Canvas Bimini and storms

[SVRocinante]

Good day all

We’ve only done coastal cruising aboard Rocinante from Casco Bay, ME to Key West, Fl. We’ve done a couple of overnights, but mostly day runs. While we always pick good weather widows when moving, we spend the bulk of our time on the hook and have experienced our fair share of gales and even one tropical storm. I’ve never taken down our bimini durng said storms and have had no issues.

Finally, the question!
When encountering heavy weather on passage, let’s say gale conditions, do you take down the bimini to cut back on windage or just keep on trucking?

Thanks for sharing your first hand experience!

[Tillsbury]

Gale no, storm yes. My bimini is fine with gusts of 40-45 knots apparent, but if it gets there more frequently or higher then that then it’ll go down and leave just the spray hood.

I don’t know if it’ll handle more as I always have it down by then

[SVRocinante]

Originally Posted by Tillsbury

Gale no, storm yes. My bimini is fine with gusts of 40-45 knots apparent, but if it gets there more frequently or higher then that then it’ll go down and leave just the spray hood.

I don’t know if it’ll handle more as I always have it down by then

Thank you Tillsbury!
Just to be clear, I’m not concerned about the bimini blowing away or anything along those lines; As I mentioned, the bimini has handled substantially higher sustained wind speeds while at anchor.

My concern is boat handling. So, you’re saying your boat sees no degredation in handling with the bimini in place upto & including gale conditions... correct?

Yes, I understand different boats, might react differently; I’m just trying to get a general idea.

Thaks again!

[geoleo]

Originally Posted by SVRocinante

Good day all

We’ve only done coastal cruising aboard Rocinante from Casco Bay, ME to Key West, Fl. We’ve done a couple of overnights, but mostly day runs. While we always pick good weather widows when moving, we spend the bulk of our time on the hook and have experienced our fair share of gales and even one tropical storm. I’ve never taken down our bimini durng said storms and have had no issues.

Finally, the question!
When encountering heavy weather on passage, let’s say gale conditions, do you take down the bimini to cut back on windage or just keep on trucking?

Thanks for sharing your first hand experience!

Your Bimini and other canvas had better be sewn with Tenara gore tex thread

[Tillsbury]

Originally Posted by SVRocinante

Thank you Tillsbury!
Just to be clear, I’m not concerned about the bimini blowing away or anything along those lines; As I mentioned, the bimini has handled substantially higher sustained wind speeds while at anchor.

My concern is boat handling. So, you’re saying your boat sees no degredation in handling with the bimini in place upto & including gale conditions... correct?

Yes, I understand different boats, might react differently; I’m just trying to get a general idea.

Thaks again!

I don’t know about “no” degradation. With a “near gale” (around 30 kts) I have no problems. Once we’re into “gale” (around 40 kts) I’ve usually taken the better part of valour and decided that a broad reach is where we’re going. Presumably the Bimini and sprayhood are adding to our sail area but would significantly decrease our ability to go upwind. If I really had to get upwind (and heaving to wasn’t appropriate in 40kts or above I would drop the Bimini for sure. Of course, once we’re going downwind the apparent isn’t as much of an issue, but only this Monday we were screaming downwind under a scrap of jib at 9 knots with gusts of 40 knots behind us, so that was certainly a gale with average true wind of 45 knots or so. Great fun, but I would have dropped the Bimini if it had gone any higher.

[SVRocinante]

Originally Posted by Tillsbury

... a gale with average true wind of 45 knots or so. Great fun, but I would have dropped the Bimini if it had gone any higher.

Thanks again Tillsbury... appreciate the input!

[hpeer]

I can’t imagin trying to drop our bimini with those winds. And the supports would major leave be in the way. I could not handle the boat with them down. But weve been in some pretty good T storms and squalls without it being an issue. NC sounds, 45+ winds, motoring, just turned into the wind and rode it out.

