bimini for CD 25?

[bobred]

Is there a bimini for a CD 25? My CD 25 is a '75.

[pete faga]

If my memory is correct zeida had one on her 25.

[VCampbell]

This is a picture of the dodger/bimini/side curtain set up I have on my 1975 CD25. I apologize for the quality of the photo. The original was taken a few summers ago, but I couldn't find where I saved the downloaded picture. Being a technological dinosaur, the best I could do today was to take a picture of the picture which I have hanging over my desk. I hope it shows you what you want to see.
Now the next trick is to see if I can make it show up in this message.

[tartansailor]

Hello Vern,
Am looking at the pic and was trying to figure out which way the Bimini folds; forward or aft?
Also how far is the frame from the winch handle at it's closest turn?
BTW, nice boat!
Thanks in advance,
Dick

[Sea Hunt Video]

S/V Bali Ha'i spent most of her life in NJ waters. She came with a nice dodger but no Bimini. I have been seriously thinking of installing a Bimini. One of my concerns is that the frame would impede turning the winch handle. I looked at several CD 25Ds that had a Bimini. My recollection is that the Bimini frames on all of them (except one) impeded the winch handle. I think the one that did not was built so that the frame folded back towards the stern instead of forward towards the cabin roof.

Another concern is the height of the Bimini. It looks like in the photo the boom gooseneck is below the level of the boom. I know of two CD 25Ds that I looked at where the owners raised the boom about 1 ft in order to accomodate the Bimini, allow it to be deployed without pushing up the boom, and allow for "standing" head room in the cockpit.

In South Florida a Bimini is sort of an "essential" piece of equipment. I learned to sail on sailboats without any Bimini. Because of my very limited sailing skills I would probably not be comfortable with a Bimini deployed while sailing. I need to constantly look at the sails to make sure I am not doing something stupid. A Bimini significantly impedes a person's view of their sails. When anchored or moored a Bimini would be helpful in my sailing waters.

[VCampbell]

Dick, the framework folds forward. The only drawback to this is that it adds an obstacle to work around in going to the bow, which I do frequently as I have hank-on headsails. But that aside, this has been a great addition to the boat. The bimini extends back far enough so that the helmsman can have shade along with the guests, and the dodger has a center section that zips open for ventilation. Perhaps the best part, though, is this: My wife and son like to do overnight (or longer) trips in the summer. The 25's accomodations are "cozy" at best. With the side curtains in place (they snap into the dodger and the bimini, then can be rolled up when not in use), and the back panel snapped in, which isn't in the picture, it turns the cockpit into usable cabin space. In fact, there have been many foggy or rainy Maine afternoons and evenings when I've just rowed out to my mooring and enjoyed an adult beverage and a good book in the comfort of the cockpit. I'm not sure of the distance from the frame to the winch; I know that it was a concern in setting up the framework and it works well. But my CD is hibernating right behind my house, and it will be an easy job to get that measurement tomorrow, Dick, and I'll let you know what I find out and take a picture of it as well.

Robert, you are right as to the position of the boom. I'm not sure why my mainsail isn't on the boom in the picture--usually it stays on with a cover. But the picture was taken almost 3 years ago, and usually I feel fortunate if I can remember yesterday But if I leave the boat on the mooring with the dodger/bimini up, I drop the boom at the mast and raise it aft with the topping lift just to avoid the possibility of chafing, and so that I can stand up behind it. With the bimini deployed while sailing, I wanted the maximum amount of headroom under it (which is not standing headroom, of course) that wouldn't effect the main. When the main is raised, it clears the bimini.

Vern

[bhartley]

Robert,

Have your local canvas guy add a "fly" to the rear edge of the dodger. Our's has a collapsable "rod" that slides into a pocket at the tail end with a slot for the backstay. There are 2 straps to hold it down to the stern rail. In the miserable heat of summer in Georgia, we have been known to sail with the fly up under genny alone. At anchor or at the slip, it is wonderful and takes seconds to put up and has no extra crap to get in the way of winches, etc.



I realize that this is a picture of Ballerina III, but we have her old canvas and Pyxis looks just the same with the fly!

Bly

P.S. Since the gooseneck is fixed on the 25D, a traditional bimini is going to be very low.

[Zeida]

Here are some photos of Bandolera I - my 1980 CD25 with her Bimini top. The frame and canvas folded forward, right over the companionway. It was priceless! It was made custom, with measurements taken right on the boat itself, frame made of SS, canvas by Sunbrella.




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[Zeida]

Regarding the Bimini on Bandolera, it extended all the way back right up to the stern pulpit and went forward to cover most of the companionway hatch, since we never had a dodger. We took measurements of how high I needed it to be so I could easily stand up under it; I remember we did raise the boom a bit to allow for the bimini, but this never affected the mainsail, which I could still raise all the way to the top. The only adjustment was to the topping lift , which made the end of the boom a little bit higher, but not enough to hinder the full blown main. When out for a sail, I would fold the whole thing forward and secured it with a couple of tie wraps. Cheers.

[Steve Laume]

Raven also has a fly like the one Bly shows.

It zips onto the dodger, ties to the back stay and the stern pulpit. When not in use it rolls around the pole which makes it very easy to stow. One of the nicest things about it, is it's adjustability. It can be raised or lowered in back or tilted to one side in order to maximize shade or increase head room. There is no frame in the way but it still limits visibility. If you already have a dodger it would be a pretty affordable modification. It does very little to limit the ability to leave the cockpit. You can lift it a bit even when it is tied off.

Here in the north the dodger seems more useful than a bimini but the fly is a nice compromise, Steve.

[Sea Hunt Video]

Bly and all:

Thanks for the suggestions.

Bly, I have a few of questions about installation based on your photo.

