Hello all, I'm contemplating putting a Bimini on the old girl. im seeking your thoughts on this as They are expensive to have made up. Are the worth having ? any ideas on pros and cons will be greatly appreciated
cheers welsh.

Personally I just find them a hassle.

Personally I just find them a hassle.
If I need to get out of the weather I just go inside.
If I need to be outside in the weather I always remember there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad choices in clothing.

Welsh,
I have both, dodger and bimini, both came with the boat, neither is without its issues but when its pissing rain or the suns trying to cook you they're worth it then. With a bit of thought the bimini frame can be a good place to mount solar panels.
If I was a serious racer I wouldn't have either.
Mike

Depends on your usage really. Long cruises I'd hate to be without mine and solar / wind power is mounted on it too. Short 3hr stints I wouldn't bother.

RE Hello all, I'm contemplating putting a Bimini on the old girl. im seeking your thoughts on this as They are expensive to have made up. Are the worth having ? any ideas on pros and cons will be greatly appreciated
cheers welsh.

I think in summer a bimimi is a must have.
It is winter where I am now so mine is stowed away.
There are two ways that you can avoid the cost.
One is to get an off the shelf unit and modify it to your needs.
The other is to make up a very simple sunshade.
I originally came to appreciate a simple bimimi in SE Asia on Burong Bahri.
Strips of bent bamboo and cotton cloth.

The one that I have now is way more sophisticated.
Two lengths of PVC conduit and some shade cloth.
Held in place with some light cord.

Thankyou for the replies. today I transferred a cav 39 from Drummoyne to Mosman bay. It had a Bimini and I swear it was 10* cooler under it. I have that fabulous Irish Anglo Saxon white skin and burn easily. todays trip kind of swayed me in favour of one. thanks again for the input
welsh

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garymalmgren said..
RE Hello all, I'm contemplating putting a Bimini on the old girl. im seeking your thoughts on this as They are expensive to have made up. Are the worth having ? any ideas on pros and cons will be greatly appreciated
cheers welsh.

I think in summer a bimimi is a must have.
It is winter where I am now so mine is stowed away.
There are two ways that you can avoid the cost.
One is to get an off the shelf unit and modify it to your needs.
The other is to make up a very simple sunshade.
I originally came to appreciate a simple bimimi in SE Asia on Burong Bahri.
Strips of bent bamboo and cotton cloth.

The one that I have now is way more sophisticated.
Two lengths of PVC conduit and some shade cloth.
Held in place with some light cord.

That would be one of the very few I have seen that actually provide shade! Most of the yachts I see that are actually sailing heel enough to leave the occupants out in the sun!

Only reason I got mine is because the rigid solar panels themselves form the Bimini. Certainly wouldn't be bothered with a fabric one which deteriorates and obstructs my view of the main. Flexible solar panels pretty much useless as well.
Doesn't provide shade at all angles by any means but I can usually find shade if I want it.

Possible designs depend a bit on how far back the boom comes relative to the helm position.

As for the dodger it spends most of the time at home. Hate obstructed forward vision.

Don't find out too late when you have skin cancer. Australian sun is a killer. Folding bimini has the options, but a lot depends on your sheeting arrangements. Cabin top mainsheet track is the easiest to fit a bimini. Stern track can also be ok. Kit for less than $200, but needs a little thought and design to get in the optimum position. Check out similar boats for inspiration.

I would not not have one. But I don't race and 2 in my family burn just thinking about the sun, so I plenty of shade

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Yara said..
Don't find out too late when you have skin cancer. Australian sun is a killer. Folding bimini has the options, but a lot depends on your sheeting arrangements. Cabin top mainsheet track is the easiest to fit a bimini. Stern track can also be ok. Kit for less than $200, but needs a little thought and design to get in the optimum position. Check out similar boats for inspiration.

I wear a hat and a face mask. The problem I have as I get older is wind burn. I can sit in the shade from the mainsail all day but still get burnt to a crisp!

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Ramona said..

I wear a hat and a face mask. The problem I have as I get older is wind burn. I can sit in the shade from the mainsail all day but still get burnt to a crisp!

Couldn't agree more about skin cancer but I always wear a long sleeve shirt and long pants and usually gloves. Always a Kmart straw hat and a bit of suncream as well because it is not just the direct sunlight you need to worry about. An enormous percentage of the sun's rays are reflected (albedo) straight back up at you under your hat off the deck and the water.

If you don't want pterygiums growing over your eyes you need sunglasses as well.

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Ramona said..

