SAIL WITHOUT SUNBURN
The bimini tops or awnings provide optimal protection from the sun and therefore give you considerable additional comfort at sea. All year round, UV rays are dangerous to our health if we are exposed to them for too long and repeatedly.
What good is a bimini top?
On sea or lake excursions, a temperature shock can be the result of a relatively brief (1 hour) exposure to the sun and too rapid a dip in cold water. The consequences can be dramatic: losing consciousness and sometimes even drowning. To avoid this, the sun canopy for boats was created, also known as the bimini top or awning.
But be careful! Even if you slowly enter the water, keep in mind that someone could involuntarily fall overboard.
When can I use a bimini top?
- At the anchorage
- When sailing slowly
The different models
material
A bimini top consists of two different parts and materials: the bracket, made of aluminum or stainless steel, and the sail. The main advantage of aluminum is that it is inexpensive. Furthermore, the aluminum is relatively light. The stainless steel brackets are more resistant to marine environments (UV and salt). They are also more shock resistant and more stable during ship movements. They are supplied with struts that allow them to be sailed at speeds of up to 20 knots with the bimini top open.
The sail is made with a UV resistant polyester coating that is also waterproof.
number of arches
The number of arches depends on the area you want to cover on board. The higher the number of arches, the larger the area covered. In general, the width of your boat determines the choice of sun canopy and thus the number of arches.
Bimini top brackets
Support poles keep the sun canopy upright.
Find the right size for your boat
Bimini top size
A: width B: height C: length
Length: It is the length when unfolded: it is your choice which part of the boat you want to cover. The sockets installed on the boat are located mid-length. You have to imagine the bimini unfolded to see the area it will cover. Marked with the letter C on the scheme.
Beam: width of your boat from side to side (places where you want to use the brackets, so subtract the few inches between the gunwale and the hull of the boat).
You have a margin of about 5%: an awning with a width of 1.7 m fits perfectly on a boat that is 1.6 to 1.8 m wide. Marked with the letter A on the diagram.
Height: This is the height measured from the mount. So you must consider the height between the boat deck and the height of the bimini from the point of attachment to determine the total height of the deployed bimini.
Example: Let's assume a bimini fixed on the sides of the boat that has an extra 80 cm between the bimini fixing and the deck (= bottom of the boat). So you have to take a height of 110 cm to reach a (maximum) total height of 110 cm + 80 cm = 190 cm. Marked with the letter B on the diagram.
Additional equipment
Fishing Rod Holder
Support poles: allow the shade sail to be held upright
Solar panels: lightweight, can be placed on the bimini top
Care
Regular water jet cleaning (once a month). This allows salt and dirt to be removed before they settle in the fabric.
Wait until the top is dry before folding it.
Avoid cooking under the bimini. This is because the smoke contains cooking gases and vapors that encourage the formation and development of mold on the fabric.
Never use solvents or cleaning agents!
