Freedom 33 Bimini

Posted by a1johniam (a1johniam@…>)

After fighting fabric Biminis I finally gave up and constructed a
balsa cored curved hard top Bimini. Since the ketch still uses
wish-bone booms and free-footed sails the Bimini slopes downward
from rear forward. I built it for my height (69in). A taller
helmsman would require setting the sail higher and of course
building the thing that way. My Bimini has teak hand holds and is
an excellent platform for solar panels etc. It is however a very
permanent installation the way I made it. To see the sails it is
necessary to lean backward slightly to see upward beyond the back
rim. Side curtains and a windshield (vinyl) complete the job. A
hard windshield is always in the back of my mind but has a very low
priority.

Posted by akusinitz (akusinitz@…>)

Since my 33 was rerigged with regular booms I didn’t go with a
bimini since I was concerned the mizzen sheet would catch on it. But
I think it is possible if not perfect in terms of height and width.
Sounds like it works better with the wishbones.
Alan F-33 Hull 51
— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “a1johniam”
<a1johniam@y…> wrote:

After fighting fabric Biminis I finally gave up and constructed a
balsa cored curved hard top Bimini. Since the ketch still uses
wish-bone booms and free-footed sails the Bimini slopes downward
from rear forward. I built it for my height (69in). A taller
helmsman would require setting the sail higher and of course
building the thing that way. My Bimini has teak hand holds and
is
an excellent platform for solar panels etc. It is however a very
permanent installation the way I made it. To see the sails it is
necessary to lean backward slightly to see upward beyond the back
rim. Side curtains and a windshield (vinyl) complete the job. A
hard windshield is always in the back of my mind but has a very
low
priority.

Posted by John Jones (a1johniam@…>)

Having spent two trips to the Bahamas lasting three months each and
baking in the sun I felt a Bimini was essential. Similar trips for
each of the next eleven years have reinforced that decision.
However, you are right, The wildly flying missen sheets from and
unexpected jibe can just about take your ears off if you are at the
wheel. The sheets have never caught the fabric or hard Bimini but
there is always the first time. -John F-33 hull 55

– In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “akusinitz”
<akusinitz@y…> wrote:

Since my 33 was rerigged with regular booms I didn’t go with a
bimini since I was concerned the mizzen sheet would catch on it.
But
I think it is possible if not perfect in terms of height and
width.
Sounds like it works better with the wishbones.
Alan F-33 Hull 51
— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “a1johniam”
<a1johniam@y…> wrote:

After fighting fabric Biminis I finally gave up and constructed
a
balsa cored curved hard top Bimini. Since the ketch still
uses
wish-bone booms and free-footed sails the Bimini slopes downward
from rear forward. I built it for my height (69in). A taller
helmsman would require setting the sail higher and of course
building the thing that way. My Bimini has teak hand holds and
is
an excellent platform for solar panels etc. It is however a
very
permanent installation the way I made it. To see the sails it
is
necessary to lean backward slightly to see upward beyond the
back
rim. Side curtains and a windshield (vinyl) complete the job.
A
hard windshield is always in the back of my mind but has a very
low
priority.