Biminy Top

It has been a long time, since I've tried to prototype the bimini top back in 2014. The problem is, however, that building a custom bimini top that covers the most of the cockpit and having the ability to sail is almost impossible.
That would require moving the boom a bit higher, moving the mainsheet forward and building the stern arch to relocate the back stay.That's a lot of work and investment.

One intermediate step was then to build a boom tent for the 2015 season, but is has shown to be difficult to deploy and provided a big shade for the solar panel we have under the boom.

So I've decided I will order some cheap bimini and test it how it work without the ability to sail with the main sail, but still have the fast deployment especially when it's gonna rain.

I wasn't able to find some in the gray color locally so went to the internet and found this chinese 3 bow bimini top.
Its dimensions are 6' long (183cm) x 46" high (117 cm) x 79-84" wide (200 - 214 cm), made from 25mm aluminum tubings, nylon fittings and 8.1oz polyester (600D) canvas with PU coating and UV protection.
The UV resistance is quite debatable, because after one summer season, the bimini top cover/boot has changed a bit. But hey, it's cheap and easily replaceable.
One big advantage is that the tubing is foldable and assembly takes only a minute.

photo from the seller before shipment

Installation was pretty easy, but required to raise the mast to check all the clearances between the boom and folded bimini frame and so on. To ease the further bimini deployment, I've used the stainless fittings with the quick-pins for the main frame and the support struts.

dry test

finding fitting location

deck hinge

The deck hinge is the 80 degrees fork fitting, but due to the slope of the coaming I had to fabricate the additional 10 degree pad from HDPE plastic. If I were doing it again, I would use the pivoting fork.

installed but folded bimini

As you can see above, the boom clearance is just ok.

aft support strut

fully retracted

Forward support straps are attached to the stanchion base, so there is no need for any additional boat drilling.

fully deployed (sorry for the towel :-)

sailing under shade

still able to sail with the Genoa...

...or Gennaker

Verka can stand under it, but not me with my 187cm

This is a very great upgrade and proved to be very effective and very simple to deploy.

Boom tent

Last year I planned to build the regular bimini top and the sprayhood, however, I was still not convinced whenever to build a classical bimini top with all that tubing and If it will be practical for trailer boating.
So this year, because we are planning to go to a very sunny area, I made just a simple boom tent, which is very fast to put over the boom.

The shape is simple, looks like a broad pennant and it's made from a cheap PVC coated polyester canvas 430g/m2.

testing the tent...

... with 6 battens

As you can see on the picture below, I've simplified the design and reduced 6 battens to just 3 "bars" (on the left). It's made from two ordinary sail battens (24x2.5x2000mm) sewn into a "sock" to prevent touching the glass fibers. This batten "sock" has a 3 velcro strips on it as well as the tent so it's very easy to put it on or stow the tent into the cockpit.

final shape with batten socks

 

canvas cutting tool - ordinary soldering iron with modified copper tip

The canvas is then attached to the boat with 8 straps with adjustable trident quick release buckle clips (3 per sides, one over the mast and one over the topping lift).

sailing with a boom tent

boom ten in hot days

The following trips proofed, it's very handy, practical and stable in a light wind (15 kn).
I think it is also probably too long, so I think I will cut it in the front by a few decimeters to be able to go to the bow more easily.
The only downside of this solution is that it slightly cover the solar panel and degrade power generation. Anyway, I plan the additional solar panel on the stern so this will somehow mitigate this issue.

Update on 14.10.2016 - I've replaced this tent with a regular bimini top. Check out here!

Bimini top and sprayhood prototyping

Bimini top and the sprayhood are nice things to have on the boat, but it's a pretty tricky to build something useful and also good looking at such a small boat we have. Our requirement is the easy handling and also storing for trailering. So I started Googling and found some interesting ideas I would like to implement.

Bimini that could be open when sailing with standing headroom ...

Catalina 250, small aft bimini top with boom awning extension.
More photos on Catalina 25&250 forum.

Hanse 350 bimini and boom awning extension

... and sprayhood that would not interfere with the lines, rope clutches and winches. I've found this nice "racing" style sprayhood. You have great views from the cockpit, but the only problem is that you are not really covered from the cold wind.

So called "racing" foldable sprayhood.
More photos on Pacific Seacraft Dana 24 blog

The boat is on the hard finally to be prepared for the winterizing so I've found some time to prototype these ideas on our boat. I cut some plank into thin sticks and made the frames for the bimini and sprayhood.

bimini top and racing sprayhood - version 1

racing sprayhood - version 1

racing sprayhood (final dimensions - slightly lower, version 2)

aft view (final frame will be more rounded, of course)

bimini top with 190cm standing height and sprayhood v.2

The bimini top should be mounted on the top of the pushpit with some vertical support tube and horizontal so it would stay open without any other straps leading forward and aft.
The green lines coming from the top of the Bimini going to the mast are representing that awning extension.

This racing sprayhood is nice, but I've found that it would not cover the window opening on the cabin side so we are still not decided whatever to use this one or build regular sprayhood like on this Phobos 25.

Phobos 25 with sprayhood

Anyway, I have all the dimensions noted so It's now easy to have it build by someone by our requirements.

Update on 15.10.2015
I've found the first Phobos 21 with a sprayhood on the pages of the Sweden dealer (Carisma boats). He let it made locally, but it looks very good and functional.

sprayhood on Carisma 22 (formerly Phobos 21)

folded aluminum frame

Update on 14.10.2016 - I've installed the regular bimini top finally. Check out here!