How difficult would it be to make your own bimini?

[maby]

There is a big difference between a bimini and an awning. A well made bimini can be used underway as well as providing shelter at anchor. Different boats and cockpit layouts require different designs which is why you need to speak to people with experience on making them for different boats. Very few people can do this in the UK because very few boats are fitted with good biminis.

However, go to Spain or Greece and you will find more expertise. Just about every charter boat is fitted with one so the expertise is there.

Surprised that you are unable to get one made to fit your boat. The boat is used for charter, so somebody will have designed one that works. One of the constraints is always swinging winch handles, but you may well find that having a bimini you can use under way outweighs the inconvenience of not always being able to take full turns on the winch handles.

Indeed - just pointing out to the OP that cost is not the only consideration. We spoke to several different sail makers and none could come up with a design that would be both stable for the bimini and allow free access to the winches. We came to the conclusion that we would always end up removing the bimini before we sailed - which removed any advantage that it had over the awning. A friend of ours with an identical boat paid the money for the bimini and now finds themselves removing and stowing it every time they sail...

Although we have not tried it, I do believe that it would be possible to sail with our awning fitted in moderate winds. It does not get in the way of any of the lines or controls and is stable in quite a gust provided it has been properly tensioned.

 

[Tranona]

Really should not be necessary to remove the bimini to sail - rather defeats the object of having one in the first place. We use 8" handles on the winches otherwise it catches the frame, but have sailed thousands of miles in the Med with it up all the time.

Obviously can't comment on your particular boat but would be really surprised if it was not possible to design one that worked. If you are taking your boat to the Med, then you will find a solution pretty quickly - or fry!

BTW there is a company in Holland that makes spray hoods and biminis as original equipment for most of the big production builders, including Jeanneau. Don't know the name offhand, but a bit of googling will probably find them.

 

[homer]

18 months ago I made the frame for mine but paid someone to make the fabric cover. I made up a wooden pattern for the shape of the bent tube. Then bought tube and fittings from a stainless steel stockist (in Malta, where I happened to be, so may not help you much!). Took tube to a pipe bender and then trimmed bits to length and fitted it all together. That lot cost me 300 Euro and then another 350 odd to have the cover made. It's quite a big bimini - I was quoted 1000+ to do the whole thing so saved a fair bit.