Finished! - My bimini replacement
Submitted by randall df223 on Sun, 2013-12-29 14:40
I needed to consider replacing my bimini as the old one is basically shot. Being a sailmaker in a previous lifetime, I have the sewing skills to do it myself. So I have sourced the heavy duty sewing machine, got the material and started. Phase One is to add a rear bimini covering the back deck. So I have introduced a rocket launcher. Grantartic helped with bending some alloy tube, and last night and this morning I made up the new rear shade. All fitted now. 
Phase Two will be a zip up 'sock' cover for the exiting forward bimini. Phase Three will be the replacement of the old bimini, which is now looking very old and shabby next to the new material of the rear shade.
____________________________________________________________________________
Fish! HARD!
big john
Posts: 8751
Date Joined: 20/07/06
Good
Looking good Randall, need to replace mine shortly.
WA based manufacturer and supplier of premium leadhead jigs, fligs, bucktail jigs, 'bulletproof' soft plastic jig heads and XOS bullet jig heads.
Jigs available online in my web store!
randall df223
Posts: 6454
Date Joined: 08/08/11
I realised it was time when I
I realised it was time when I washed the bird poop off the old one at Monkey Mia in May... more water went thru the fabric than ran off it.... :/
Fish! HARD!
petermac
Posts: 2946
Date Joined: 03/03/10
i knew it was due too
I knew it was time to replace my wet suit when my mate said to me " I can see your arse mate and its not a pretty site get a new wetty please " I do like to get good value out of my gear thou
Mike17
Posts: 323
Date Joined: 30/06/13
Awnings
I just installed two 4WD type awnings on an Ocean Whaler 5.65.
They are 2m wide by 2.2m long just bolted them straight onto targa.
Picked up both for under $600.
Use The Force
big john
Posts: 8751
Date Joined: 20/07/06
Travel
Can you have them up while travelling or are they only used when stationary?
WA based manufacturer and supplier of premium leadhead jigs, fligs, bucktail jigs, 'bulletproof' soft plastic jig heads and XOS bullet jig heads.
Jigs available online in my web store!
randall df223
Posts: 6454
Date Joined: 08/08/11
This setup, (rear bimini up,
This setup, (rear bimini up, main bimini folded back and secured) I will travel short distances (metro - less tgan 80kms/hr). Longer distances I will take the rear bimini off and collapse the rocket launcher and main bimini back and secure. More so for less windage and better fuel economy.
Fish! HARD!
Mike17
Posts: 323
Date Joined: 30/06/13
Depends
Just depends on the conditons.
They're not built to withstand too much wind but last week we put one up at Pt Peron ramp and headed out with it and same with in the estuary had them up all day in the sea breeze.
I'm really happy with them as they take up no room when not used and when towing and if you need them it takes 2 minutes to put them both up.
Use The Force
randall df223
Posts: 6454
Date Joined: 08/08/11
Phase two started - template
Phase two started - template for the back 1/4 of bimini sock measured and cut out. two of these will form the back of the sock. the front half I will measure once I have sewed the top....
Fish! HARD!
randall df223
Posts: 6454
Date Joined: 08/08/11
phase two and three progressing
I have got all the fabric and zips and stuff and now its off with the old and soon on with the new.
The old...
Why I need to replace it... sunlight thru the fabric is never a good thing...
So it's off with the old...
Fish! HARD!
randall df223
Posts: 6454
Date Joined: 08/08/11
Started sewing together the
Started sewing together the new bimini last night.
This is the side re-inforcing and pocket for the centre cross beam sewn on. Zips for the clears will go on the sides later.
https://imageshack.us/a/img59/1931/0vw0.jpg
Sewing the pocket for the front cross beam. A third zip will be sewn here later for the clears.
https://imageshack.us/a/img40/6499/b1cx.jpg
Front pocket finished.
https://imageshack.us/a/img844/1972/1lb7.jpg
Tonight, I'll finish the rear edge which isn't a pocket but a fold over flap that laces up underneath, meaning I can maintain taughtness in the bimini and also fit it / remove it without disassembling the rocket launcher that is supported by the rear cross beam.
Stand by for more pictures.
Fish! HARD!
randall df223
Posts: 6454
Date Joined: 08/08/11
Tonight I have sewn up the
Tonight I have sewn up the rear fold over. This will fold around the rear cross beam and lace up underneath so the lacing is protected from the sun by the uv resistant fabric. the challenge here is the three dimensional shape that the fabric needs to be tightened around. still needs the eyelets which I will do tomorrow at a more reasonable hour. don't want to upset the neighbours bashing in eyelets at this time of night.
https://imageshack.com/i/4jfy4jj
https://imageshack.com/i/ndgye1j
https://imageshack.com/i/ng7blnj
Fish! HARD!
randall df223
Posts: 6454
Date Joined: 08/08/11
And it
And it fits!
https://imageshack.us/a/img850/7118/r9hz.jpg
https://imageshack.us/a/img843/4579/ef1q.jpg
https://imageshack.us/a/img268/448/1obs.jpg
The zips still need to go on (they havent arrived yet) and then I'll be doing a "sock" for when it is folded back.
Fish! HARD!
Rob H
Posts: 5801
Date Joined: 18/01/12
looks good Randall! you might
looks good Randall! you might have to start a sideline making biminis here, and industrial strength fishing shirts and boardies!
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
randall df223
Posts: 6454
Date Joined: 08/08/11
Ha! I think one is enough
Ha! I think one is enough considering the family and dining rooms have resembled a sail loft for the past week or so.
Fish! HARD!
Tank
Posts: 358
Date Joined: 12/05/12
Hi Randall
I have a post along the same lines but looking for a supplier of this sort of bimini....where did you get the pipe and fittings from...my one got damaged in Cyclone Christine and need to replace...I cannoit find a supplier anywhere so far
randall df223
Posts: 6454
Date Joined: 08/08/11
The ali pipe I got from
The ali pipe I got from either whitworths or bias marine. And a fishwreck member bent it for me. As seam said, if you can afford, go the s/s option.
Fish! HARD!
sea-kem
Posts: 14990
Date Joined: 30/11/09
The ali pipes in mine broke
The ali pipes in mine broke so replaced them with stainless sourced from Stirlings Australia and had Bendtech roll them for me. Good job Randall btw
Love the West!
randall df223
Posts: 6454
Date Joined: 08/08/11
https://imageshack.us/a/img10
https://imageshack.us/a/img10/2558/hk2x.jpg
Zip up sock all but finished. Just a couple on eyelets and toggle fasteners to fit.
And that is my bimini replaced and improved.
Fish! HARD!
randall df223
Posts: 6454
Date Joined: 08/08/11
Finished! Before... https://
Finished!
Before...
https://imageshack.us/a/img801/8447/oixv.jpg
After...
https://imageshack.us/a/img199/208/7njs.jpg
And with the clears up...
https://imageshack.us/a/img543/5272/3llk.jpg
Very happy. :-D
Fish! HARD!
Ashen
Posts: 1042
Date Joined: 22/03/13
Great work mate. DYI is
Great work mate. DYI is awesome when it turns out better than expected!
A fish in the hand is worth 10 in the water!
hornet42
Posts: 179
Date Joined: 24/07/12
Very nice
good job looks great
PB Dhu 850 mm Pink 820mm