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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Bimini fixtures

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britinusa
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USA
5404 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/20/2009 : 18:52:26

I was looking at the C250 Wing Keel in the swap meet (2005) and noted the bimini in the pictures.

It appears to be mounted to the cat bird seats, an idea I had a while ago, but the first boat I have seen with that method of installation.

Anyone else got a bimini installed that way, perhaps some close up photos.

Thanks.

paul

Joint Decision. (Sold)
PO C250WB 2005 Sail # 841.

Moved up to C34 Eximius

Updated August 2015

Edited by - on

essen48183
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143 Posts

Response Posted - 08/20/2009 : 20:01:04

My dad does on a diff. model of boat. The hinged fittings are attached near the front of the catbird seats at the top and there are two vertical support poles at the back mounted to the equivalent of our square hoop shaped pushpit. I have some pics of us hanging out that show it folded and deployed in the background.

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essen48183
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143 Posts

Response Posted - 08/20/2009 : 20:12:25

Though at anchor here you see the interference with the mainsheet. On a lighter wind day, he has a snap shackle at the top of his mainsheet that he moves to another attachment point forward a little bit on the boom. His boom is higher and it just clears the bimini while sailing. You'd probably need a flattening reef for it to clear and still get decent headroom (and good visibility behind the wheel) out of your installation.

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John Russell
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3444 Posts

Response Posted - 08/20/2009 : 20:36:34

notice the absence of a backstay

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Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/20/2009 : 21:41:27

I used hinged brackets like that to mount bimini struts to the C-25 stern-rail. They clamp around the rail. A local chandler ordered them--couldn't find them in any stores or retail catalogs (including WM).

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glen
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359 Posts

Response Posted - 08/21/2009 : 05:40:00

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Bristle
 I used hinged brackets like that to mount bimini struts to the C-25 stern-rail. They clamp around the rail. A local chandler ordered them--couldn't find them in any stores or retail catalogs (including WM).
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> Look for them under the name of “Split Jaw Slides”

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piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 08/21/2009 : 12:53:28

Paul, I am having a friend of a friend look at my C250 tomorrow for a bimini and I really like that install on the cat bird seats. Can you tell by the pic how the back stay is positioned in relationship to the bimini? With that setup I know a 4' bimini is the longest length.
Steve A

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John Russell
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Response Posted - 08/21/2009 : 12:59:18

I'd like to see a phot. It looks like a catbird mounted bimini would be great for the folks in the catbird seats and the helmsman at a wheel. Those of us on a tiller in the cockpit might be out of luck.

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piseas
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Response Posted - 08/21/2009 : 13:57:17

John, I have tiller. Not sure why you say that. What am I missing? I sit in catbird seats with tiller extension most of the time. I will want a window in bimini to see mast (windex).
Steve A

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John Russell
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3444 Posts

Response Posted - 08/21/2009 : 14:34:01

Steve, I was thinking that the advantage to mounting them on the rail of the seats would be to get it aft of the backstay and high enough to protect those seats. If that's the case, the leading edge of the bimini would be aft of the backstay and not protect the cockpit seats much. I guess it could be long enough to do both with the backstay passing through the fabric but, I'd wonder about the height issue. Would it be low enough to allow the boom to swing freely and still allow headroom for the catbirds. That's why I'm hoping to see photos.

BTW, tiller extensions don't float -- just in case you were wondering.

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britinusa
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5404 Posts

Response Posted - 08/21/2009 : 15:23:27

Our bimini has a fitted hole in it for the backstay. Of course, you cannot lower or raise the bimini without detaching the backstay, but you can remove the bimini canvas (the front bimini bar would fall forwards)

We have never sailed the boat without the bimini in the deployed position, so it would not be an issue. If we did sail with it 'defrocked' then I would put it in the up position with the entire bimini frame outside of the backstay.

Paul

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Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/21/2009 : 19:23:23

How about two biminis at different levels--maybe even with two zip-on panels between them--one on each side of the backstay? That'd be like many friends' setups with a bimini, a dodger, and connecting panel(s). Nothing a few more boat units can't solve!

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frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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1349 Posts

Response Posted - 08/22/2009 : 07:45:41

Judging from what Essen says, his Dad's boat is not a Catalina and apparently it does not have a backstay to cause any mount or functional problems.

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essen48183
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143 Posts

Response Posted - 08/22/2009 : 09:38:01

Correct, the pictures are not a Catalina, simply a boat with the bimini mounted to catbird seats. And Dave has it right, the fittings detach/hinge at the bottom.

I have a Bimini in my garage that I also have not installed yet... there are just so many things to think about and deal with in order to install, wheel height/vision, boom kinda low, backstay, etc., (and being that I've had so many other projects higher on the list) it likely won't get on the boat this year. Actually, being on the northern edge of lake erie without such a need for relief from the sun... if it doesn't go on before next season, my bimini (and the bimini butler) will likely end up on the swap forum.

Did anyone see that guy from south america sailing "impulso" with the radar arch on a C250? That's THE solution. His backstay attaches to that, plenty of room for a full canopy. You'd have to be able to weld stainless (or have a buddy that does for a case of beer) to not make it cost prohibitive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZh5OH-MVac

He did a nice job on that boat.

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Nautiduck
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3704 Posts

Response Posted - 08/22/2009 : 11:25:22

Impulso has quite a few sailing videos posted and they are all impressive. That arch is indeed a sweet thing.

By the looks of the cabin he has the Saildrive. We need to get him on the forum! Check out the device he has on the bow to hold an anchor. What is that thing?

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwFeY1LJucU&feature=channel"]Impulso Anchor[/url]

Also note that he sails with the potptop enclosure on but that it has a clear front window. He must have built a frame to hold the enclosure up. He gets the safety of having the poptop down but having an enclosure to improve cabin headroom and protect the cockpit from spray. This guy has done some serious modding.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQapx7YrDzk&feature=channel"]Impulso Poptop Mod[/url]

Looks to me like he, or someone he knows, is good with stainless steel.

Edited by - Nautiduck on 08/22/2009 11:46:35

britinusa
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5404 Posts

Response Posted - 08/22/2009 : 19:55:42

It's a 50mm Cannon!

Paul

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mhartong
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152 Posts

Response Posted - 08/23/2009 : 08:47:42

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Nautiduck
 By the looks of the cabin he has the Saildrive.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Virtual certainty on the Saildrive. I have a Saildrive, and the box is the exact same size, shape, and location as the engine housing on mine. It lifts completely off, proving incredible access to all four sides of the engine. The teak trim on the top surface of the box opens to port, giving access to the fuel filters, oil dipsticks, and the cooling water isolation valve. If you look at the wheel in other pictures you can see the controls are mounted to the wheel guard- port side is direction (Forward/aft/neutral) while the starboard control is throttle (Forward faster, aft slower) and just barely what appears to be the port edge of the engine panel on the forward edge of the gasoline locker. This is a common location, and one I never quite understood- the tachometer, fuel gauge and warning lights are not art all visible, and the key, fuel cutout, and blower control switch can only really be activated by feel. Much better I think recessed in either the port or starboard coaming where they are all visible (I did port side since I have the single back-say to port).

I like the radar- I wonder how much he had to do to the electrical system to be able to support it?

Mark

Edited by - mhartong on 08/23/2009 08:49:07

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