Whale
Other
Bimini on "Whale"
On our trips to Florida, which were in March, we found that we were suffering
from too much sun. We were spending the winter in NH and then going and living
on the boat for two weeks. We found we had to wear long shirts and pants in the
80 degree weather. The only solution seemed to be a bimini. After installing it
we found that it was also great up north when the weather was hot.
I bought an inexpensive bimini which was 6 foot wide, 6 foot long and 36 inches
high. 36 inches seems to be the lowest that they sell. In order to get as much
room as I could under the bimini, I raised the mainsail pulley at the top of
the mast as high as I could. Then I found that I could move the gooseneck up
3 inches. After that I had to lower the bimini 3 inches. I did this by shortening
the tubing near where it attaches to the coaming. This still left more than enough
room to sit under it. When sailing the boom just clears the bimini.
There are 3 foot tracks mounted to the coaming. this allows the bimini to be slid
fore and aft. The sailing position is aft. If it is moved forward it will keep rain
out of the cabin. When I lowered the bimini by shortening the tubing it changed
the geometry and the cover did not fit the frame properly. To make it fit better
I had to do some sewing in the four corners. When the bimini is folded it is
stored under the tiller at the back of the cockpit. It is on the lazarette cover
but the tracks allow me to slide it a little forward when I want to get in it.
I leave it there with the top rolled around the tubing and the straps holding
it rolled when trailering.