[antoha]

Sorry for the silly question, but when you say “drop the Bimini”, do you mean fold it up and put the boot on, or do you mean remove the Bimini canvas entirely? Unfortunately the way my Bimini is built, there’s a lot of unscrewing of various connectors that would need to happen if I were to completely remove the canvas, I’m glad I only have to do that once a season.
Thank you!
Anton

[SVRocinante]

Originally Posted by antoha

Sorry for the silly question, but when you say “drop the Bimini”, do you mean fold it up and put the boot on, or do you mean remove the Bimini canvas entirely? Unfortunately the way my Bimini is built, there’s a lot of unscrewing of various connectors that would need to happen if I were to completely remove the canvas, I’m glad I only have to do that once a season.
Thank you!
Anton

Good question Anton!
I would more likely remove it completely. In my case, it’s simply a bunch of zippers and 2 ties around my split backstays to remove the canvas and then fold up the frame. Not a trivial task, but no “unscewing” involved.

BTW, noticed you’re location says New York; where about?

[SVRocinante]

Originally Posted by hpeer

I can’t imagin trying to drop our bimini with those winds. And the supports would major leave be in the way. I could not handle the boat with them down. But weve been in some pretty good T storms and squalls without it being an issue. NC sounds, 45+ winds, motoring, just turned into the wind and rode it out.

Agreed hpeer, but like reefing, I would try to do it before the weather arrived.
That’s one of the reasons I’m asking the question. My own experience right now is limited to handling high winds at anchor and I know it’s not an issue, so I make sure all is secured on deck and the canvas stays up through the storm.

Underway, is another story and I have no personal experience in anything above 20 with gusts to 25ish. Don’t want to be caught with an approaching storm and worrying about keeping the bimini up or putting it down. I like to make those decisions well before I need to act on them.

[MartinR]

If you encounter storm conditions, you should remove ALL unnecessary windage, especially aft, bimini included. You might get away with it 9 times out of 10, but the 10th time it might kick you hard. Also important to think about is that boats that are overwhelmed more often than not are on autopilot. Laziness is a bad option when dealing with the ocean.

[Parrothedd]

We have a brand new Bimini made of Sunbrella Plus. We have broken three sets of zippers recently in winds of 30-35 knots. Our previous Bimini made of the same material lasted 15 years in the Caribbean. Maybe the new zippers are not as strong as they once were? Any thought?

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by geoleo

Your Bimini and other canvas had better be sewn with Tenara gore tex thread

Why? Tenara is marginally weaker than polyester.

I’m a tenara convert, but not because of its strength.

[MartinR]

Originally Posted by Parrothedd

We have a brand new Bimini made of Sunbrella Plus. We have broken three sets of zippers recently in winds of 30-35 knots. Our previous Bimini made of the same material lasted 15 years in the Caribbean. Maybe the new zippers are not as strong as they once were? Any thought?

The bimini probably does not fit properly, so the zippers are loaded in one place instead of equal load the whole length.

[SVRocinante]

Originally Posted by MartinR

If you encounter storm conditions, you should remove ALL unnecessary windage, especially aft, bimini included. You might get away with it 9 times out of 10, but the 10th time it might kick you hard. Also important to think about is that boats that are overwhelmed more often than not are on autopilot. Laziness is a bad option when dealing with the ocean.

Thank you MartinR!

I realize that you “should remove ALL unnecessary windage” but, for example, I wouldn’t dream of dropping my dodger. So the question becomes what is considered unnecessary and the bimini provides protection that makes staying at the helm more comfortable.

So, what I’m trying to determine, is at what point do I NEED to give up that bit of extra protection for safety.

I realize a lot depends on my boat & my abilities, but I’m trying to establish a baseline to work from based on what other folks do in similar situations.

I agree with the 2nd half of your statement and I’m always at the helm even when using the autopilot in anything but the most benign of conditions and even then, for small amounts of time - to warm up in the companionway, etc.

Thanks again,