Protect it from chafing on other equipment and it should do fine.At the end of the season, I remove it and the boom from the boat. Then I secure the bimini to the top of my truck racks with the two base poles of the bimini resting on the boom and all lashed down well to bring them home for the winter.Pat

 

[Jim Covey]

Bimini will fit in cabin

Brigg,I have an H26 with the Ameriseam bimini and just found out this winter that it will actually fit inside the cabin. I made the mistake of trailering with the bimini touching the mast once for a short distance and caused a small abrasion on the cover (didn't actually penetrate).With the "legs" of the bimini up and a little coaxing it will fit from the port settee to in front of the stove.Jim

 

[Chris Haake]

Bimini

We too put the bimini, without the canvas, forward onto the companion way. Once there, it makes it difficult getting the companion way opened up.

 

[Bill and Nancy Berg]

Bimini folded back

We trailer with the bimini folded back and disconnect the support/braces. It lays down on the stern rail and then we cushion it with old towels and secure it with bungies. It fits with the mast crutch in just fine. We've probably traveled 4,000 miles this way.There are different sizes of biminis. As I recall we got the biggest one. And how far forward/back you mount it will affect your ability to do this.

 

[Tom]

Trailer with bimini in place

I raised the roller location on the mast crutch and added a larger diameter roller. This was done before the bimini was added to allow the mast to roll back and forth without snaging the spreaders on the mast crutch tangs. The added benefit is to be able to lower the mast without removing the bimini. I'm sure I've seen pictures of the H26 with the mast down and the bimini up.I have removed the bimini for winter storage and stored it on the trailer rails, under the boat and cover. I wouldn't travel with it that way, however.Fair winds,Tom