South of Heaven":1kts4vfj said:
2. Since I have a bimini now; can I just have the Eisenglass pieces made to fit and essentially make a full camperback?....then could I leave the camperback up when the boat is on the trailer and use that as a cockpit cover? When a camperback is full up, are the edges water tight? Would a windy day potentially damage it?
I'm kinda leaning towards option 2 because then I'd have the camperback and a cockpit cover. LOL.
I just took a look at your photos. It looks as though you have the exact same bimini as I do, which would make sense because I think JP Canvas made them for Three Rivers Marine as part of a typical upgrade package for the C-Dorys they sold. If so, I'd be a bit cautious about option two. Here's why:
1) The frame is relatively thin aluminum tubing.
2) The brackets that attach the frame to the boat are relatively lightweight plastic.
3) The screws that attach the brackets to the deck are "pointy screws into core."
With side pieces attached you'd be looking at more weight (possibly a fair bit more if you have eisenglass, trim, etc.). This puts stress on all the components, especially in windy conditions.
Note that JP Canvas is still in business, and I believe still favors aluminum frames even for camperbacks (more common is to use stainless tubing); but perhaps in those installations he uses a larger diameter tubing (maybe contact him and ask?). I would think he would then certainly use stronger attachment brackets (they can be had in metal as well).
I never intended to make my bimini into a camperback, but I have done a few things and can give you my notes.
a) I removed the brackets from the deck, overdrilled and filled the holes in the side-deck core, re-drilled them and re-attached the brackets, with new bedding. I can't actually remember if I cast the pointy screws in epoxy or went to through bolts with machine screws. I have strongly considered getting stronger stainless brackets, as these are rather weak (of course you then have to guard against dissimilar metals). I discarded the rusting "pin keepers" and used something else, but I can't remember right now what.
b) I had zippers put in the cross fabric "tubes" that go around the "roof" bows. As made the only way to get the bimini off the frame was to disassemble it (or take the whole frame off with the bimini intact, which was a bear to stow when trailering). Now I can remove the bimini and tow with just the frame up. I put an "X" of lines from one side of the frame to the opposite stern cleat on both sides; otherwise the frame wiggles around and stresses the (plastic) brackets. With the diagonal bracing of the lines it's rock solid (this is bare frame, when towing).
c) For awhile, when I was doing a project outside in a rainy spot, I took a blue plastic lightweight tarp and put it completely over the bimini (which was set up with the fabric on it) and clamped it to the roof overhang ahead of the cabin door, plus to stern cleats etc. This made it firm enough to not stress any one part, and gave me a dry work space. However I was in a very non-windy area, plus sheltered between other boats/buildings.
d) I have also used clothespins to clip sheets to the little side flaps of the bimini to provide sun shade while at anchor. But I don't know that I would do a lot more as it kind of weighs down the bimini (again this is in a non-windy spot).
So anyway, my feeling is that to make a camperback it might be easier to start from scratch. At the very least things would have to be systematically beefed up. I have seen Three Rivers boats that had JP camperbacks (looks like that was an upgrade over the "standard" bimini they used), and the actual canvas work on mine is quite good - it's just a "basic" design that Three Rivers likely specced.
Depending on how windy/rainy your storage spot(s) are, how much you want a camperback vs. a bimini, and how much you plan to tow --- another good optino may be to stick with this bimini as a bimini (perhaps adding the tube zippers) and then have a slantback for storage and towing (I wouldn't tow with a camperback unless very short distance or very specialized design).
