26X Cockpit Sun Shade?

[dlandersson]

My son wants to "camp out" with his buddies on our X.

Looking for recomendations for a cockpit sun shade that will leave the port side semi open to get off and on from the dock slip?

[OverEasy]

Hi Dianderson!

We use our Bimini top primarily which covers about 60% of the cockpit area.
When we’ve wanted more we’ve done with an extension bit of tarp spring clipped from the front edge to the top of the cabin lifeline stantions where it is tied off. Generally works pretty well as a sun shade.
Not so good in the rain as the tarp acts as a funnel and tries to dump the rain collected onto the top of the sliding Companionway hatch!
This would work better if it were rigged to the boom to give it a ‘peak’ to shed the water to the sides rather than forward!

Best Regards,
Over Easy

[leefrankpierce]

https://oceansouth.us/product/3-bow-bim ... ft-length/

Had to cut the poles down to minimum height, distance between backstay and boom is as long as I could get away with on my X.

Not sure if a longer one could be put on an M, but, you do have to look around the thing to sail.

[dlandersson]

Thx

https://oceansouth.us/product/3-bow-bim ... ft-length/

Had to cut the poles down to minimum height, distance between backstay and boom is as long as I could get away with on my X.

Not sure if a longer one could be put on an M, but, you do have to look around the thing to sail.

[OverEasy]

Hi LeeFrankPierce!

We sorta did the opposite with our Bimini… we made extensions and raised ours up to have a 6 foot plus clearance underneath to allow standing at the helm with the Bimini up.
Our Bimini currently is forward of the helm but can be adjusted so the leading edge sits just aft of end of the boom if desired with the addition of “spare” base pivots. As we primarily motor cruise we keep it forward.

Best Regards,
Over Easy

[leefrankpierce]

[OverEasy]

Hi All!

Nice looking boat LeeFrankPierce!
Great photo!

Here’s what we made for a raised Bimini Mod….
We really like being able to stand and move around without being hunched over all the time!
https://macgregorsailors.com/mods/index ... em&id=2192




Here is the sleeved extension


Best Regards,
Over Easy

[leefrankpierce]

Do you use it with the mast up?
How do you deal with the backstay?
Seriously considered if we need the backstay.

[OverEasy]

Hi LeeFrankPierce!

That is a very good questions!
Our current answers are in sequence “no”, “no” and “yes, I’m pretty sure one does”

We currently have been operating in ‘cruiser’ mode as our area are tidal rivers and serpentine estuaries that we love to explore into as far as we can safely navigate. The calm waters and tidal marsh borders are abundant with wildlife such as Dolphins, Egrets, Herons, Osprey, Sea Turtles, Mantas, Deer and occasionally Alligators. Many of these areas are not really conducive to a mast, rigging and sailing unless one enjoys constantly tacking to and fro (which I’ll admit can be a whole lot of fun ) but it’s a lot of work plus takes near constant planning, anticipation and diligence which means we’re not able to lot about and enjoy our surroundings as much. So we go out and leave the mast at home.

On my ‘Future Mod Plan List’ is to make a pivoting mast pintle that will allow us to more readily raise/lower the mast to a true horizontal position, give us a full 6 ft 6 inch head clearance in the cockpit and sliding companionway, lower our vessel clearance height by several feet (to allow transit under more bridges) and to shorten our overall length when the mast is down by nearly 2 ft (which will come in handy when in tight spaces and in the marinas). Most marinas, like ours, tend to frown upon having a lowered mast extending past the end of the stern into the slipways as it poses a hazard for everyone. Part of the “Pintle Mod Plan” is to allow us to readily forward shift the lowered mast forward to or past the bow railing to even further reduce our aft overhang as well as for road travel on the trailer.

I’m pretty sure one is gonna need a back stay as there is considerable force exerted by the sail when sailing in down wind conditions in a good breeze. The back stay helps to distribute that forward moment loading which could potentially overload the side stays. On that aspect I’ve contemplated an aft arch (which would be an integral part of the ‘Pintle Mod Plan” to securely place the back stay above the Bimini/Enclosure height. Until then, if/when we do sail I’ll just lower the existing Bimini so as to attach the backstay.

Best Regards,
Over Easy