The final touches on the bimini project

We added two sappelle wood strips, the same type of wood as the gallows, to the aft edge of the bimini top.  The  strips act as a gutter to shunt rainwater to the outer edges of the top and also provide an anchor point for the fasteners used to attach the bimini extension.

Next we installed the sunbrella extension  The final fitting involved correct placement of the grommets for the dot twist fasteners on the upper hem and sewing on the correct length webbing to the lower hem.

The extension will provide us with more sun and weather protection while at anchor or docked.

Next steps? We have created a pattern for a foredeck tarp that will shelter the forward hatch and ports in the vee berth.  We hope that the tarp will allow leave the hatch and ports open during the common tropical afternoon and evening showers.

Departure?  We are watching Invest 93 a low pressure system due south of the Dominican Republic.  We will wait for a more definitive forecast for our area before casting our dock lines.  With C'est la Vie projects winding down and work responsibilities at a minimum we enjoying the opportunity to visit local friends.  Unless Invest 93 is forecast to threaten this area the earliest departure date will be Saturday, June 26.

back to the machine...

Part of our vision for C'est la Vie's bimini is removable sunbrella section at the stern.  This section will create more shade and weather protection while at anchor.  We started by using ploy-sheeting and painters tape to experiment and create a pattern for the extension...

We then taped the pattern to the floor and began to layout the project on the sunbrella...

The ability to create a large open space in the lodge proved helpful in this stage of the project.  Once the pattern was transferred to the fabric, I headed back to the machine...

We ordered 60" wide fabric in an effort to eliminate seams.  This made the project move along quickly since most of the work was creating hems.  The cut out and velcro flap for the main sheets took a bit more creativity and time.   The basic construction is now complete...

The next step is to take the fabric back to the boat to identify the correct placement of the fasteners and webbing straps used to attach the extension.

Made the shade...

Anne and I reverted back to more traditional blue and pink roles for today's projects.
I put the finishing touches on the bimini by marking out the final shape...

Notice my fancy, high tech yogurt lid radius scribe...maybe I should market these?  I planned to use a jig saw to cut the material, but Anne had a better idea. She suggested using the cordless Dremel, that we purchased for her jewelery projects.  The Dremel with a cut off wheel worked amazingly well and did not require removing the top.

Anne wins the award for best tool suggestion.  Below is an image of the final product...SHADE!

More images of the final product and the construction of the bimini can be viewed via the links to the right of the page (if you received this post and a direct email then you will need to visit our web page to see the links.)

While I was marking, cutting, and sanding (some fine "blue" projects.) Anne removed all the cover's from C'est la Vie's cushions and hand washed them (a stunning example of a "pink" project.)  From her disgust of the brown tint of the wash water it was also an overdue project.

Above is an image of the vee-berth foam topper and some cushion covers on the drying line.  The brooding thunderstorm forced us evacuate the drying line moments later.

finally, fitting day for the bimini

I would like nothing more than to proclaim the bimini complete, but alas there is more work to be done.  Today we started by completing the frame...

The next step was to install the actual bimini top.  We searched and debated many different materials from sunbrella to marine plywood to a fiberglass layup.  Ultimately due to ease and expense we went with 1/8" thick glasteel panel.

We purchased a 4'x8' sheet of the material, meant to be a wall panel, from Home Depot.    At $32 dollars a sheet we can afford to experiment.  If the glasteel does not work out then we will move on to a more expensive and time consuming option.

How does one attach glasteel to the tubing frame?  Home Depot also provided the answer to this question...3/4" conduit clamps fit the 1"SS tubing, are non-corrosive, and again inexpensive.

We used #10 X 1/2" SS machine screws with fender washers to bring it all together.  Below is a image looking up from the companion way.

The next steps are to cut the panel to the appropriate shape... it is asymmetrical looking at the sides and too long along the stern.  I hope to be able to cut the material in place by removing only selected clamps rather that remove the entire panel.  There is also a bit of sag along the forward, gallows edge of the bimini, but I think we have a simple solution... stay tuned.

Multi-tasking

We made progress on many projects today...

We now have all the pieces and parts to complete the bimini project ourselves.  Anne and I spent a couple hours this afternoon fitting the frame for the bimini. This involved a great deal of head scratching and multiple cuts of the tubing.  We want the frame to cover as much area as  possible without interfering with the main sheet.  We still have some fine tuning and two additional bars to add, but here is an image of the frame...

The bimini is the project we argeed to complete prior to departing for our summer travels.  If all goes smoothly we will have the frame and hard cover completed by Tuesday.

 We also completed and installed the new "floor" for the starboard cockpit locker...

And last, but not least we started work on port & starboard lash boards.  These sections of oak will be attached to the stanchions and used to tie down fuel containers that we carry on deck when traveling.

The holes in each end will accept a u-bolt to attach the boards to the stanchions.  The slots along the length of the board will accept 1" webbing straps we use to lash down the 5 gallon containers.

The slippery slope continues...

The slide into more painting projects continued today as we expanded the locker painting to include the portside salon bench and lockers.  No doubt they need the attention...

Upon attempting to sand the lids to the lockers we discovered the plywood was cracked, so two new lids coming right up.

 We did progress from the prep to the priming stage with Anne doing her time in the lockers.

Greg from Paradise Welding spent the morning completing the polishing work on the gallows.  He does an amazing job and the welds are not visible.

Can you all find Anne hidden in the image above?

Greg also dropped off the tubing arch for the bimini project.  We have decided to go with building a hard bimini ourselves and are awaiting the arrival of some fittings for constructing the frame.  Once we have the fittings in-hand the bimini construction should move quickly.  

the birth of a new project...

One of the objectives of creating the boom gallows was to provide a secure attachment point for a cockpit bimini.  With the gallows nearing completion, we need to begin ordering materials for the bimini.  No problem... I'll just go out and grab a couple measurements...

five hours later we had created a plywood template that contained two different designs and an outline of the gallows.  We took the sheet of plywood out to boat to test the "fit"...

By days end we did create a parts list and order the hardware, but we continue to experiment with the shape of the aft support arch.  The arch will be a single section of 7/8 OD stainless steel tubing braced via a single, horizontal strut to the gallows.

We need to create is a template to take to Paradise Welding so that they can transform a 12' section of tubing into a series of curves that will 1) fit with the aesthetics of the vessel 2) not impede the mainsheet or other rigging 3)create frame for the bimini that will keep the sun off our bodies and the rain out of the cockpit.

And so begins the bimini project.