Re: Bimini owners, get in here
I'll try to answer all your questions. First - how it is rigged. I have rigid bars in the back plus one at an angle for lateral support. The front is held with straps. The angle brace in the back was absolutely necessary because the top rocked franticly back and forth without it. FYI - it doesn't have to be on the back. IT can be anywhere as long as you get lateral support.
As for storage / cover etc., I keep a cover on my boat every minute I'm not in it. The boat stays covered in a three sided plus a roof, barn type structure. I put the bigger / thumbscrew hardware on all the fittings for quick removal. I simply pull the screws and drop it flat under the cover with the top resting across the sunpad. Since I always use the bimini, it is just a matter of putting those 5 screws in (takes maybe 3 minutes) and I'm off to the lake. When I don't need it once I am on the water, I just fold it back and wrap it in its boot.
well your bimini is proof all biminis are not created equal.....
I was looking for one and recently bought a used one from a marinas tag sale.
they had five to choose from and actually two were the right width and one was actually TOO wide!
my boats beam is 96", they had one that was 105".
and the quality and materials were night and day from the best to the worst.
polished heavy thick aluminum, to chealp very thin non polished smaller diameter aluminum!!!
the one I picked is at least 1" in dia and very thick walled...but only three poles...
as we have seen some have 5 and 6 poles!!!! and only ONE set of straps!!!
I was seeing some biminis brand new for $125 on ebay.. and i have seen some sell for over $1000!!!
sbbamafan, your must have cost more than $750!! right?
I think it should be no higher than head clearance...they look better and cleaner when just right....
I have an aluminum boat so i dont worry about my attachments, but for you guys with nice fiberglass boats, id be very carefull drilling your boat and using the wrong drill size and or screw, and then not applying the right torque!!!!
good luck
bob
