How to Make an Extension Panel Between Dodger & Bimini

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Adding an extension or connector panel between your dodger and bimini provides your entire crew with even greater protection from the elements. Our Sailrite Dodger-to-Bimini Extension Panel Kit is the easiest way to add this much-needed shade panel to your boat's existing canvaswork pieces. In our comprehensive video tutorial, we'll be covering patterning, adding zippers to the dodger and bimini, and making a protective cover flap for the zipper sewn to the dodger. Order your kit, then watch this video for complete step-by-step patterning and assembly instructions.
Video Chapters:
  • Patterning on Dodger & Bimini — 1:11 min.
  • Creating Protective Zipper Flange for Dodger Top — 9:01 min.
  • Sewing Zipper & Flange to Dodger Top — 16:57 min.
  • Sewing Zipper to Bimini’s Tail — 20:57 min.
  • Using Patterns to Size Extension Panel — 24:08 min.
  • Cutting Extension Panel to Size & Sewing Hems — 26:38 min.
  • Sewing Zippers to Extension Panel — 31:43 min.
  • Installing Extension Panel — 37:16 min.
Materials List:
  • Sailrite® Dodger-to-Bimini Extension Panel Kit #126659
Tools List (not included in kit):
  • Sewing machine
  • Binder attachment
  • Scissors or other cutting tool (hotknife recommended)
  • Measuring tool
  • Pencil or other marking tool
Extension Panel Between Dodger and Bimini 2

The panel we’ll be creating will zip to both the dodger and bimini and is made out of Sattler® Marine Grade fabric. Sattler Marine Grade delivers the performance you expect at a price friendly to DIYers. With outstanding ratings on UV, water, stain and mold/mildew resistance, it's a fabric you can rely on for all of your marine canvaswork needs. Sailrite® stocks the deepest selection of Sattler Marine Grade in the United States. When you order your kit, select your Sattler color of choice from the drop-down menu on the product page. 

Don’t have a dodger or bimini yet? Check out our inventory of bimini and dodger kits! You’ll find that our bimini and dodger frame kits include all of the hardware and components needed to assemble and install a quality frame on your boat. And once that’s complete, our bimini and dodger skin kits feature your choice of marine grade fabric and the supplies needed to sew your bimini or dodger to the frame. Every bimini and dodger kit is accompanied by helpful video tutorials for the assembly and installation process.

If you already have a dodger and a bimini, follow along with the step-by-step video as we walk you through how to build a proper extension panel, including how to install covered zippers that connect the dodger to the tail of the bimini. The covered zippers are an important touch, as a zipper that is protected from the sun and the elements will function better in the long run. Here at Sailrite, we only offer the highest quality zippers for all our marine projects — the molded tooth zippers we're using for this project are highly resistant to corrosion. And to sew everything together, we’ve chosen the Ultrafeed® LSZ Sewing Machine, which powers through thick marine assemblies with ease.

How did your final extension panel turn out? Do you have any comments or questions? Let us know below or feel free to contact a member of our support staff via phone, email or the chat function on our website. We’d be more than happy to assist you!

Tools List
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