Yara said..
Don't find out too late when you have skin cancer. Australian sun is a killer. Folding bimini has the options, but a lot depends on your sheeting arrangements. Cabin top mainsheet track is the easiest to fit a bimini. Stern track can also be ok. Kit for less than $200, but needs a little thought and design to get in the optimum position. Check out similar boats for inspiration.

I wear a hat and a face mask. The problem I have as I get older is wind burn. I can sit in the shade from the mainsail all day but still get burnt to a crisp!

Wind burn is a bugger as you get older. Irrespective of the size of hat and amount of sunscreen I use my face is burning for two days after I am even contemplating growing a beard ,god forbid.

I'm with Jules; in NSW at any rate, the amount of sunlight coming in at low level via reflections means that a bimini may not be as much protection as it seems.

When we got our boat the solar panels were hinged off the pushpit on the sides, which is where they still are. It's a great place to have them; nicely out of the way and yet open to the sun.

At anchor we sometimes put up a low-sided green boom tent (actually just a lightweight hiking tarp) which gives great protection from the reflected light. But I still made sure that I got a GP who is also a skin cancer guy who checks me a couple of times a year so we get the spots before they turn into big problems.

Thanks gents. I've been a surfer since age 3 , now 64. I know all too well about sun induced skin cancers. I have decided to go with one and did the measurements today. I wear the long sleeves, gloves etc. And the obligatory factor 50 and sombrero
gotta stay out of the sun. cheers welsh

Cruising for extended periods either hot tropics or southern winter temperatures combining a dodger with a Bimini is ideal. Just bucketing tropical or winter rains can make them as invaluable for these conditions as they are for sun protection. The dodger also provides the ideal shelter for the less enthusiastic crew/partner to still accompany you on your extended adventures!

I'm hearing you grith. Lots of pros and cons. But I'm a wimp so I'll go full shade

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Bananabender said..

Ramona said..

Yara said..
Don't find out too late when you have skin cancer. Australian sun is a killer. Folding bimini has the options, but a lot depends on your sheeting arrangements. Cabin top mainsheet track is the easiest to fit a bimini. Stern track can also be ok. Kit for less than $200, but needs a little thought and design to get in the optimum position. Check out similar boats for inspiration.

I wear a hat and a face mask. The problem I have as I get older is wind burn. I can sit in the shade from the mainsail all day but still get burnt to a crisp!

Wind burn is a bugger as you get older. Irrespective of the size of hat and amount of sunscreen I use my face is burning for two days after I am even contemplating growing a beard ,god forbid.

Agree, I have the full face mask hat thing, cost $20.
in Thailand

no such thing as bad weather, just bad choices in clothing ??

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garymalmgren said..
RE Hello all, I'm contemplating putting a Bimini on the old girl. im seeking your thoughts on this as They are expensive to have made up. Are the worth having ? any ideas on pros and cons will be greatly appreciated
cheers welsh.

I think in summer a bimimi is a must have.
It is winter where I am now so mine is stowed away.
There are two ways that you can avoid the cost.
One is to get an off the shelf unit and modify it to your needs.
The other is to make up a very simple sunshade.
I originally came to appreciate a simple bimimi in SE Asia on Burong Bahri.
Strips of bent bamboo and cotton cloth.

The one that I have now is way more sophisticated.
Two lengths of PVC conduit and some shade cloth.
Held in place with some light cord.

That's my style!!! If you use your blanket and keep throwing water over it not only will it cool you down but also be clean for bedding

awesome photos, thank you for sharing

Love them.truthfully they dont provide a lot of sun while sailing but at anchor with a dodger and a zip on awning between the two they are great. I think if I was having the awning done again, I would also get zips on the sides of the awning so I had shade or shelter.

I have a huge, robust bimini over my aft cabin. I love it at anchor, especially with the infill between dodger and bimini, however, under sail the huge swathe of fabric concerns me.
As a prudent sailor, if it's looking like 25+ offshore, I douse the bimini.

I agree if you spend more than a few hours aboard at a time, a Bimini is a must. I have to replace one I built in 2016 because I made a poor choice of materials, one being Bunnings marine grade ply !!!! And the other was hoop pine frame /roof beams. In the interim I will knock up some thing like mr Gary has shown us

I did have one and I pulled down. Plastic window become hard to see true, fabric deteriorate.
Cost of replacement over $1000 dollars .
Also they are like small sail catching wind in some conditions .
You might notice that most serious sailors don't have them at all .
Since I took my down I really start enjoying sailing conditions - protective gear - hat, glasses and the rest .