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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Bimini / Price

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srf2
1st Mate

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32 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/06/2009 : 08:32:02

I have a 2007 250 and I was just quoted $1,800 for a "custom" rail mounted bimini top which would only extend slightly further than the wheel from rear. It would likely cover less than 1/2 of the cockpit. Is this alot of money for this bimini? It seems high to me. What are my other options for a good quality bimini? Has anyone ordered one from catalinaowners.com? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 05/06/2009 : 09:41:30

Srt2,
Welcome to the forum.
$1800 is high. I had a local loft come down to my boat take measurements an build me a Bimini 4 years ago.

I wanted the cat bird seats covered as much as possible, also cover the cockpit as much as possible and to be able to stand under it too.

I moved the main sheet forward on the boom about a foot. That allowed them to build the Bimini to give me more cockpit coverage.

Also I had the loft put in a flatting reef. That allowed me to raise the boom a few inches and them to build the bimini a little higher giving me standing room.

They installed zippers to go around the back stay. I also had them add a zipper on the front of the Bimini so I can attach a shade tarp that covers the cockpit hatch area when at anchor or at the dock.

Also had zippers added where the bows fit the Bimini so I can remove the sunbrella from the bows just by unzipping. This makes taking the sunbrella off and on the frame very easy.

All the hardware is Stainless, I'm on the coast so that was a must for me.

I paid $910 and that included installation, the flatting reef and storage boot.

This Bimini is super quality and I expect it last as long as I own the boat.

There are many here that bought Bimini's off the shelf from marine equipment dealers. So the price range depends on what you want. I went with the custom made to get the build and fit I wanted.

There's some pictures of it on my website if you want to check it out.

Edited by - Tom Potter on 05/06/2009 09:56:27

srf2
1st Mate

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32 Posts

Response Posted - 05/06/2009 : 09:52:37

Tom:

Thank for the welcome and great information. I'm looking for as much coverage as possible while under sail and what you have sounds very good. I'm in NY so prices are high here to begin with. I don't mind paying but I would like to get a good value for my money. Thanks again for the help. I will look at your pictures.

Steven

Edited by - on

Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 05/06/2009 : 09:59:03

I installed an off the shelf bimini and it looks great.

The bimini I chose is the Westland 46" H x 72" L x 85"-90" W. Part number 4687A-X. Pacific Blue Sunbrella (with boot) and Nylon fittings. $271.34 + $58.66 (shipping to Canada) = $330. I'll probably be hit with another $50 of duties and taxes. Got the best price from www.go2marine.com

Edited by - on

ruachwrights
Captain

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USA
258 Posts

Response Posted - 05/06/2009 : 14:58:10

Hey Steve I checked the web and that Bimini looks great and also seems to be affordable. Does it require any boom or sail mods? Picks please?

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 05/06/2009 : 18:39:32

I got mine from Boat Covers Direct, and I've been very pleased. Price was reasonable and the boot was included in the price. My experience with them was good. however, you will need to take good measurements, as they do not list Catalina in their order menus. Ours was bought originally for our C-22, but it also works on our C-25 and even fits under the tall rig boom with full main up (although head room is limited). - I know some of you have read this before, so be patient with me. - I did the install myself, but I guess you could order it and have a yard install it. All I had to do for the C-25 was add the deck attachment brackets. I can use the same bimini on either boat, but since we just race the C-22 now, it has stayed with the C-25. In winter, I bring it home and put it in the storage shed.

http://www.boatcoversdirect.com/

Edited by - dmpilc on 05/06/2009 18:59:59

Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 05/06/2009 : 21:05:40

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ruachwrights
 Hey Steve I checked the web and that Bimini looks great and also seems to be affordable. Does it require any boom or sail mods? Picks please?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Nope, the height is perfect and your boom will have about 1-2 inches clearance. I adjusted the toping lift to give me 1 inch clearance. Then when I raise my sails it raises a little more so I know its perfect. At 5'10" I cannot quite stand underneath but its not bad at all. The quality is amazing, very sturdy frame, good quality polish and great canvas with good stiching.

I mounted mine to cover the catbird seats and it goes 6 feet towards to cabin. Width is just right perfect.

Only problem is dealing with the backstay, you will have to pass it through the canvas in some way. I opted to have zippers sown on. I forgot to mention that at the price I mentioned above the boot comes with it too!

Note that for the measuremnts I have a C250 WB. I think the WK is the same but certainly not the Tall rig.

