Is a bimini essential in the tropics?

macd said:
The mesh, or at least a reputable brand of it, is called Phifertex. Good UV resistance. There are various weaves which allow through differing amounts of light (and breeze), although 30% (usually described as 70% shade) is perhaps the most common.
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Cheers - I'll pass that on to SWMBO - I can't sew for toffee!
 
I get by with hiding under the solar panels for the small percentage of time spent sailing, though a bimini would be nice. Then an awning from stern to the mast helps lots keeping the whole boat much cooler if in the tropical sun plus with a small through hull fitted delivers gallons of free clean water every time it rains :cool:
 
Because I am not full time in the sunny climes I make do with a 6x4ft rectangular umbrella.
The pole is tied to the binnacle and I tie down the corners to the guard wires etc.
Works well when stationary, motoring or sailing down wind but no good when beating!
 
Definitely fit a Bimini. If you want to keep the boat cool at anchor or in a marina we had an awning for the aft deck, cockpit, over the boom and foredeck. In some countries you visit the temperature will be over 30C. The maximum we had in Portugal was 44.9C.
 
The point about time at anchor vs time sailing and therefore making do with a cockpit tent / awning is fair enough but even a day sail with no protection from the sun is going to be very unpleasant under tropical sun.
So, find a way to get a sturdy bimini over the helmsman at least and pref a full cockpit bimini with the side panels mentioned above.
You will regret it if you dont.
 
not sure where you are planning to spend hurricane season - but any where south is incredibly hot as you will be around 10deg south - if in the western carib then down toward 9 deg south -- and do not forget the rain storms that occur a lot - more in the west than in the east --

by the way you could go north into the usa for hurricane season but a bimini will keep the sun down and the rain off

without a bimini you will simpy fry --
 
Vonasi said:
We sailed for three years in the Med without a bimini. We also have a mainsheet that comes down right in the middle of the cockpit (and I'd never have it any other way - centre mainsheets are hopeless if you need to dump the mainsail in a gust and you can never get the sail sheeted in easily or efficiently. Centre mainsheets are a sail control idea designed with charterers in mind where shade is more important than sailing performance - they motor every where anyway! -IMHO). After three years of being burnt under the relentless sun we made our own bimini which only covered half the cockpit - but what a difference! Should have done it years before - even though it's a small bimini it always provides an area of shade somewhere to get out of the relentless sun. Also being only half cockpit length we can still easily keep an eye on mainsail shape which is difficult with a full length bimini. When at anchor we roll out a half boat length awning, put up side screens and an aft screen (which helps to scoop wind into the cockpit too). I'd say yes you definitely need a bimini - even if it's only a small one.
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That about sums it up.
You can have three "years of under the relentless sun" or, like everyone else says, get a bimini. (The costs of store bought biminis does seem crazy and I did think about building my own with bamboo and Sunbrella!)

But the sun is the sun and, in the cruising areas that you are intending, the lack of a bimini will make your cockpit a no go area for much of the day. A bimini will make it into a cool haven where you can relax and be at one with the sea.

Robin Knox Johnstone never had one, mind, and he did OK. But then, I am sure he would have taken one if it was on offer!
 
Of course a bimini or equivalent is essential for any latitude less than the UK. While all the reasons of comfort are true and even under sail in winds that render temperatures comfortable, the important reason is medical. After 30 years sailing in the Mediterranean I have cataracts that my doctor attributes to that prolonged exposure - as well as providing shade, wear good shades. The sun is a killer, literally.

04-Vulnerabilities-schematic.jpg
 
On our first Atlantic Circuit our Contessa 33 had no spray hood or bimini. Nothing could fit if we wanted to sail the boat. What we did have was a flat top awning that set from the mast aft; it had side curtains too. Spinnaker poles were used as stretchers. Bit of a faff to set and strike, but very solid. Could stand 25kts of trade wind without flapping. Brilliant for water catching too.

Second time around, in a different boat which had a bimini, sailing in the sun was cooler, but the boat still baked at rest as the deck wasn't shaded. I recut an old "tent type" awning so I could use a whisker pole and long boathook as stretchers. Not bad, but nothing to be compared to the professional one.
 
Bimini or not, ALWAYS be dressed under the sun. I use white long sleeve shirts, and a kind of pants we call 'salvari' in Greece, again white. A wide hat is also a must. Been sailing under the sun for many years without a bimini and my skin and eyes colors are more of the North European kind (although rather sun-resistent). A boom tent took care when on anchor and everything was o.k.
That said, last year I fitted a bimini for 350,00 € (150 the two arches, 140 the canvas and 60 the fittings - measuring etc. was DIY) and the world has changed! Do it!
 
We had a bimini made to shade the forward end of the cockpit, the mainsheet being just forward of the wheel, suppplemented by awnings (with mesh curtains) at anchor. We did not worry about protecting the helmsman's area as there was rarely anyone there at sea, steering being by windvane when sailing and autopilot when motoring. The bimini also proved useful in catching rainwater.
 
blenkinsop said:
We had a bimini made to shade the forward end of the cockpit, the mainsheet being just forward of the wheel, suppplemented by awnings (with mesh curtains) at anchor. We did not worry about protecting the helmsman's area as there was rarely anyone there at sea, steering being by windvane when sailing and autopilot when motoring. The bimini also proved useful in catching rainwater.
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Thanks for that. We have been looking for design ideas for the cockpit along the lines you describe. Our sprayhood doesn't extend aft far enough. Do you have any pics of the setup you use underway?
 
That's a great WHO diagram Barnacle! I had far too much sun when younger and have had to spend money at private skin clinics as well as having several skin pathologies frozen off by the NHS. For years I now have had a long permanent bimini fitted under the boom, with side curtains which I have even used at sea!! Fortunately I always wore good sunglasses. Any boat heading south from the UK should fit a bimini!
You have to get round the main sheet problem, usually by splitting the bimini. I've just had a separate aft extension made to cover the rear cabin, leaving a slot for the mainsheet.
 
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>Assuming that's from a proper weather station, it's a shade temperature, so 'nuff said

Yes it was from Faro airport, we were in the nearby Olhau lagoons. It was so hot we ate cold food and spent most of the time in the lagoon water. We had a plague of flies much swatting, then dozens of dragonflies of different colours and a Preying Mantis on the foredeck. Weird.
 
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