My captain has a 30' Catalina. It came with a nasty very beet Bimini with forward panels so discolored it was hard to see.
One day when he was away I took it off the boat and hid it. He complained for a while but I like it a lot more with out it.
1. Can see where I'm going
2.
Winch handles go all the way around.
I talked to a neighbor who sailed his boat for 20 years without one and just added it about three years ago and is singing it's praises.
He says he motored into a driving storm for 4 hours and loved it.
We are in Long Island Sound (In Florida I would reconsider)
We sail at night a lot.
I wear a dopey looking floppy hat.
I'm sure if I got in the right weather it would be nice but I can't stand not being able to use the
winches properly.
So what is the word?
I see most Catalina 30's fitted with Bimini's so I must be wrong.