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15-11-2018, 07:13
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: South Africa
Boat: Hunter 38
Posts: 21
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Bimini material
i have a 38 ft Hunter with the standard canvas Bimini and am tired of the constant leaks, repairs, heat transfer, I would like to replace the canvas with a more structurally sound material, fibreglass would be the obvious choice but I do not have the DIY skills, I was thinking more of a sheet of some 3mm "plastic" placed on top of the SS tubing and using a bunch of self tapping screws to secure in place. My problem is what type of "plastic" would be suitable, i have tested Acrylic (Perspex) which drills easy, bends easy, comes in white but is very brittle and handling a large sheet the chances are very real to shatter the sheet in transporting, erecting, and general twisting.
does anyone know of a suitable material that I can use with my limited DIY experience of large sheets of plastic
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15-11-2018, 07:53
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#2
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Writing Full-Time Since 2014
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Deale, MD
Boat: PDQ Altair, 32/34
Posts: 9,559
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Re: Bimini material
You may be able to find sheets of fiberglass, such as used for shower surrounds. I works a lot like acrylic but without the brittleness.
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15-11-2018, 08:22
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Gig Harbor, WA
Boat: 34' Crowther tri sold 16' Kayak now
Posts: 5,067
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Re: Bimini material
Try FRP board which is available at all builders stores. They are used in showers like Thinwater said.
https://bedfordreinforced.com/2017/0...cts-about-frp/
__________________
Slowly going senile but enjoying the ride.
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15-11-2018, 08:25
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: ABC's
Boat: Prout Snowgoose 35
Posts: 1,756
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Re: Bimini material
If you have the space and can get hold of the materials fibreglassing shouldn't be difficult. Core materials such as easycell75 come in sizes up to 1020x2180mm and can be butt joined together (with PU glue) and cut to make the required shape. Then it's just a case of adding a couple of layers of glass on either side.
Plywood would be cheaper though.
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15-11-2018, 08:27
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: New Orleans
Boat: Bruce Roberts 44 Ofshore
Posts: 2,841
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Re: Bimini material
How about simply fiberglassing your bimini? Brush on some resin, lay some roving or cloth or even mat if strength not required, brush in some more resin, repeat as necessary, Sand and roll n tip some gelcoat with a pigment mixed in if it needs to look purty. Polish with a big buffing wheel and any good car body polish.
I made a "Redneck Bimini" for MR WIGGLES out of PVC pipe, a cheap drop cloth, and salvaged paint, that held up through three named storms.
BRUTE FORCE has an elderly bimini much chafed by boom and sails that needs replacing. I don't have a clue how old it is. Made from what looks like Sunbrella and that is what we will replace it with until I get around to making an enclosed pilothouse. I am sure I will probably just build an internal mold out of cheap paneling, wax it up, and lay up fiberglass on it and destructively remove the mold material. Simple process. You can also lay up over a core of starboard or other plastic or foam or whatever.
Simply adding another layer of canvas or sunbrella or whatever, and applying linseed oil or beeswax or a polyurethane varnish or paint, would give you a leakproof bimini for at least a couple of years, I imagine. And you would still be able to fold it down.
__________________
GrowleyMonster
1979 Bruce Roberts Offshore 44, BRUTE FORCE
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15-11-2018, 10:51
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: South Africa
Boat: Hunter 38
Posts: 21
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Re: Bimini material
FRP sounds like a good bet, will see if i can find a supplier. thanks for the info
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15-11-2018, 11:50
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#7
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S/V rubber ducky
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: heading "south"
Boat: Hunter 410
Posts: 20,362
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Re: Bimini material
Have you tried just applying fabric protectant/treatment of the bimini? Mine is 17 years old and only leaks at a small hole I haven't sewn up yet. What's causing damage to your bimini? How is a plastic bimini going to trap less heat?
__________________
Don't ask a bunch of unknown forum people if it is OK to do something on YOUR boat. It is your boat, do what you want!
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15-11-2018, 12:32
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#8
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Writing Full-Time Since 2014
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Deale, MD
Boat: PDQ Altair, 32/34
Posts: 9,559
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Re: Bimini material
Quote:
Originally Posted by sailorboy1
Have you tried just applying fabric protectant/treatment of the bimini? Mine is 17 years old and only leaks at a small hole I haven't sewn up yet. What's causing damage to your bimini? How is a plastic bimini going to trap less heat?
