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dhunt
1st Mate

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USA
83 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/22/2004 : 19:17:26

Solitaire has been topless long enough! I'm shopping around for a bimini for a standard rig - I will sell this boat in about three years and am more than willing to trade 'great' for 'good AND cheap'. The biggest difference in prices seems to come from the material - Sunbrella on the high side vs 'skin of some kind of sea creature' on the low side.

I will mount it on the genoa track for some degree of adjustability. Do you guys/ladies have any suggestions? measurements? How does the base of the bimini attach to the track? Special hardware?

As always your suggestions are highly valued. Thanks.

David and Sharon Hunt on Solitaire, #800 sk-sr, Marietta GA

Edited by - on

Dan86
Navigator

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130 Posts

Response Posted - 03/22/2004 : 22:20:36

just bought mine from GMI out of Canada wtih Sunbrella. Aluminum tubing though, but it was cheap and I was tired or torching my head and not beinb able to enjoy the boat during very long sailing season. About 275 to 300. I installed on their adjustable track allowing for fore and aft as needed. My 2 cents! dan 86 FK/ TR

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/23/2004 : 11:08:57

Mine is a vinyl, not sunbrella, bimini that I bought from BoatUS for $139.00. It was originally $180, but it was a discontinued, off-the-shelf model, that was reduced to sell. The dimensions, I believe were 6 feet long by 82 inches wide and I mounted it to a pair of old track slides using external eye mounts($6.00) that I purchased separately. Since it was an off the rack bimini, I had to alter the height by about 10 inches, but that was done simply with my pipe cutter I use for copper plumbing work. With the bimini mounted to track slides, it can be moved both forward and astern. In the picture, I have it mounted so it's just forward enough not to interfere with the mainsheet. When not using the bimini, I fold it up, put the boot cover on it, and slide it all the way back so it is standing straight up against the backstay where it is bungied. The height of the folded bimini is over six feet so it is very much out of the way. If I just want to get the bimini out of the way temporarily, I simply lift the boom a foot and release the aft hold down straps. The bimini will then fold neatly onto the cabintop.

It wasn't that difficult of a job, relatively inexpensive($145.00), and the cooling shade it provides on those hot, sunny days is wonderful.

Edited by - dlucier on 03/23/2004 11:13:20

Steve Shetter
1st Mate

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USA
60 Posts

Response Posted - 03/23/2004 : 11:21:14

Don,

That sounds like a great idea. A question comes to mind... in the picture, it appears that you have a standard rig. If so, I would have to make more drastic modifications for it to fit on my tall rig.

Any ideas???

Thanks,

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/23/2004 : 12:12:13

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Steve Shetter
 Don,

That sounds like a great idea. A question comes to mind... in the picture, it appears that you have a standard rig. If so, I would have to make more drastic modifications for it to fit on my tall rig.

Any ideas???

Thanks,
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

The options some tall rig sailor's have done is to either live with the lower bimini or using a taller bimini with a reef tucked in the main.

Edited by - dlucier on 03/23/2004 12:13:04

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 03/23/2004 : 15:35:54

I like the idea of the boom being raised to the reef level on a tall rig, lets face it, if your bimini is up then performance is not an issue. I intend to use a boom tent and sail under headsail alone on the days that shade is a must. (Yes the same trusty boom tent that is my cabin cover when I am away.)

Edited by - on

cshaw
Captain

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USA
460 Posts

Response Posted - 03/23/2004 : 18:41:04

[/quote]

The options some tall rig sailor's have done is to either live with the lower bimini or using a taller bimini with a reef tucked in the main.
[/quote]

The reef in the main does not have to be very large... I end up using what would normally be called a "flattening reef" (for mains that have a shelf foot). Takes about the bottom 6-8 inches off the sail allowing it to clear the bimini on my tall rig.

Chuck

Edited by - on

dhunt
1st Mate

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USA
83 Posts

Response Posted - 03/23/2004 : 21:49:59

Thanks all - - - EXACTLY what I'm looking for Dan - Have been most concerned about the height . . . now I'll just make sure to take the pipe cutter to the boat.

Don, are the slide tracks your Bimini rides installed specifically for the Bimini, or do you use the Genoa track?

DH

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2004 : 08:34:26

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dhunt
 Don, are the slide tracks your Bimini rides installed specifically for the Bimini, or do you use the Genoa track?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I use old track cars and the existing genoa track. It's simple and adjustable.

The only issue is that the bimini frame is somewhat close to the winch and doesn't allow the winch handle a full rotation, but this really hasn't been a problem.

Edited by - on

skipn809
Navigator

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111 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2004 : 16:48:13

David-- if you will look at the archives, you may find some of my posts from last fall where I talk about the GMI bimini I installed on my 85 tall rig. I give the sizes, how much I cut off the bow to make it fit, how I modified the slides for the tracks, and a site showing photos of how it positions for different situations. The bimini was not in a final position, so it looks a little sloppy, but you can get the idea. I also plan to get a cringle in the main so I can raise the boom to clear the bimini but keep a somewhat good sail shape. Good luck.

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2004 : 17:20:58

Hi folks,
I'm assuming that when you reef a tall rig to clear the Bimini you are using a sliding gooseneck, right?
I have a fixed gooseneck on mine. I want to add a bimini to my 25. How tall is the gooseneck fitting, I want to see if it would fit in my mast slot. I'm not sure if I could enlarge my mast slot, but it seems like you could as the mast would be a continuous extrusion.

Edited by - on

cshaw
Captain

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USA
460 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2004 : 19:26:09

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Gloss
 Hi folks,
I'm assuming that when you reef a tall rig to clear the Bimini you are using a sliding gooseneck, right?
I have a fixed gooseneck on mine. I want to add a bimini to my 25. How tall is the gooseneck fitting, I want to see if it would fit in my mast slot. I'm not sure if I could enlarge my mast slot, but it seems like you could as the mast would be a continuous extrusion.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Frank,

Mine is about 3" long, with the part that rides in the aft slot in the mast about 5/8" dia. There is a clevis that attaches to it that forms the actual gooseneck joint, and a hole in the lower part that the downhaul purchase attaches to with a hook. I have seen similar fittings in ship's stores thru the years, so I don't think it is something that would be impossible to find. It enters the aft slot at the same place that the luff rope slugs enter.

Chuck

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2004 : 20:20:06

Thanks Chuck,
When it comes to parts like the gooseneck I'll just let the good folks at Catalina Direct set me up.

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.