I recently purchased a Vision 32, I think I'm happy with it so far, it's in Florida for the winter and I'm in NJ, haven't seen much of it... Anyway, it lacks a dodger and Bimini and there aren't any listed at the Hunter store site. With the traveler atop the cabin and the boom height I am told it isn't really feasible to have them. yet I have seen other Vision 32's with both. I am interested to know what other owners have done. Thanks, Matt
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J. Hrab
Dodger Bimini
In the photo forum there are several photo of bimini tops pertaining to the Vision-32. Look also in the colum of boats for sale in the different sites, there are always photos of the Visiob-32 for sale and I have always found it very interesting to see the different approaches. I just set up the bimini part on my Vision 32 and my next step is a dodger. Let me know how you make out. sincerely, John Hrab
In the photo forum there are several photo of bimini tops pertaining to the Vision-32. Look also in the colum of boats for sale in the different sites, there are always photos of the Visiob-32 for sale and I have always found it very interesting to see the different approaches. I just set up the bimini part on my Vision 32 and my next step is a dodger. Let me know how you make out. sincerely, John Hrab
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Mike Webster
Very Doable
I've owned my Vision 11 years now, and purchased it a year old while I was on the Chesapeake. It came with a bimini, with standing head room. However, for early spring sailing, I wanted a dodger. I went to my local canvas maker and discussed options with him. For the summer in the Chesapeake, I wanted a dodger I could keep up to keep the sun off, but allow max airflow for the hot days. We designed what the canvas maker called a California dodger. The top was Sunbrella, but all the panels were clear plexiglass and were removable. I was tall enough to stand under while on the top step, but about 6" shorter than the bimini, to allow me to look between them while standing at the wheel. A year or two later I went for a winter sail with a friend who had a complete enclosure. On a sunny day, it could be 30 outside and 60 inside. I had my same canvas maker design and make clear plastic removable sides for the whole cockpit, and a zip in piece to stretch between the bimini and dodger. This has been the most useful purchase I've made to extend my sailing season. Other sailors would come to the docks in the winter to check their boats, and I'd invite them to go sailing. I was rarely turned down, and had many an enjoyable afternoon with new friends enjoying the water. The purist might scoff at this, but we passed several boats over the course of time with sailors all bundled up against the cold, who would invariably go in after a few hours cold to the bone, while we would be out in long sleeve shirts and sail all day. I have to admit, I haven't used the enclosure since moving to Atlanta, but it would be impossible down here in the summer without the bimini and dodger. My advice is to look at a lot of boats and spend some time talking to your local canvas maker before ordering them. You'll only be buying them once, but you'll be using them for a long time.
I've owned my Vision 11 years now, and purchased it a year old while I was on the Chesapeake. It came with a bimini, with standing head room. However, for early spring sailing, I wanted a dodger. I went to my local canvas maker and discussed options with him. For the summer in the Chesapeake, I wanted a dodger I could keep up to keep the sun off, but allow max airflow for the hot days. We designed what the canvas maker called a California dodger. The top was Sunbrella, but all the panels were clear plexiglass and were removable. I was tall enough to stand under while on the top step, but about 6" shorter than the bimini, to allow me to look between them while standing at the wheel. A year or two later I went for a winter sail with a friend who had a complete enclosure. On a sunny day, it could be 30 outside and 60 inside. I had my same canvas maker design and make clear plastic removable sides for the whole cockpit, and a zip in piece to stretch between the bimini and dodger. This has been the most useful purchase I've made to extend my sailing season. Other sailors would come to the docks in the winter to check their boats, and I'd invite them to go sailing. I was rarely turned down, and had many an enjoyable afternoon with new friends enjoying the water. The purist might scoff at this, but we passed several boats over the course of time with sailors all bundled up against the cold, who would invariably go in after a few hours cold to the bone, while we would be out in long sleeve shirts and sail all day. I have to admit, I haven't used the enclosure since moving to Atlanta, but it would be impossible down here in the summer without the bimini and dodger. My advice is to look at a lot of boats and spend some time talking to your local canvas maker before ordering them. You'll only be buying them once, but you'll be using them for a long time.
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Matt Picaro
Looking for pictures now..
I have looked through the archive and seen a few Vision pix but nothing that shows any detail on the dodger/bimini. Mike, have you any pix of your dodger installation? I suspect the bimini just works out the way it does. My concern there was prompted by the guy looking after my Vision , Soufflistic Bliss, voicing concerns about the boom being low. I haven't seen her since August and can't recall the having to duck my 5'8" head to avoid having it removed by a swinging boom. Anyway if there are any pictures about I would be grateful. Thanks for responses, I am quite pleased to have found this forum. I am hoping to get down to do some outfitting and sailing in January. Cheers! Matt
I have looked through the archive and seen a few Vision pix but nothing that shows any detail on the dodger/bimini. Mike, have you any pix of your dodger installation? I suspect the bimini just works out the way it does. My concern there was prompted by the guy looking after my Vision , Soufflistic Bliss, voicing concerns about the boom being low. I haven't seen her since August and can't recall the having to duck my 5'8" head to avoid having it removed by a swinging boom. Anyway if there are any pictures about I would be grateful. Thanks for responses, I am quite pleased to have found this forum. I am hoping to get down to do some outfitting and sailing in January. Cheers! Matt
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Rob Sherrill
Got Both
I have both on my Vision. The original owner put them on and did a nice job. They can actually be put together on mine as he had a piece fabricated that zips onto the doger/bimini. I think it was bought from a supplier. I have all the records and will look it up this weekend. Email me your address and I'll make sure you get the information. I am in the owner director on HOW.
