Bimini interferes with standard main sail

[fairweathersailor]

We have 310 First with a bimini. The main sail can not be pulled tight w/o resting on the bimini top. The previous owner just kept the boom off the bimini by tightening the topping lift.
I am considering a new main sail, this one is the original sail. How much efficiency will I lose if I have the foot of the new sail cut to clear the bimini? Note, this mast on this boat can be bent so the sail needs even more taken off the foot if the backstay is tightened. Also, I think the reef points would need to be moved as well.

Thanks

Dave

[Freesail99]

Would it not be a lot cheaper and dare I say easier to just shorten the support arms of the bimini rather then a new sail?

[sailingfool]

Taking say 12" out of the leech will have a totally negligible impact on performance. Tell the local PHRF handicapper and I bet he/she wouldn't give any adjustment.

I don't see how this should impact the reef points, as the reefing lines should tie around the boom so they can self-adjust as necessary.

Let the sailmaker figure out the proper dimensions for the new sail...getting it right is one of the reasons the local sailmaker charges big bucks...

[tweitz]

We had the same problem on our Beneteau 323. We have a pretty high boom, but I am 6'4", and when i adjusted the bimini to give me head room it wore the boom started to wear it. I had a canvas guy add reinforcement to the bimini at the rub points, and readjusted the bimini frame so it cants down slightly towards the bow. By doing this I was able to get standing room at the wheel (barely) and clearance for the boom. You might try fiddling this way.