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Post by sirromcd on Dec 9, 2011 0:47:50 GMT
I have been sailing in Asia for 4 years and are heading for the cooler climes. I now want to upgrade my Sunbrella Bimini to a hard top to help integrate it into the dodger and install clears all round to give the skipper and crew better protection from the weather. Has anyone out there have some experience or photos?
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Post by rxc on Dec 9, 2011 23:23:25 GMT
We don't have a hard bimini, but we do have a full enclosure, and I can say that it really helps when you are sailing someplace cold, like during the summer in the UK and Ireland. I also used it during a transatlantic trip, and it did quite well during 5 strong gales, with winds up to 59 kts. I think that there are a bunch of photos at our web site, but I will also look at my photo files to see if there are some better views.
Where are you headed?
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Post by boltnbrew on Dec 10, 2011 18:09:07 GMT
I wondered about something similar, except I was interested in a rigid dodger top- to add PV panels. It doesn't seem that difficult in concept, but getting a shape that is complementary to the coachroof is the tough part. Otherwise it would look like a floating brick.
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Post by sirromcd on Dec 17, 2011 8:10:56 GMT
I had a look at your pics and they are very interesting. You seem to have a n infill between the dodger and bimini. Not sure how it is attached probably by zipper.
The clears look effective especially during the 2008 voyage.
Interesting mod to your quadrant. And the emergency tiller looks hard to manouvre with any degree of comfort. Maybe a good spare to have on board.
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Post by rxc on Dec 18, 2011 1:25:52 GMT
There is what we call a "transition piece" between the dodger and the bimini, which is indeed zipped in place. We don't have a window on ours (oversight), but have friends who do, which makes sail trim easier. OTOH, I can see most of the main thru the front window of the dodger when I need to crank on the sheet or the traveler or the other sail lines, which are all handled under the dodger, except the jib sheet. We also have screens to replace 3 of the clear panels, to protect from bugs in more temperate climates, but have never used them.
With that enclosure, it is quite civilized to travel in cold, windy or wet weather. They are quite common on the CHesapeake Bay, and, I think elsewhere on the east coast of the US. I haven't seen many here in Europe, though. People here seem to like to cross oceans with no dodger or bimini or any sort of protection from the elements other than foulies.
Aesthetically, I agree that it makes the boat look more like a floating brick, but at my age, comfort is more important than looks...
The emergency tiller was quite difficult to use, especially in heavy seas. The quadrant broke as a wave about 15 ft high passed across our stern, and the winds speeds were around 40 knots, sustained. I now advise everyone who has not done so to try out their emergency tiller at least once, in conditions that are less than ideal, if possible, so that you are ready if it happens.
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Post by deandavis1 on Sept 22, 2012 8:42:02 GMT
I had all around clears made for my boat and never used them. I found clears from the dodger to the beginning of the bimini where enough and most of the time the boat is on autopilot anyway. I'm really sorry I had them made up now. I've often thought about a hard top for the dodger and bimini that are always up. I have a friend who is a boat builder and offered to make it for me using the existing soft roof as a mould, but I have not been game enough to do it. I also have solar panels mounted on my bimini. One design I really liked as a hard top is in the attached picture. If you do go ahead please post pictures.  |
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