I have both on my Vision. The original owner put them on and did a nice job. They can actually be put together on mine as he had a piece fabricated that zips onto the doger/bimini. I think it was bought from a supplier. I have all the records and will look it up this weekend. Email me your address and I'll make sure you get the information. I am in the owner director on HOW.
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Mike Webster
Boom Height
Hi Matt, I don't currently have any pictures of the dodger setup, but could get some given some time. I won't be back to the boat until New Years Eve. The boom is plenty high on this boat. In dock, with the boom centered and the main sheet pulled tight, the boom is down hard on the bimini. Because of this, I always pull the boom to one side or the other. I take my traveler line and run it thru a stanchion base and back to the boom. I then tie it off to one of the main sheet tie points on the boom, and pull the boom over toward the railing. This line and the cleated mainsheet for a "v" that holds the boom snug, keeping it from swaying back and forth from waves. This prevents it from rubbing on the bimini top as well as stabilizing the boom. When dousing sail, I always tie the boom off like this to keep is stable before going on deck to flake the sail. Much safer in a seaway with this length of boom. When I release the mainsheet to raise sail, the boom rises enough from the spring action on the hard vang to just clear the bimini. This allows me to center the boom while raising the sale. When the sail is up, the leech of the sail raises the back of the boom even further. I have a 6'6" friend that never has to duck when we tack. One of many reasons I love the boat is the safety if the cockpit. I've done a lot of racing where everyone had to duck everytime the boom came across, and I find it very relaxing to not have to worry about it. Two other things I've found helps when you sail this boat. I increase the mainsheet from the 3-1 that came with it, to a 7-1 main sheet arrangement, and put a cam cleat on the mainsheet traveler. I found the 3-1 mainsheet arrangement, with the sheet going back up the boom and back thru several turning blocks to the cockpit to be very inefficient. With the 7-1 mainsheet arrangement, I can trim the sail by hand in any weather. I don't know what year your Vision is, but mine is an 89' model. Starting in 90' they included a power wench to handle raising sail. Two large guys cannot raise the main all the way from the cockpit in my boat. I added a cam cleat at the mast in line with the main halyard, and always raise the main from there. I can always raise it within a few seconds from there, cleat it off at the mast, and go back to the cockpit to take in the extra line and use the wench to properly tighten the luff. Hope this helps.
Hi Matt, I don't currently have any pictures of the dodger setup, but could get some given some time. I won't be back to the boat until New Years Eve. The boom is plenty high on this boat. In dock, with the boom centered and the main sheet pulled tight, the boom is down hard on the bimini. Because of this, I always pull the boom to one side or the other. I take my traveler line and run it thru a stanchion base and back to the boom. I then tie it off to one of the main sheet tie points on the boom, and pull the boom over toward the railing. This line and the cleated mainsheet for a "v" that holds the boom snug, keeping it from swaying back and forth from waves. This prevents it from rubbing on the bimini top as well as stabilizing the boom. When dousing sail, I always tie the boom off like this to keep is stable before going on deck to flake the sail. Much safer in a seaway with this length of boom. When I release the mainsheet to raise sail, the boom rises enough from the spring action on the hard vang to just clear the bimini. This allows me to center the boom while raising the sale. When the sail is up, the leech of the sail raises the back of the boom even further. I have a 6'6" friend that never has to duck when we tack. One of many reasons I love the boat is the safety if the cockpit. I've done a lot of racing where everyone had to duck everytime the boom came across, and I find it very relaxing to not have to worry about it. Two other things I've found helps when you sail this boat. I increase the mainsheet from the 3-1 that came with it, to a 7-1 main sheet arrangement, and put a cam cleat on the mainsheet traveler. I found the 3-1 mainsheet arrangement, with the sheet going back up the boom and back thru several turning blocks to the cockpit to be very inefficient. With the 7-1 mainsheet arrangement, I can trim the sail by hand in any weather. I don't know what year your Vision is, but mine is an 89' model. Starting in 90' they included a power wench to handle raising sail. Two large guys cannot raise the main all the way from the cockpit in my boat. I added a cam cleat at the mast in line with the main halyard, and always raise the main from there. I can always raise it within a few seconds from there, cleat it off at the mast, and go back to the cockpit to take in the extra line and use the wench to properly tighten the luff. Hope this helps.
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