Edited by - Steve Blackburn on 05/06/2009 22:22:16

jlannutti
Navigator

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USA
102 Posts

Response Posted - 05/07/2009 : 02:33:11

Steve, A Bimini was an addition that I was going to leave until later but the prices you mentioned are far less that friends around this area (Philadelphia)have spent. Even if I were go to the stainless I would be spending far less than I thought. Do you have any pictures of the finished product? I am interested in the coaming in particular. I added winches there last year and I'm afraid that they might interfere with the Bimini installation. I single hand most of the time so I'm pleased with the winches where they are and I really wouldn't want to move them. Thanks for any info you can give me.
Joe Lannutti
"Gracie" '98 WB # 360

Edited by - on

frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 05/07/2009 : 14:11:30

Here are some shots of my bimini installed. I purchased it from Defender for around three boat units and installed myself. It is Sunbrella 48 to 54 high, 6 feet long and 85-90 wide aluminum. It goes from the back of the catbird seats to just forward of the boom. I got the 54" high one so I could stand up under it.

Edited by - on

Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 05/07/2009 : 20:35:07

It amazes me that I couldn`t find any pictures of my Bimini installation. However it looks exactly like Frog's but a little lower. As you can see from Frog's pictures the bimini is mounted outside of the coamings so they shouldn't interfere with your winches. This is important as I want to move my winches to the coamings soon and this is something I need to pay attention too.

Edited by - on

jbkayaker
Captain

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USA
299 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2009 : 20:03:48

I am waiting for an Augusta, GA upholstery shop to finish a new bimini cover for my Catalina 250. The total cost will be around $220. When I bought the boat the bimini canvas was literally falling apart but the aluminum frame is good. I already bought enough Sunbrella fabric to do the job for less than 120 bucks. Labor will be $100. He is using the old cover to make a pattern. It will look similar to the pictures above. So unless aluminum for the frame has sky-rocketed in price $1800 sounds like a total rip-off to me.

Edited by - on

srf2
1st Mate

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32 Posts

Response Posted - 05/11/2009 : 07:12:02

Thank you all for your input.

Edited by - on

piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 05/11/2009 : 13:39:49

Jerry, nice install job. I want to do same except get more coverage in cockpit. I will have to move main attachment point on boom about 1' forward to accomplish that. BTW, did you add grommets holes for backstay or pre-ordered?
Steve A

Edited by - on

jbkayaker
Captain

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USA
299 Posts

Response Posted - 05/11/2009 : 16:17:40

Another bimini source is
http://www.sailrite.com/Categories/biminis

Edited by - on

frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 05/12/2009 : 07:00:48

If you get a six foot one it will not cover the catbird seats if moved forward one foot. I was really temped to get the eight foot one to cover the entire cockpit, but that would not allow for any race activity. The grommets were installed buy a local canvas shop since it requires a #6 grommet (very large) for the backstay to go through. I took all the measurements and marked the locations and they did the rest.

Edited by - on

frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 05/16/2009 : 18:59:17

A few people have asked about height above the cockpit floor and boom above the bimini. The bimini is 6' 4" above the cockpit floor and the boom is 5" above the bimini with the topping lift up all the way on my Dutchman system.

Boom stowed up with topping lift.

Boom position with reefed main.

Boom position full main.

When we cruise I reef the main and lower the boom until it just passes over the bimini. When racing I will disconnect the forward bimini hold downs, fold it back against the backstay, tuck in the excess and secure with bungees. I know that people say no bimini for racing, but I only race Beer Can now so it really doesn't matter for once a week.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 05/17/2009 : 07:03:35

Frogs Bimini (for a c25) shows the mounts outside the coamings which is the better method of install IMHO. it allows easier access to the catbird seats, and if the winches are moved/added to coamings, then the outside method is again an advantage.

Tom's zipper along the front of the bimini is a great idea. I made a 'top hat' for JD that attaches to the bimini with twistlock fasteners and has a slot to go around the topping lift. Here in south florida, shade at anchor is a must.

I have thought of modifying the bimini so that mounts to the front tube of the catbird seats! The current nylon attachment to the top of the coaming sucks. It's weak (wobbly) and when the bimini is folded for travel we have to put protectors under the tubes to prevent damage to the top of the coaming. (we realized that too late and have a 'scar' in the non-skid.)

Also looking at the device (looking for the link) that replaces the forward tiedowns with a jointed SS connector tube.

Wish we had a boot to cover the bimini when folded.

I screwed a SS strap to the back of the plastic of the catbird seats for the rear tiedowns. Our tiedown straps are those awful webbing though a square double holed widget, adjusting them is a pain, I would rather have an aduster that had a cam mechanism.

Paul

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