Heavy duty faux Bimini sunshade
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- first launching -
At first I had only 1 set of rowlocks establishing one rowing position.
Later I decided to use rowlocks to support a sunshade, insead of a more flimsy standard folding bimini.
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Forward home-made rowlock - Aft home-made rowlock
They are epoxied down and securd with back boards and substantial screws from beneath.
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~ ~ Sunshade Supports ~ ~
At first I used wooden rods to support the sunshade.When stepping out of the boat on to a dock
one of my heavier friends used the upright to steady himself. The wooden rod snapped off.
This was not acceptable, so I rebuilt the supports with half inch steel rod
to be robust enough to be used to steady ones self or even tie to.
The fore and aft parts of the support were lashed on with light line.
The lower ends of the bent steel rod supports have a hole drilled through them
for a cotter pin to fit through to keep them from being accidentally pulled out.
I found that with a loop of rope one can use them as thole pins for rowing.
When we were hit with a squall these supports were grabbed to keep one in the boat.
Sailing downwind with the - robust bimini - shade.
The top has 2 layers. The blue tarp on top is not shaped, just deployed as I got it from the store.
The under layer, which is more shaped was a good enough sunshade, but was not waterproof.
Close up detail of deployed - robust bimini - shade.
Note the 3 sets of rowlocks.
The yellow supports are made of half inch diameter steel rod.
The rod was bent into something that looks like a huge staple.
(I used a welding torch to heat it to red hot to make the bending much easier.)
Half-inch washers were welded on for possible points of attachment.
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Looking aft, showing the underside of the - robust bimini.
Dave H. at the helm. Photo taken in the ICW just north of Corpus Christi, Texas.