Bimini on a ketch. Possible? Expensive?

[steve yates]

Visiting a friend in south of france, its quite hot and I suddenly thought, I would really want some kind of bimini for shade if sailing in the med. Then it occurred to me that this could be problematic in a ketch rigged boat with an aft cockpit like mine. (Westerly longbow)
Does anyone know if its possible ? And if so the likely price bracket for such athing?

 

[Wansworth]

Forgo themizzen sail

 

[ashtead]

Have you looked at any websites of canvas makers? Tecsew have a good website but I’m sure others exist. Maybe a habitent would be a budget solution. I guess doing this on a westerly no different from other ketch rigged vessel?

 

[roaringgirl]

Anything is possible. Ask a canvas maker to have a look. It looks like the boom of the mizzen is quite high, could the bimini just go underneath, if the miz-sheet is off the end of the boom?

 

[Fr J Hackett]

It's perfectly possible but will require some fiddling and ingenuity to achieve support for the aft end which will have to be cut so that it goes around the mizzen mast and is then laced together. Don't expect it to be cheap.

 

[billskip]

I had a loose cover which was tied to the rigging,ideal when parked up, but no good for sailing.
If you want a tidy looking one you will need a support frame which will possible be an inconvenience, also restricted vision to sail and masthead

 

[steve yates]

Forgo themizzen sail

Naaa

 

[Tranona]

A conventional bimini is difficult. Too many things in the way , limited headroom and limited space to attach framework. An awning is possible when at anchor but not underway unless you forego using the mizzen.

Boat just not intended for sailing in hot climates so all you can do is be imaginative with canvas and bungees to provide localised shade.

 

[Minerva]

How about a new Tilley hat and UV blocking rash vest?

 

[Wansworth]

sockets mounted strategically and golfumbrella

 

[Wansworth]

The sun and dazzle from the sea are both bad for eyesight and skin cancer.I would for one definitely fit a Bimini especially in Spanish latitudes

 

[steve yates]

sockets mounted strategically and golfumbrella

I like that lateral thinking

 

[LadyInBed]

The wheel looks to be aft of the mizzenmast and the booms look to be fairly high. The mizzenmast would make a good anchor point for the centre of the bimini with a zip to hold the rear half's together. I don't know what anchor points are available for the corners, my rigging wires are about right for mine.