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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Biminis

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fineg
Deckhand

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USA
18 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/06/2010 : 22:36:25

Anyone have suggestions or experience to share on biminis? Catalina direct offers several. Are they the best choice? Also, they seem to offer a "standard" size and a "large" size. The only difference seems to be the "large" size is about 6 inches wider and mounts to special genoa track cars. Oh, another difference...$200 more for the "large". Looks like neither extend very far back over the cockpit; they mostly cover the front part from the pictures, yet they both claim to be 6 feet fore/aft. The cockpit doesn't seem much longer than that. Are there other sources that would do the trick but are cheaper - like a standard bimini that isn't custom made for a Catalina but fits just fine anyway?

Any advice appreciated.

Greg
C-25 SR/WK
Lake Pleasant, AZ

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2010 : 08:09:52

On a stock rig, the coverage is limited by the end-boom mainsheet. The sheet must be able to clear the corners of the bimini when you reach or run. That means about half the cockpit is covered--half not, and the companionway is mostly covered (which can be a nice thing). Depending on your height, this arrangement can give you the option of standing aft of the bimini and looking over it, or sitting and looking under.

Now, let's say convert to mid-boom sheeting with a traveler across the cockpit seats against the cabin bulkhead (which people have done)... Now the bimini can cover aft to the backstay, but not over the companionway. You can even have one made with a zipper arrangement that allows the bimini to enclose the backstay, covering all the way to the transom. You can see that on some big boats.

I was happy with the fixed position I chose for the bases--on the side-decks just forward of the winch islands. But if I'd seen an easy solution for mounting on the genoa tracks, I would've been tempted. CD didn't have that at the time, although somebody on the forum fabricated their own track-slide bases. I'm thinking the little extra width, with the forwared straps going to stanchion bases, might make it easier to get past the bimini to go forward--that's one of the issues with a bimini on a C-25.

I also was thinking about adding a zip-on windshield that could turn the bimini into a dodger... but that was just an idle thought. It's been done.

CD might be the only place where you find the track-slide system... and I recommend the stainless steel frame and metal hardware over aluminum and plastic--I appreciated the strength of my bimini as a hand-hold. On a sailboat, you never know what test you might put it to.

From my experience some years ago (buying a custom bimini from a Canadian outfit), CD's price for the complete package with stainless and custom-colored Sunbrella is pretty good. You can, of course, get a stock blue Taylor with aluminum frame for less.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 08/07/2010 08:21:15

hinmo
Navigator

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USA
248 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2010 : 08:50:11

Not a bad price on Cat direct..i have been considering one, either for this boat or next. Question is, can you easily get to the foredeck with a Bimini up?

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2010 : 06:25:58

My bimini covers the companionway with about 1 ft of overlap, so getting to the foredeck on my boat requires me to stand bent over on the cockpit bench, put my foot up onto the sidedeck forward of the bimini pole, and then slither between the bimini and the cabin top. This is just another routine move for me now.

Getting back down into the cockpit is easiest for me by sitting in the center of the opened companionway and swinging my body down to the companionway steps, like a gymnast on the parallel bars. This is another routine move for me when working on the foredeck with the bimini up.

It's quick, but not easy. I have never asked any guests to do this.

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Even Chance
Captain

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USA
393 Posts

Response Posted - 08/08/2010 : 12:09:36

. . . which is why I created my bridgedeck traveler (in the C25 Tech Tips). Shading the companionway instead of the cockpit seems a waste of good canvas to me, and I'm just too large to fit through that little space the forward biminis create. The stock traveler doesn't have enough travel to be very effective off the end of the boom -- the angles are multiplied when you move the traveler forward. My setup is four years old now, and it's a considerable improvement over the stock setup. I'm debating getting the 6' stainless steel bimini, which will require cutting slots for the backstay. The only debate (other than cost) is how much longer I'm going to keep the C25 before moving up.

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skrenz
Captain

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USA
351 Posts

Response Posted - 08/09/2010 : 15:19:38

Greg,
I am very pleased with the product and service I have gotten from these guys:
http://www.boatcoversdirect.com/

You can pick your bimini size both in width, length, and height. For a Catalina 25 I selected a 3 bow model that is 46" tall and 81" wide. I went the extra step and fabricated a track slide system.

This is not all that difficult to do. The kit includes the part to attach the bow system to a screw down base plate. Use the ones that are angled.
You then need a couple of these:
http://www.marinerparts.com/ronstan-series-25-t-track-loop-slide-and-stop-rc72502-.html
Cut off the loop flush with the base. Using the provided mounting base, mark and drill two holes for 10-32 bolts.
Attach the provided mounting base to the slides with 1/2" 10-32 bolts. You will need to hand file these nuts down on the underside so that they do not interfere with the slide.
Now attach your bimini support tube to the provided base and you can adjust the bimini forward and back as needed.

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 08/10/2010 : 10:34:48

I bought ours from boarcoversdirect also. We've been very pleased with the product. Good people to deal with. Get stainless bows, not aluminum.

Edited by - on

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.