Homemade Bimini??? Has anyone tried to do this?

[NetDoc]

Re: Homemade Bimini??? Has anyone tried to do this?

I think my plan is two fold. I have ordered one of the "cheap" biminis from safeguardcovers.com which are reasonably priced for what they are. I have three projects on this boat that I really need to combine, or at least plan them in a unified way. The windshield is way too low and looks crappy. The front deck is separating and needs to be replaced. Finally, I need a dive solution for this boat to be truly useful to me. None of these have to be done before I launch (this week???) and in actuality, I want some time in the boat to get a feel for it before I make too many mods to it. The windshield and top need to be carefully thought out as do the windshield and the front deck. Getting the bimini now will give me some time to think it through.

 

[Gibbles]

Re: Homemade Bimini??? Has anyone tried to do this?

I had picked up a westland replacment top on iboats for their end of summer clearance in 2010, and had planned on bending some electrical conduit to fit the top.

but then I moved and lost the box that had the top...

This fall Iboats had a big sale, I replaced with a westland complete top for $115...

And three months later I found the box with the other top...

I may see if the top will fit my frame as its a higher quality material, and has a better color...

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Homemade Bimini??? Has anyone tried to do this?

NetDoc

A real consideration is your desired ....maximum ....boat speed. With the top up. It can vary wildly do to the speed & direction of the wind.
The angle above or below being horizontial is critical, to ripping off & injuring people. Or more scary is the lifting of the bow when you hit a wave that was never a problem before.

NO COMMERICAL Bimini can ever design the correct angle for all boats & all loads & weather conditions.

I rigged mine so I just unsnap the 2 front clips & the top lays flat across the OB transom splash well area..........DUMB LUCK design at first try.

DIY also means... design it yourself also.... Not that easy. Even with lots of after thought.

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Homemade Bimini??? Has anyone tried to do this?

Im not knocking the inexpensive bimini's cause Ive used and enjoyed them. I love the diy stuff, nothing better than enjoying using something you made yourself. I just thought i would mention for those reading/researching that from my personal experience the difference between a new $100.00 and a new $500.00 bimini, of the same size, is substantial.
The fittings, pole wall thickness, tie-downs, snaps, mounts, misc hardware and especially the fabric and the way it fits the poles are very different. A well made one can be left up at 40 plus mph, leaned on by the kids, and beat by the sun/rain for years. The cheap ones in my experience not so much. As with everything else the more expensive one is not 5x better because it costs 5x more, but they are very different.

Hope that helps folks,

 

[island mike]

Re: Homemade Bimini??? Has anyone tried to do this?

I think my plan is two fold. I have ordered one of the "cheap" biminis from safeguardcovers.com which are reasonably priced for what they are. I have three projects on this boat that I really need to combine, or at least plan them in a unified way. The windshield is way too low and looks crappy. The front deck is separating and needs to be replaced. Finally, I need a dive solution for this boat to be truly useful to me. None of these have to be done before I launch (this week???) and in actuality, I want some time in the boat to get a feel for it before I make too many mods to it. The windshield and top need to be carefully thought out as do the windshield and the front deck. Getting the bimini now will give me some time to think it through.

Nice.
Something crossed my mind being a dive master myself(I dont dive comercially anymore)Have you thought about a ladder,The kind you hang off the side or transom,When done,Simply stow it away....
Dont kow,Its just an idea.
Regards I mike

 

[NetDoc]

Re: Homemade Bimini??? Has anyone tried to do this?

Nice.
Something crossed my mind being a dive master myself(I dont dive comercially anymore)Have you thought about a ladder,The kind you hang off the side or transom,When done,Simply stow it away....
Dont kow,Its just an idea.
Regards I mike

There are a number of options for this. I kind of want to weld an aluminum rear deck and ladder to go with it. The boat has a solid aluminum rub rail and walk through windshield frame so that would not look out of place. That being said, I am thinking about making the next windshield frame out of fiberglass and foam and have snaps for the top to hold onto. Heat is a huge issue here in the Keys, so I have to be sure that ventilation is available. Nothing worse than being stuck in the heat with sweat just rolling off of you as you gear up for a dive. I could do that with the dive deck as well so it all looks coherent as a design.

 

[island mike]

Re: Homemade Bimini??? Has anyone tried to do this?

There are a number of options for this. I kind of want to weld an aluminum rear deck and ladder to go with it. The boat has a solid aluminum rub rail and walk through windshield frame so that would not look out of place. That being said, I am thinking about making the next windshield frame out of fiberglass and foam and have snaps for the top to hold onto. Heat is a huge issue here in the Keys, so I have to be sure that ventilation is available. Nothing worse than being stuck in the heat with sweat just rolling off of you as you gear up for a dive. I could do that with the dive deck as well so it all looks coherent as a design.

