[Rhodes22-list] Do you recommend the Bimini top?

[Bob-Leslie Fletcher]

Paul,

After reading Frone's posting I wonder if there are different "generations" 
of Biminis.  Ours with a boat bought this year folds neatly and leans 
against an open pop-top with no problem.   If we need to furl/reef the main 
under challenging circumstances while the Bimini is up, we just unclip the 
aft Bimini straps and flop it forward against the pop top.  As it moves 
forward it drops well below the boom.

If we have the Bimini leaning forward against cabin with the pop-top down 
and the hatch open, we have to duck into the cabin a little more than 
without the Bimini, but our Pop-top is almost always up except for really 
gusty conditions when the boom and pop-top are lowered.

In the captain's chairs we can see over the Bimini when it's up.

The only Bimini downside for us is that you can't sit on the gunwale where 
the Bimini is attached, and you get some agility training to go forward 
around the Bimini either up or folded against the pop top, but we have found 
the benefits outweigh these drawbacks.

I doubt the Bimini can be stored in the cockpit but we just leave ours on 
the boat full time.  For tailoring we lean is back against the stern rail 
and secure it.  It comes with a cover for sun/weather/wind protection while 
tailoring or moored.

Bob Fletcher


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <FCrawford0707 at aol.com>
To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Saturday, October 20, 2007 4:16 PM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Do you recommend the Bimini top?


>
> In a message dated 10/20/2007 5:53:49 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> krawitzmail-rhodes22 at yahoo.com writes:
>
> For  those of you that have it, is the Bimini top more of a benefit or a
> hassle?  How long does it take to put up and take down? Does it store 
> easily in
> the  cabin?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Paul K
>
>
>
>
> Paul - It is very useful if you will be out for a good bit of the mid-day
> sun or spending sunny time in the cockpit at anchor.  There are a couple 
> of
> downsides : it makes furling / reefing of the in-mast main a bit of a fire 
> drill
> (although I'm pretty used to it and that's not really a big deal).
> Secondly, it limits your flexibility with regard to sailing with the 
> pop-top up  - to
> do so, the bimini has to be deployed, as well.  We have not tried to 
> store it
> in the cabin - I doubt if it would fit.  It lays comfortably on  the aft
> section of the cabin top when not deployed.   I would  recommend getting 
> it unless
> you are a big fan of being exposed to the sun.
>    Frone Crawford
>    s/v Sunday Morning
>
>
>
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