Validating an idea for my bimini

[Justin_NSA]

We have this great (big) bimini that the POs made. It's 9' long! I'd like to preserve it from the elements but the way the supports are constructed, it is always in a fixed open position. I think with the help of some quick release pins on the fore and aft stanchions I could collapse the bimini fore and aft to the split backstay. My concern is the strataglass window behind the backstays to the rear bow. If I collapse the bimini the 'glass would be folded in half. Will this damage the window? I've been told to keep it flat.
Worse case I guess, I could have a cover made that would cover the major collapsed area in front of the backstays and also cover the 'open' section aft with the window. It would look funky but would spare the canvas.
It would be a huge drag to sail this way so we'd open it every time we sailed. Not ideal but do-able. ANyone familiar with the care and feeding of strataglass?

 

[Justin_NSA]

Here's the best pic I have of the bimini

 

[JRacer]

I use quick release pins on my forward bimini to make it easy to take off when we race. You sure there is no other way to get it to fold that would allow the glass to stay flat? I'll come by and look next time I'm out there. What about a zipper beam to beam to allow the cloth to separate and be stowed differently? Go look at mine. My frames are separate and allow the aft portion to stand alone where my view window is.

 

[Meriachee]

I used thumb screws as fasteners, so the bimini could be folded up against the backstay. They are Taylor Made, and are very common. They're threaded 1/4-20.
StrataGlass will not reward you by being folded, but rolled (not tight) is ok.
https://www.jtsoutdoorfabrics.com/14-Thumb-Screw--Black_p_15872.html

 

[Justin_NSA]

Thanks Schoen. There may some other options. Another brain looking at it might help. We even thought a 'sacrificial' bimini over the bimini would be better than watching this one deteriorate.

 

[Justin_NSA]

I used thumb screws as fasteners, so the bimini could be folded up against the backstay. They are Taylor Made, and are very common. They're threaded 1/4-20.
StrataGlass will not reward you by being folded, but rolled (not tight) is ok.
https://www.jtsoutdoorfabrics.com/14-Thumb-Screw--Black_p_15872.html

More like a bend than a fold but I get it.
My stanchions are thru-bolted. There's no female thread like my old Mac's bimini.

 

[Meriachee]

I used the Gemini collapsible struts on the dodger and the thumbscrews to attach the retainers on the dodger and the bimini, so they could be folded up easily. There will be no more webbing straps. Here it is folded up.
(and the newly installed frame for the dodger, clearly indicating how the sailcover needs shortened, as Sunbrella has no abrasion resistance, this isn't gonna work )

 

[Justin_NSA]

I am concerned about abrasion too. I use straps to lift the sailcover off of the bimini. The was also a concern with a sacrificial cover over the bimini. Fabric and dirt working into the sunbrella.

 

[Meriachee]

The wind will chew it - the stuff is great, but not abrasion resistant at all.

 

[SailormanDan]

I thought Sailrite said not to fold Strataglass, it comes rolled up, so that should be OK if a possibility. When I built my bimini I put a window in. If you can sew, you could look at cutting the Strataglass where it needs to fold and sewing in a strip of canvas to act as a "hinge".
Could you unzip the aft edge from the frame and fold it all up that way? I have a bimini boot that covers my folded up frame & the folded up bimini without having to remove it.
Sailrite sells a kit: http://www.sailrite.com/Bimini-Boot-Kit - there are some photos that might give you some ideas.

 

[Gunni]

A bimini like that will cost no more than $1,400 using the best materials (sunbrella, PTFE threat, YKK zips, and Regalite or Strataglass. You will doff and don twice a year, wash dry and fold, and maybe have to have the window replaced at year 5-7 and some stitching fixed. The bimini will last 10 years for an annual cost of $140. What is your time worth fiddling with setting up and taking down the bimini? Bonus; navy sunbrella is the toughest sunbrella.