I will never construct anything out of foam..As a core it just cant take a punch.You said walk through windshield with snaps,Think about all the abuse its going to take,wind,Holding/leaning..etc.I just dont think it will hold up for long.
Why would you go with foam? It could not be a weight issue you are comcerned about since it such a small construction..
If not a plastic I would suggest ply and of course fiberglass.Then you would not have to worry about the thing coming apart when making a little speed.I dont know,Im just thinking along with you..
Regards I mike

 

[NetDoc]

Re: Homemade Bimini??? Has anyone tried to do this?

I don't know enough about foam vs wood to make a decision. I was under the impression that when covered with fiberglass it was pretty tough stuff. I have heard people making floors out of the stuff. It looks dead simple to work with.

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Homemade Bimini??? Has anyone tried to do this?

Success!

We are locked into a RIGID hard top. Good choice. Never has creasing or storage problems. You will love it. Should also do away with any top speed problems.

Go for it.

Just remember how it will affect lifting out of water or storage place heights.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Homemade Bimini??? Has anyone tried to do this?

NO COMMERICAL Bimini can ever design the correct angle for all boats........

Isn't that the truth. I added a couple of inches to the width of mine so it fit the transom correctly when stowed, then took a conduit bender to the side poles so it conformed to the angle of the hull. Kind of a PITA, but I knew I was modifying it, going into the project.

 

[island mike]

Re: Homemade Bimini??? Has anyone tried to do this?

Well I do.
;wood has exellent compressive strenght v.s foam wich simply does not. its soft.Do you know that in order to fasten something on foam you would have to work with inserts or injecting it with some sort of filler to give it strenght?

 

[island mike]

Re: Homemade Bimini??? Has anyone tried to do this?

By the way you have not posted any pics

PICS please

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Homemade Bimini??? Has anyone tried to do this?

Foam & Honeycomb are the same problem. Crap if used by themselves.
FANTASTIC if used between 2 stiff panels. Island mike is right about anchoring anything to the panels in the open areas. The frame around them takes all the stresses , usually.
A sheet of REAL marine plywood can be VERY RIGID. If you put a slight arch in it. 4' across would be about 2 or 3" HUMP. HELPS WATER DRAIN ALSO. Put about 1" to 2" of foam between 2 arched sheets of marine ply & nothing will collapse it.

 

[V153]

Re: Homemade Bimini??? Has anyone tried to do this?

Lil bimini I cobbled up for my old boat. Only took me a year & a half to make it. 5' front to back. My only complaint was it slowed the boat down by a couple mph @ top end?

 

[island mike]

Re: Homemade Bimini??? Has anyone tried to do this?

Lil bimini I cobbled up for my old boat. Only took me a year & a half to make it. 5' front to back. My only complaint was it slowed the boat down by a couple mph @ top end?

How fast did you used to go then??
Looks awful fast to me!!

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Homemade Bimini??? Has anyone tried to do this?

Thanks V153 !!

That is a perfect picture of how Bimini tops can become airplane wings & cause a light weight Aluminum fast boat to flip over backwards. If the wind, waves & boat speed suddenly add up the wrong way in 1 second.
Had that happen in my small Aluminum 16' when I got impatient to leave from under a bridge during during a wind storm. My bow came up so high I could not see. 9.9 hp & not on plane. Stood the hair up on me.
Back to the bridge for 20 minutes.

 

[ErikF]

Re: Homemade Bimini??? Has anyone tried to do this?

Ayuh,.... All homemade, No pvc...

I like this, nice and clean. If I didn't have a full camper top for my Chieftain I would definitely consider building something similar!

 

[island mike]

Re: Homemade Bimini??? Has anyone tried to do this?

Please enlight me;I am not trying to start something but how did it take you a year and a half to built a bimini.
Seems like a long time,What happened?

 

[V153]

Re: Homemade Bimini??? Has anyone tried to do this?

Please enlight me;I am not trying to start something but how did it take you a year and a half to built a bimini.
Seems like a long time,What happened?

Well IM this design was developed in Creative Canvas's top secret Skank Works facility. Once perfected we had to hire consultants. Then it had to clear our planning commision. Then licensing & permitting, etc ...

 

[island mike]

Re: Homemade Bimini??? Has anyone tried to do this?

Well IM this design was developed in Creative Canvas's top secret Skank Works facility. Once perfected we had to hire consultants. Then it had to clear our planning commision. Then licensing & permitting, etc ...

Oh,I see(?)