I found these pictures of what I take for a Vivacity in Texas. Now, those Bimini-tops are not pretty, but one kind of understands why they may be useful. However, I wonder how one moves around with this thing up...forward to the mast for example. Or maybe one just doesn't...
11 comments:
Get to the front through the fore-hatch perhaps??
Yes, I've done that sometimes. It's a tight squeeze, but if you are tall (like me) you can reach the mast and the forestay while still standing in the hatch. That's very safe when you are out in a chop... :)
Dear Sir
I live in Jamaica and the sun here can be troublesome So I sail with a bimini
I keep the bimini top down when the boat is at anchor Now when we go for a sail we get everything ready and hoist the sails etc The bimini top is then pulled up and the straps affixed to the pad eyes which are on the transom
When we come in to dock we unfasten the straps and push the top down The main sail is then lowered.and flaked and the sail ties are tied on Any work to be done is easily done when the top is pushed down and the top stays down unless we decide that we want to sit in the boat at anchor It is very easy to work around the bimini top once you set it up properly Incidentaly if you make a top of denim instead of plastic it is much cooler and much more user friendly as my top is of denim I keep it down all the time I can possibly do as this way the denim last for years
From Neil
aka as Capt Tuna the chicken of the sea
It is in fact a 1964 Vivacity named GOOSE participating in this years TX 200. I follow the procedure described by Neil. Also all halyards and the jib downhaul are brought back to the cockpit so unless something fouls there is seldom any reason to go forward. Imagine my surprize this morning when I opened the newsletter and GOOSE'S picture!! Thanks Jenku. The picture just became my desktop image.
Harry
I have just purchased a Vivacity 24, I like the look of this bimini.
I am looking for any information for sail sizes as she doesn't have any yet. Can anyone help?
Thanks, Scotty
Dear Sir
I remember when I first got my VIVACITY 20 several years ago The sun was my nemesis and I would use a umbrella but that was not working out Then in the November 98 issue volume 2 issue 1 There was a picture of Ken Butterly I carefully examined the picture and I realised there was a bimini top on a Vivacit
I therefore contacted the editor of the magazine and got his email address Ken was good enough to tellme 1. to measure the beam of the boat at the cockpit and to go to the West Marine store and buy a Bimini top to fit that measurement Then to get someone to hold the top in place below the boom and above my head and to use a hacksaw to trim the legs of the Bimini until I was satisfied with it I have been very happy with the top
You should try and run that article in the new blog as it describes a trip from Florida to Chicago using the Inter Costal Water Way
From Capt Tuna
If anyone is considering adding a bimini as I did on GOOSE it should be noted that her boom was raised 16 inches higher than the original position.
Harry
Dear Sir
Can you please tell us how you went about raising the boom by 16 inches I would love to do that
Thanks
CaptTuna
Dear HT
I am very interested in how you were able to raise the boom by 18 inches
Can you please tell us how you did that There are many boat owners who would like to do this Please write and tell us
Capt Tuna
Hello. I am in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. A friend and I have found and are considering buying a Vivacity 24 here in Michigan that is in good restorable condition. Twin Keelers are very rare here. The Great Lakes have no visible tide changes.
We are desperately seeking knowledge of this vessel and would appreciate hearing from anyone who owns and has sailed a Vivacity 24. This once comes with 5 sails one of which is an H22 from a Hurley.
Thanks you for any replys.
charliesboats22@yahoo.com
Hello,
I’d like to add a bit more information to captain tuna’s comments. One of the things I did prior to adding the bimini to my Vivacity 20 was purchase a new sail. It was cut shorter by a few inches. Someone else had had it made for a different boat but never picked it up from the sail loft. Those few inches made a distinct difference to the height of the bimini.
As to the question of going forward; I would undo the forward straps, push the “top” back and move forward as normal. I only had to do this when dropping or retrieving the anchor.
Eventually, I created a system for stowing the anchor at the aft-end of the cockpit saving me the trip forward.
Also, I quickly learned how to pick up a can with the forward line, which I had tied off at the cockpit or a cleat with the spring, right from under the bimini. Of course, I was 15 years younger then and could twist my body a bit without PAAAAIIIINNNN.
Hope this helps!
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