Yea!! After more hours behind a sewing machine than I care to recall, the bimini is complete! All things considered (like the fact that this is my first big canvas project) we are pretty pleased with the end result.
Besides the fact that our old bimini was more than ten years old and becoming worn and faded, when we mounted the new solar panels on top of the bimini frame, our old canvas no longer fit. We sailed the Bahamas with all of the materials required for a new bimini, but in the end decided it was a project that would need to wait for more space. Plus, good friend Tanya on S/V Minx was kind enough to let me borrow her Sailrite sewing machine, which made the project SEW much easier!
Finding a way to accommodate the 10 posts that support the solar panels while still keeping us dry was quite a challenge, but Brad and I came up with a plan that involved securing two halves of the bimini together with zippers and installing a “gutter” on the underside of the bimini to prevent rainwater from dripping into the cockpit.
Also, Sailrite just launched their annual photo contest, and I’ve entered the project. You can view our entry here: http://promoshq.wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/250843/voteable_entries/55664959
And beginning August 15, you can stop back to vote to help us with a gift certificate from Sailrite! Don’t worry – we’ll remind you!
Just a few more projects to finish, and we should be heading north soon!
(Note from Brad: The bimini looks great, and yes, our cat LOVES corn on the cob.)
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