Rick I have the factory bimimi top and I can send some photos if you like. Yes you can sail with it and I have during a sail with my wife and during a rainstorm. I keep the bimimi stored aft when trailering but flip it forward over the companionway hatch once the mast is up. In the forward position, it doesn't interfer with access to the cabin. To deploy it I have to uncleat the mainsheet and set the top up then re-cleat the mainsheet. The boom clears the bimini top but you do lose some tuning ability since it's hard to see the main with the top up. I have practiced doing a quick reef by dropping the bimini aft onto the tiller, doing the jiffy reef then swinging the top up again. The factory bimini top attaches to the combings just a few inches aft of the center combing cleats. There are four straps which attach to eyes at each end of the combings. At anchor, I raise the top then I stretch a small nylon tarp like a boom tent from the bimini forward o the mast to cover the hatch opening. Don M-15 Sweet Dream