1. It looks like you have a 7'-8' rod inserted into a fold at the stern end of the "bimini". I am assuming the rod is a small diameter PVC pipe or similar. Accurate

2. How is this rod attached to the backstay to keep the rod "up" and prevent it from falling down onto the taffrail

3. In the picture it appears that the boom is significantly higher than my boom. I am assuming this is because the topping lift is holding it up higher. I know she is not your CD 25D but does this seem accurate to you At present, S/V Bali Ha'i is "naked" - no dodger and no bimini. Her boom is parallel to the water's surface. When the dodger is installed (if ever) I think the boom needs to be raised to accomodate the dodger height.

4. I was NOT aware that the gooseneck was "fixed". I thought I could move it "up" if I wanted to. I know of at least two (2) Cape Dory 25D owners who did this in order to again more "head room" in the cockpit for their bimini tops. What am I missing

Thank you again for your suggestion. I will save it and try to print the picture so I can show to a local sailmaker.

[bhartley]

Robert,

1. It looks like you have a 7'-8' rod inserted into a fold at the stern end of the "bimini". I am assuming the rod is a small diameter PVC pipe or similar. Accurate
On "our" boat, the pipe is two pieces of thin wall pvc pipe. One is white, the other is black (don't know the composition). The ID of the white piece allows the black slip inside with a tight fit. This is much easier to store and is very light weight. It is also easier to insert since you don't have a 7' piece hanging out in space.

2. How is this rod attached to the backstay to keep the rod "up" and prevent it from falling down onto the taffrail
The support rod is jammed on the backstay and can't go any lower. The "slot" fits the mainsheet and the backstay.

3. In the picture it appears that the boom is significantly higher than my boom. I am assuming this is because the topping lift is holding it up higher. I know she is not your CD 25D but does this seem accurate to you At present, S/V Bali Ha'i is "naked" - no dodger and no bimini. Her boom is parallel to the water's surface. When the dodger is installed (if ever) I think the boom needs to be raised to accomodate the dodger height.
The boom on Pyxis and Whisper (and B III) is the factory install (fixed). There was actually a wear spot on the dodger on the forward bow from rubbing. I installed a piece of leather for wear and we use the topping lift to insure that it is just fractionally above at all times. No other adjustment.

4. I was NOT aware that the gooseneck was "fixed". I thought I could move it "up" if I wanted to. I know of at least two (2) Cape Dory 25D owners who did this in order to again more "head room" in the cockpit for their bimini tops. What am I missing
The boom on both of our 25Ds is definitely fixed and there is a limited degree of upward angle permitted by the design. The previous owner of Pyxis had a bimini installed (and removed) because they said it was just too low. We installed the dodger. When not under sail, we use the topping lift to raise the aft end of the boom as far as possible, but it is a limited range. On the Sea Sprite 23, the gooseneck is not fixed and we move the boom way up when on our mooring. Doesn't work on the 25D.

Thank you again for your suggestion. I will save it and try to print the picture so I can show to a local sailmaker.
I was sailing yesterday but won't be back up there any time too soon, but I can get measurements on the fly if you need them the next trip up.

[Sea Hunt Video]

Thanks Bly:

I am still unclear about how the white (or black) tube is secured to the backstay. No worries.

For those who subscribe, the March/April 2012 issue of Good Old Boat has a cover photo of a sailboat with a bimini attached. This design is what I was thinking of doing with S/V Tadpole and may do with S/V Bali Ha'i. It just seems simple. The sunbrella material is installed OVER the boom. The bimini is attached to the sailboat by 4-5 bungee cords.

[Zeida]

Robert... Regarding the sun cover type featured on the Good Old Boat cover... I had that exact setup on my Cd25 before I finally gave up on it and converted to a real bimini top. It is a real P.I.N. - the front bungees attach to the shrouds, a middle one to the mast itself, the back ones to the stern pulpit. With the cover sitting "over" the boom, it is too high to really shade the cockpit the way you would hope it should - if the wind picks up a bit while at anchor, you have to bring it down in a hurry. You need front and back pipes or tubes to make a "frame" for the cover. they have to be a "2-part tubes" to make them easier to assemble and stowe; I had that for almost six months until I hated it fervently. Since I did not have a dodger, I never had Ballerina II's setup, since it would also entail dealing with "two" front and back pipes inserted in their pockets, so finally converted to the real bimini. On the 25, the boom was not fixed and I could raise it as needed.

I think Bly's "Ballerina" setup is the best, and if you can get used to the idea of having your dodger up at all times, the additional "fly" will be a much better solution than the Good Old Boat cover shot. It is also very simple, and much easier to set up and remove than the "over the boom" version. Believe me, I know.

You have a dodger, but I assume it may be a bit small and may make it uncomfortable to get in and out... maybe not. I find my dodger in Bandolera, here in Miami with its sudden rainstorms and quickie squalls, a necessity. It allows you to keep the cockpit hatch open and not suffocate, while you sit inside waiting the rain out... saves you a bit from splash coming on board that all small boats are exposed to...

I hope you have already ordered your Mack-Pack - you will find it a wonderful addition. Hope you are out sailing in our beautiful weather these days.

zeida

[Sea Hunt Video]

Spent some time today with a canvas maker. While I still like Bly's method for a bimini, unless I am missing something, it would require that the dodger be installed at all times. If not, there is no place for the front zipper of the bimini to "zip into". It's the dodger frame that holds up the forward part of the bimini.

Zeida is definitely right about sudden South Florida showers that come and go. My only concern is that the dodger is an impediment to me going forward to the foredeck. I am not sure the few showers warrant always having a dodger up. Although, the past 5-6 days with 25-30 kt winds, the dodger would have been very nice IF I had been out sailing.