How to build a Hard Bimini & Dodger?

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Glenn A. Heslop - 29 Jan 2006 17:38 GMT

My family and I (& two kids) cruise aboard our 41' Gulfstar (Seawing) for
5-6 months at a time. Our bimini is due for replacement & I've been
considering a hard bimini and possibly dodger. I figured that a hard dodger
will not wear out as fast as one of Sunbrella and it would also be a great
place to mount solar panels.

My question is how to build one and how to mount it. How do I protect it
when the boat is in storage for hurricane season? Seawing was hit directly
by Wilma this fall...no damage but tarps, though it makes me think about a
hard bimini as it would be hard to take down for storage.

I look forward to learning from y'all.

Thanks!

Glenn.
s/v Seawing
www.seawing.net

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MMC - 30 Jan 2006 01:20 GMT

http://www.tartarooga.com/tartarooga2.html
http://www.canvascreations.biz/
Here is a couple of links for "store bought". I have a link to a guys page
somewhere and he gives a good explanation and if I find it, I'll post it in
the next couple days.
Basically, as I remember, he shaped the dodger out of divinicell (sp?) then
laid glass and epoxy resin. Afer the outside was formed and built up the way
he wanted, he flipped it and did the inside. After he got the glassing
finished, faired and trimmed, he gel coated and it looked great.
The supports were of oversized aluminum tubing (again as I remember).
Also as I remember, he took the arcs of the aft portion of his house.
When I googled "hard dodger" there were ove 600 hits. Maybe some of info or
plans you could use.
MMC

> My family and I (& two kids) cruise aboard our 41' Gulfstar (Seawing) for
> 5-6 months at a time. Our bimini is due for replacement & I've been
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> s/v Seawing
> www.seawing.net

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Glenn A. Heslop - 30 Jan 2006 03:54 GMT

Thanks so much for your response. I looked at the links and they were
helpful. When you find that link of the guy building his own hard bimini,
that'd be great.

Glenn.

> http://www.tartarooga.com/tartarooga2.html
> http://www.canvascreations.biz/
[quoted text clipped - 31 lines]
> > s/v Seawing
> > www.seawing.net

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Boat Forum / Cruising / January 2006

How to build a Hard Bimini & Dodger?