[C320-list] Bimini pole

[Warren Updike]

Jeff, when we bought our #62 in 2004, it came with what you describe. We called it an "awning." There was a 1" tube that was lashed to the aft of back stays. The awning end was wrapped and sewn with openings where the backstays passed through. To erect, the awning was attached to the dodger via zipper then the tube was passed through the sewn end of the awning outside of the backstays. I may have lashed it to the stays or left it held by the tension of the awning, I don't remember. The reason we replaced it with a traditional bimini and connector is that the awning ending at the stays left me in the weather - my ass was wet when it rained, and the sides did not extend beyond the coaming so water often came in the cockpit. Just saying...

Warren and Pattie Updike
1994 C320 "Warr de Mar" #62
Middle River, Chesapeake Bay

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeffrey Brown [mailto:oceanblues at mac.com] 
Sent: Saturday, June 25, 2016 2:30 PM
To: Catalina C320 List List
Subject: [C320-list] Bimini pole

When I bought our boat we found a piece of canvas that can be used to attach to the dodger and come back over the cockpit to offer shade, just like a bimini but it didn’t come with anything to hold the canvas up, we we used some PVC and attached it to the backstay cables. This has only be used occasionally since it’s pretty flimsy. Any idea of how to improve this using stainless 1” tubing, best way to mount it to the backstay, etc. 

If anyone has some pictures how they’ve done it that would be great. 

Jeff Brown
"Out of the blue" Dana Point, CA
Catalina 320, Hull 78
(949) 350-5123
oceanblues at mac.com