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Thin plastic, probably not much different, but hard tops made from cored glass are a HUGE difference.
The other problem with most canvas biminis is that they are some dark color, either green or blue. Hard tops are white. I sometimes wonder why you so rarely see the top of a bimini painted white. I have done this and there is a HUGE difference.
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15-11-2018, 14:20
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Australia
Boat: BUILT!!! Roberts Mauritius 43ft
Posts: 3,561
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Re: Bimini material
Fabricating a f/g bimini would not be hard. Maybe the thought is a bit daunting if you haven't used fiberglass before but there are lots of tutorials online these days.
I think this dodger is very smart and could be constructed very easily. It is probably fiberglass cloth (bent to shape) with one coat of resin
https://forums.sailboatowners.com/in...canvas.119611/
[
Clive
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15-11-2018, 14:41
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Oregon
Boat: Seafarer36c
Posts: 5,563
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Re: Bimini material
[QUOTE=sailorboy1; Mine is 17 years old and only leaks at a small hole I haven't sewn up yet.
Don't bother sewing up that hole.
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15-11-2018, 14:57
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#11
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: aboard, cruising in Australia
Boat: Sayer 46' Solent rig sloop
Posts: 28,400
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Re: Bimini material
Quote:
Originally Posted by coopec43
Fabricating a f/g bimini would not be hard. Maybe the thought is a bit daunting if you haven't used fiberglass before but there are lots of tutorials online these days.
I think this dodger is very smart and could be constructed very easily. It is probably fiberglass cloth (bent to shape) with one coat of resin
https://forums.sailboatowners.com/in...canvas.119611/
[
Clive
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Do you happen to know if there is room enough for the winch handle to make a full turn with that dodger? Other than that possible lack of clearance, yes, it does look good.
Ann
__________________
Who scorns the calm has forgotten the storm.
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15-11-2018, 15:18
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#12
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S/V rubber ducky
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: heading "south"
Boat: Hunter 410
Posts: 20,362
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Re: Bimini material
[QUOTE=Ecos;2762312][QUOTE=sailorboy1; Mine is 17 years old and only leaks at a small hole I haven't sewn up yet.
Don't bother sewing up that hole.[/QUOTE]
Why, its in good condition, isn't torn and doesn't leak. Maybe you think that just because of age it's dead but it's it good condition.
__________________
Don't ask a bunch of unknown forum people if it is OK to do something on YOUR boat. It is your boat, do what you want!
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15-11-2018, 16:36
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Australia
Boat: BUILT!!! Roberts Mauritius 43ft
Posts: 3,561
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Re: Bimini material
Quote:
Originally Posted by JPA Cate
Do you happen to know if there is room enough for the winch handle to make a full turn with that dodger? Other than that possible lack of clearance, yes, it does look good.
Ann
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Ann
I tried to pick out the yacht in this gallery (it must be there) but I couldn't do it with a quick look.
The guys who fabricated the dodger are specialists so I bet there is room to swing a winch handle.
My preference if for a hard dodger is the one on the yacht Riada 11
(That is really "cool")
https://www.sanjuancoop.com/dillon-f...on-oberholzer/
Clive
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15-11-2018, 20:31
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Pacific Northwest
Boat: Islander 32
Posts: 146
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Re: Bimini material
I did something similar, removed the old canvass. Made a template out of veneer door skin. Then transferred that onto 4mm Okume plywood. Had to make relief cuts on the underside to make the hard bends. really not that hard
__________________
Its not what I know, but who I know that knows.
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15-11-2018, 20:47
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#15
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: aboard, cruising in Australia
Boat: Sayer 46' Solent rig sloop
Posts: 28,400
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Re: Bimini material
Quote:
Originally Posted by coopec43
Ann
I tried to pick out the yacht in this gallery (it must be there) but I couldn't do it with a quick look.
The guys who fabricated the dodger are specialists so I bet there is room to swing a winch handle.
My preference if for a hard dodger is the one on the yacht Riada 11
(That is really "cool")
https://www.sanjuancoop.com/dillon-f...on-oberholzer/
Clive
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I can see how you'd like the one on Riada II. I like the lower profile.
Ann
__________________
Who scorns the calm has forgotten the storm.
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