Custom Bimini Tops

[SailNet]

I have a Island Packet 26 with the mainsheet attached to the taffrail. Has anyone successfully put a bimini on such a boat so that it does not interfer with the winches and the mainsheet?

 

SailNet responds:

We don't want to duck your question, nor offer you an overly commercial answer, but the best place to get information about custom-made biminis and their application to particular vessels is SailNet's Custom Canvas Shop. These guys build about 300 bimini tops a year, so chances are they've encountered this problem in the past or at least something similar. You can follow the link above or you can call them at 800/234-3220 extension 1239.

Now, if you don't want to go about getting an answer in that fashion, why not log on to the Island Packet owners' e-mail discussion list here at SailNet and see if any other owners out there have already gone through this drill? To do that, simply log on to SailNet's homepage and click on "Join E-Mail Lists," which is one of the options listed under Members' Center on the left hand side of the homepage. Doing that will take you to a page where you have the choice of lists arranged geographically and owners list arranged in alphabetical order. Click the latter and then click on "I" for Island Packet. Of course you have to be a SailNet Member to do this, but attaining that status will take about a minute of your time and it's free. Then just post your query and you'll see who responds. You probably already know that most owners are pretty dedicated to the kind of boat that they own, so these discussion lists are pretty active.

Here's wishing you the best of luck.