Bimini top for 29S

[Fishpants]

Hi Folks,

I'm the proud owner of a new 29S, and I'm just starting to look into having a bimini top made. I was wondering how well a standard bimini would work to protect someone sitting in either the port, starboard, or even aft cockpit seats from getting wet in the rain. I used to use a tarp across the boom of my sailboat, and it hung outboard enough so that no water would run off the tarp into the cockpit. Looking at most Ranger bimini photos,it would appear to me that if you were sitting in either seat while it was raining, you'd get water down the back of your neck. Is this the case, or do they generally extend out enough? FYI, I'm only going by on-line images- I haven't looked up close and in person.

Thanks,

David

 

[Irish Mist]

David
We were at Port House Boats a couple weeks ago and saw your boat getting outfitted. We were jealous 🙂 Hope you enjoy it.
Love the color and the name .
I am anxious to see your replies as I was wondering the same. I would suspose the top will need some kind of outrigger arrangement if you are to cove the seats while they are extended.
Best of luck
Mark

 

[Fishpants]

Thanks, Mark- I am very excited about the boat and can't wait to spend some quality time on board! I agonized over the name, since I didn't want something too "boaty" or clever (if that makes sense). I may regret calling it "Doug", but I just thought it was a funny answer to "What's your boat's name?" Kind of like naming your dog Frank or Stuart. (I've had mixed response to this name 😉

As for my bimini question, I did consider some sort of outrigger idea, but I've never seen one. But I haven't yet talked to the canvas guy, so perhaps there is a common or simple answer. Hopefully someone in the very helpful Tugnut crowd will have an idea or two.

 

[Red Raven]

In our R27 the cockpit gets wet in the rain. The standard Bimini does not extend out far enough. Fixing this is one of my projects for the winter. Not sure what to do though so I am interested in the ideas you receive. In my situation I could just buy the full surround canvas/plastic which would work fine since we don't have the foldout seats. Only problem is I don't want it to be enclosed. Just covered such that rain doesn't come in the cockpit. My thought is to have some sort of extensions made that zip onto the existing zippers for the side panels. Maybe something with stays or enclosed foam that would hold it out a ways. In our case we only need a few extra inches to keep the rain from dripping in.

 

[Irish Mist]

David
As far as enclosing, on our 29, with it enclosed ,we leave the cockpit door open and have a heater out there, and it is our living room. It adds a lot of usable space. I can tell you one thing I would change. Make sure to have the clear part go as low as you can. On ours there is a 6 in band of canvas along the bottom and it really restricts your vision when you are sitting down. We have found even in Florida some nights and windy days And the rainy ones for sure , we were really thankful to be able to close in the back. You having the second generation 29 you have even more room back there. It really makes a great place for entertaining guests. When it is really nice out, we just remove all the sides and they go in the cave. We never remove the top , unless we are trailering. Having the back enclosed just adds more options.
You did great with the name, it really was fun for us to see
If you get out and near Victoria give us a shout
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