Bimini height above floor

[mregehr]

I want to put a bimini on my boat, which is used mostly for skiing (no fishing so I won't be standing up for long periods of time). Any advice about how high the bimini should be above the floor of the boat? I don't know how low I can make it without making people in the seats feel claustrophobic, but if I make it too high there will be less shade and I think the wind will have more leverage on the mounts.

 

[gozierdt]

Re: Bimini height above floor

I just remounted the bimini on my boat. The PO had it mounted on top of the windshield, and it was probably about 7' off the cockpit floor. I didn't like the bimini mounts on top of the windshield because I don't think the windshield is really designed for that loading, and the mounts are very hard on the cover. I remounted it on a sliding track along the outside edge of the cockpit, so it's now about 6' above the floor. I'm only 5' 5", so I could have put it lower, but I'm going to try it at this height for now. If I want it lower it's easy to take a couple of inches off the main support legs.

I'm also wondering what effect a stiff cross-wind will have. I haven't been up in one yet. I've thought about a couple of ideas to stiffen it up crosswise, but don't know if I'll need to implement one yet...

 

[hostage]

Re: Bimini height above floor

I just got mine on I think I got the 32" or 48" on one my cuddy. I like to stand up and drive it also feels like younger better visibility with it. Best thing to do is stand in your boat and measure about a foot above you then subtract the distance from the mount point to the floor then round up. I have a camper enclosure and prefer this to that since I like the air flow.

 

[Fisher3491]

Re: Bimini height above floor

Just high enough to stand up under.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Bimini height above floor

Just high enough to stand up under.

High enough for a tall person to stand under. You might have guests or eventually want to sell the boat and you wouldn't want to lose a sale because the bimini was a few inches too short.

I'm thinking seven feet from the sole.

 

[mregehr]

Re: Bimini height above floor

I just remounted the bimini on my boat. The PO had it mounted on top of the windshield, and it was probably about 7' off the cockpit floor. I didn't like the bimini mounts on top of the windshield because I don't think the windshield is really designed for that loading, and the mounts are very hard on the cover. I remounted it on a sliding track along the outside edge of the cockpit, so it's now about 6' above the floor. I'm only 5' 5", so I could have put it lower, but I'm going to try it at this height for now. If I want it lower it's easy to take a couple of inches off the main support legs.

I'm also wondering what effect a stiff cross-wind will have. I haven't been up in one yet. I've thought about a couple of ideas to stiffen it up crosswise, but don't know if I'll need to implement one yet...

Thanks, all.

Gene: Did you install the sliding track on your hull? I don't have suitable mount points either except for a flimsy point on the windshield side frame. I have no experience with fastening fittings to the fiberglass hull. Should I drill a hole, and then screw the hardware on using a stainless wood screw coated in epoxy?

 

[Lou C]

Re: Bimini height above floor

I put one on my old 88 FW Horizon this spring, it's a 6 foot long 46" tall one. I mounted it so that I could stand under it but not so high that it was unstable. I mounted slider mounts on the inside of gunnels (coaming panels) because I eventually want to have an enclosure made and you basically have to mount it inside the windshielf frame for an enclosure. The way it worked out the top is just high enough, but if you were taller than me (5'9") you'd want a higher one. I used the slider mounts because you can get it out of the way for fishing easily. This top is very stable, it does not sway or move at all. The shade is provides makes being out on the boat all day a pleasure....

 

[gozierdt]

Re: Bimini height above floor

Regehr,

I'm still finishing up the mounting. I bought these rails

http://www.iboats.com/Deck-Mount-7005-D-72-length-Westland/dm/*******.193869343--**********.252575803--view_id.117997

from iboats, so that I can mount the bimini and solid rear brace to the same rails, so that I can adjust the position fore and aft a foot or so each way, and so that I can fold the bimini and slide it back to rest on the stern when I'm trailering. I haven't finished the mounting yet, just a temporary mounting with double stick tape. I intend to screw through the slide track and through the topside mounting surface, and into a plywood mounting block inside the hull. It is also OK, just not quite as secure, to screw directly to the mounting surface of the hull. I wouldn't use epoxy or 5200 to seal those screws, at most use 3M 4200, or Boatlife Boatcaulk on the screws, so that if you want to remove them at some time, you will be able to without drilling them out.

 

[sethjon]

Re: Bimini height above floor

I want to put a bimini on my boat, which is used mostly for skiing (no fishing so I won't be standing up for long periods of time). Any advice about how high the bimini should be above the floor of the boat? I don't know how low I can make it without making people in the seats feel claustrophobic, but if I make it too high there will be less shade and I think the wind will have more leverage on the mounts.

5' minimum. 6' would be better. Its all a matter of taste. My son uses his almost 100% of the time and on my boat I only use it if I'm stopped dead in the water which is rare.

 

[mregehr]

Re: Bimini height above floor

Regehr,

I'm still finishing up the mounting. I bought these rails

http://www.iboats.com/Deck-Mount-7005-D-72-length-Westland/dm/*******.193869343--**********.252575803--view_id.117997

from iboats, so that I can mount the bimini and solid rear brace to the same rails, so that I can adjust the position fore and aft a foot or so each way, and so that I can fold the bimini and slide it back to rest on the stern when I'm trailering. I haven't finished the mounting yet, just a temporary mounting with double stick tape. I intend to screw through the slide track and through the topside mounting surface, and into a plywood mounting block inside the hull. It is also OK, just not quite as secure, to screw directly to the mounting surface of the hull. I wouldn't use epoxy or 5200 to seal those screws, at most use 3M 4200, or Boatlife Boatcaulk on the screws, so that if you want to remove them at some time, you will be able to without drilling them out.

Thanks, Gene.

Martin

 

[mregehr]

Re: Bimini height above floor

5' minimum. 6' would be better. Its all a matter of taste. My son uses his almost 100% of the time and on my boat I only use it if I'm stopped dead in the water which is rare.

Thanks!

- Martin