I think I bought a boat

[Alaris]

As has been mentioned, don't throw the stuff in the cockpit area away that you think you don't want to use, if you have someplace to store it. Someone put a lot of thought into those things, judging from the photos, and it cost them thousands of dollars to make. Either you are another owner may find it useful in the future.

Plans change.

By the way, it may be fairly easy to increase the height of the bimini by lengthening the lower ends of the tubes, adjusting the bow position and modifying the connection to the dodger if necessary. You may regret not having protection over the cockpit on summer days in the Chesapeake, whether the sun is shining or it is raining.

When you live aboard, the cockpit becomes your back porch, and you will spend a lot of time there.

The Bimini really takes away from the sailing experience for me. I’ve spent my whole life sailing on the Bay without one and feel uncomfortable when I have one. The compromise is to keep the dodger and have a remote for the autopilot to hide from the sun on particularly oppressive days.

Re: the extra gear, I live on a farm and storage space abounds. I don’t throw things away. For better or worse!

 

[fufkin]

Totally agree with keeping the bimini, even for at the dock living. Rain or scorching sun, it keeps the cockpit as one of the most used/pleasant areas. For seriously scorching heat at the dock/anchor, I have an additional mast to backstay awning that (while you can’t use under sail), noticeably cuts down the heat/solar gain both in the cabin and cockpit on the hottest laziest days.

edit/also: if you don’t like it while sailing, fold it and lash it, you would won’t even notice that it’s there

 

[Israel Hands]

By the way, it may be fairly easy to increase the height of the bimini by lengthening the lower ends of the tubes, adjusting the bow position and modifying the connection to the dodger if necessary. You may regret not having protection over the cockpit on summer days in the Chesapeake, whether the sun is shining or it is raining.

Accnick beat me to it. And even if you think you don't want it, things change and the next owner would likely to want that bimini which is matched to the boat. Ditto the davits.

I never appreciated a bimini till I had one FWIW.

Last summer I bought a similar size boat, and my garage is full of stuff that came out of it. But very little of it is getting tossed out. But my kids' old hockey gear bags are about to head to the dump.

 

[Alaris]

Accnick beat me to it. Even if you think you don't want it, things change and the next owner would likely to want that bimini which is matched to the boat. Ditto the davits.

Last summer I bought a similar size boat, and my garage is full of stuff that came out of it. But very little of it is getting tossed out. My kids' old hockey gear bags are about to head to the dump.

Even better, the Bimini will still be brand new for the next owner!

 

[Cruisin Loser]

Yeah, the Bimini height can easily be modified.

We have a bimini with solar that lives at the yard when the boat is raced. In it's place, for shade at dock or anchor, we have a cockpit awning that zips to the aft end of the dodger and has a telescoping spreader bar that ties off to the boom end. On your boat it would go to the backstay.

Especially in the Chesapeake, it's important that the center window of the dodger has zippers on either side so it can roll or flip up to let air flow through the cockpit at anchor.

If you don't like the Bimini, the awning does a wonderful job at dock or anchor.

 

[Alaris]

More pics:

 

[bgytr]

Super boat. It will be a fantastic Bay boat with the cboard.

 

[bgytr]

Oh and the bimini debate... I hear you about it taking away from sailing. I've gotten by for 3 seasons with a decent quality $20 jury-rigged tarp that I use only when necessary, at anchor or pierside to shield the sun on aft cockpit those hot mid summer days. But when sailing in the middle of the Bay, the temps are cool enough when away from shore that my hat and a long sleeve tech Tshirt suffice.

 

[CapDave]

Congratulations, that's great!! And she looks pretty nice too....

But tell us all again how you're going cruising without a dinghy??

 

[Alaris]

Congratulations, that's great!! And she looks pretty nice too....

But tell us all again how you're going cruising without a dinghy??

I don’t go ashore!

Also, with a 5’ draft and the bay’s mud bottom, I can basically beach it and swim in.

 

[accnick]

More pics:

View attachment 556721
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An hour of work by a decent welder and the bimini is 6" taller, and looks as good as new. You may or may not even need to modify the front attachment to the dodger.

If you don't want it while sailing, disconnect at the dodger and fold it back out of the way.

Easy-peasy.

 

[Alaris]

Y’all aren’t going to sell me on biminis… just not going to happen…

 

[221J]

Y’all aren’t going to sell me on biminis… just not going to happen…

I'm right there with you on no bimini. I put up a large boom tent on anchor and wear a hat while sailing.

 

[wick]

Great looking boat. Enjoy getting it sorted to be yours.

 

[accnick]

Y’all aren’t going to sell me on biminis… just not going to happen…

You may thank us for pestering you when you get older and are on a first-name basis with your dermatologist.

 

[Alaris]

You may thank us for pestering you when you get older and are on a first-name basis with your dermatologist.

I have a large stockpile of high SPF and apply liberally. It’s one reason I wanted a good shower on the boat.

By that logic shouldn’t I be putting a Bimini on the race boat too?

 

[Fah Kiew Tu]

I don’t go ashore!

Also, with a 5’ draft and the bay’s mud bottom, I can basically beach it and swim in.

Yeah good luck with that idea. My boat draws 4'. I usually anchor in 10' under the keel.

And WRT davits, I was of the same opinion. I now have davits and they're staying there. So much less hassle to launch/recover the dinghy.

But - you do whatever you want. It's your boat.

FKT

 

[Alaris]

Yeah good luck with that idea. My boat draws 4'. I usually anchor in 10' under the keel.

And WRT davits, I was of the same opinion. I now have davits and they're staying there. So much less hassle to launch/recover the dinghy.

But - you do whatever you want. It's your boat.

FKT

Maybe someday 🙂

 

[Alaris]

For what it’s worth I’m storing the davits for future use. The money isn’t there for a dinghy and motor right now.

 

[monkphunk]

The money isn’t there for a dinghy and motor right now.

Keep an eye out for a cheap rowing dinghy. It's nice to go ashore, and you'll save money by anchoring out rather than giving in to the temptation to pay for a marina slip for the night.