Bimini and Fate

[Jack Long]

Today I did the cutting and a rough test install of my bimini. I am not going to tell you what I made it out of, how it is designed, or anything else right now. I have another several hours of work to do making it nice and then I will take pictures and have a post to talk about all that.

But I am writing because I am just so damn tickled with my timing. Being stuck in the very protected marina in a land of mild of weather I am not religiously checking the weather. I know, I am a terrible sailor. Anyway, I picked today completely randomly to attack the bimini. I was about halfway through when the first of my neighbors stopped by to comment on the imminent rain.

Yeap. Been at the boat prep full time for over 3 months and the first rain came the night after I put the bimini up.

I pretty much used up all my luck right there huh?

[delmarrey]

I had the same situation with my cockpit project.
I put on the last paint Wed. and it started raining Thurs. afternoon.
Now it's time for a dodger and bimini.

Before and after.

[Shu]

Well, I guess I'm right in that lucky grove with you. Yesterday I bought a new tarp and streached it over my boom to keep my cockpit dry! It worked! Rained last night, dry this morning!
Now all I need is your ambition! LOL

[SkiprJohn]

Del,
Wow, what a difference. Looks great! You certain that's the same boat?
Where's your new traveler?
Kind regards,
JohnL

[delmarrey]

But, it's on the transom now. I went to a larger and stronger boom w/ a boom brake. I can handle all the rig from the cockpit now.

From a race boat to a cruiser.

[Liberty28]

I think the nice work brought on the good luck. Sometimes those guardian angels be sailors!!!!

[Vasco]

Del,

That traveller on the transom's going to make it difficult for a bimini. I have a boat with the traveller just forward of the pedestal and the only bimini it'll take is too small to make it worthwhile. By the way, she looks beautiful.

[delmarrey]

Vasco,

The traveller is well behind the steering pedestal, about 2'. The end of the boom hangs over the transom and the main sheet comes straight down. Similar to this..........

[rock1212]

delmarrey, I just wonder if the bimini top gets in the way of the main sheet?

Right now I am looking at possibly buying a Tayana 42 with a rear-mount cockpit that doesn't currently have a bimini top, and I am wondering what the feasibility is of installing one that won't interfere with rigging?