Bimini Removal?

[Rhosyn Mor]

Rhosyn Mor has a bimini that I have never used. Did not use one in the Eastern Med, and so far have not used one here in the Chesapeake.
As we begin to plan the passage to the tropics, I wondered how useful people felt their bimini was. For use at anchor I use a cockpit shade, and when sailing it really does interfere with sightlines etc.
any thoughts?

[Vasco]

Nothing beats a bimini in the tropics.

[bstreep]

Sailing here without a bimini is nuts...

[Reality Check]

You will die with out a bimini.......

You actually will consider placing covers over the entire boat to reduce the sun's heat.

Like yourself, along the East Coast of Florida, I had a boat for 11 years which did not have a Bimini in use... it was not even on the boat and I didn't miss it. I was however on the boat only 1 to 5 days at a time and generally had a minimum of a week between sails. When I bought my present boat in the Eastern Carib, I told my broker I would probably take the Bimini down as I liked the open sky. He looked at me as though I had come down from Mars and recommended I keep it for a season then decide.... a very wise broker.

Of course your boat use determines the need but I assume your considering cruising and not simply for a race boat. In Cruising in the Caribbean even those few without a Bimini have canvas hung over cockpit area and very often over the entire cabin area about 2 to 6 feet over it for shade and a major improvement in comfort day and night.

I spend most of my time on the boat cruising or at anchor and without the Bimini it would be far too uncomfortable and I am now looking at adding side drapes for the afternoons as the sun can be brutal.

I won't even get into the skin cancer thing........

[Rhosyn Mor]

I am not suggesting not using a canopy at anchor, this is more for sailing .

[olgy]

dont get rid of the bimini if you take it down, most likely you will want it later...

[s/v Moondancer]

We 6 years and 15,000 miles in Florida and the Caribbean and the bimini an essential piece of equipment...

[Cheechako]

Dont leave home without it!!!

[Rhosyn Mor]

Ok, thanks to all for the responses, much appreciated

[speciald@ocens.]

Make the bimini out of light colored fabric to keep it cooler underneath.

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by speciald@ocens.

Make the bimini out of light colored fabric to keep it cooler underneath.

Unfortunately I thought this and got all the canvas on my new (back in 2004) boat made out of a light Sunbrella. I think the colour's called "linen". Big mistake. Shows all the dirt, any little smudge and I'm convinced the light colours do not wear as well as the dark colours. If I had to do it over again I'd stick with "Flag Blue" or a similar dark blue. The cloth itself might get hotter in the sun but it's just as cool as light colours underneath in the shade.

[redcobra]

Jeepers, I was just out on the Chesapeake for 3 days this week and can't imagine not having a bimini. My crew was very thankful for it too. My old boat didn't have one and my buds who have been crew for me for over 10 years all commented on the improvement.

[forsailbyowner]

Get a dodger and enclosure also. Cruising through severe weather cockpit is dry.

[Christian Van H]

Darn it! I thought the title was BIKINI removal!

[fred]

Make the bimini easy to fold and unfold....
Sailing without it, for short periods of time, is great....however.....
The sun gets old quickly in the tropics, even here in Beaufort, NC, we cook in the cockpit without it.
Install a soft dodger lower than the bimini so that you can stand and look thru the slot in nasty weather.

You'll regret ditching the bimini, I have the bald spot, sun poisoning to prove it.

fred