Herschel Payne Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 I was wondering if anyone had ever built a bimini or some type of sunshade for the Weekender. I thought I saw something once in the builder photos on the Stevenson site. This would be a great upgrade for the hot summer sun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Mellema Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 Herschel Yes I did put a bimini on my weekender.I have raised the lower part of the mast. It does help when sailing here in Pensacola FL area 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herschel Payne Posted March 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 Thanks Pat. That looks great and your boat is beautiful! Does the bimini get in the way of control of the main sheet? And in the photo, the main sheet seem to come directly from the end of the boom, not more from the centre of the boom as per the plans. That eliminates an extra pulley? and makes things less complicated and direct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Day Posted March 25, 2011 Report Share Posted March 25, 2011 Hey Pat, Great looking boat! Are you going to bring that Weekender over to Pirates' Cove for the Perdido Wood Boat Festival (April 30 - May 1)? You should. We would love to see it and get it in the show. I have yet to see a Weekender/Vacationer in this area and would love to see yours. Blessings, Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herschel Payne Posted September 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2011 After one of the hottest summers ever here in Ontario ( the seats on my weekender felt like I was seating on a stove and the sun gouging my eyes out, I need a bimini) so Pat, or anyone, Where can I find a bimini for Weekender? Also, I will probably need to make a taller mast and change the stays, and have the main sheet come from the end of the boom. Is that correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Mellema Posted September 17, 2011 Report Share Posted September 17, 2011 Herschel I have a ratchet block on the end of the boom. It works well and reduces the load on the line you are holding. I found the bimini cover at Bass pro shop clearance center when I was up in Mo. for some training for work. I built the framework from schedule 80 electrical conduit. It took some adjusting to get it right and so it worked. It is something you need when sailing down here in FL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeStevenson Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 Neat solution! I'd only ever considered the Bimini as an at-rest-type shade. Nice! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herschel Payne Posted September 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 How many inches would the mast have to be raised and could a block of wood just be placed in the mast box with the original mast placed on top of it? Thanks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Mellema Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 I will check after work tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Mellema Posted September 28, 2011 Report Share Posted September 28, 2011 I checked and I raised the boom up to 33" but I raised the cabin height by 5" so it doesn't look so high. The boom clears the bimini by about 2". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herschel Payne Posted September 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2011 Thanks Pat, Does that mean that you added 33 inches to the mast height? I built my boat exactly to plans, so I was thinking of just putting a 6 or 7 inch block in the mast box and then letting the original mast sit on top of that. Also another concern is how 7 inches will affect stability/heeling. By the way I found a boat shop and they are making me a bimini that will have turnscrews so that I can adjust the bimini height depending on weather I sail, row or motor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Mellema Posted September 29, 2011 Report Share Posted September 29, 2011 I think the original plans showed it 17" above the deck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickwick Posted December 4, 2011 Report Share Posted December 4, 2011 I would also like to know how these mods have effected the boats performance. 5" higher cabin...that would be nice. The higher boom? I am just beginning my Weekender so am interested in plan changes. I am going round about the tiller, wheel thing. I prefer a tiller but agree the wheel is kinda cool. I am a "keep it simple" kind of guy. That is a great looking boat Pat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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