Red Raven
Coupeville, Wa
- Joined
- May 14, 2015
- Messages
- 1,836
- Location
- Whidbey Island, Wa
- Fluid Motion Model
- R-27 Classic
- Hull Identification Number
- FMLT2734C414
- Vessel Name
- Red Raven
- MMSI Number
- 338190767
We love our cockpit bimini shade it provides. However, when it rains (although this rarely happens in the NW summers! 😉 ) it drips onto the cockpit gunwale which results in the cockpit floor getting wet even in moderate rainfall. A full enclosure would solve the problem but we only use the boat for the 6 warmer months of the year so a full enclosure is not really necessary. I decided to attempt to make something to attach to the existing zipper system to manage the water runoff.
A quick call to King Canvas who built our Bimini determined it had not be previously done, it likely would not work, and I was crazy. Just the sort of challenge I was looking for! :ugeek:
An internet search resulted in this RV drip rail product:
https://www.trimlok.com/plastic-extrusi ... ain-gutter
I ordered a matching zippers and built a prototype that includes lengths of foam to give it the proper angle to catch the water. A quick test with a water sprinkling can proved the concept. A local canvas shop then sewed the zippers and drip rail to matching canvas along with a velcro enclosure to capture the foam for shape.
Here is the final result. Click on the photos to get a larger view. I'm really happy with it. Came out better than I thought. Besides it was fun! Now I need to get the boat out of the garage to test it in some real rain!
Curt
A quick call to King Canvas who built our Bimini determined it had not be previously done, it likely would not work, and I was crazy. Just the sort of challenge I was looking for! :ugeek:
An internet search resulted in this RV drip rail product:
https://www.trimlok.com/plastic-extrusi ... ain-gutter
I ordered a matching zippers and built a prototype that includes lengths of foam to give it the proper angle to catch the water. A quick test with a water sprinkling can proved the concept. A local canvas shop then sewed the zippers and drip rail to matching canvas along with a velcro enclosure to capture the foam for shape.
Here is the final result. Click on the photos to get a larger view. I'm really happy with it. Came out better than I thought. Besides it was fun! Now I need to get the boat out of the garage to test it in some real rain!
Curt