Original Bimini Top for 90 Kingfisher Xl179FS

[captain_strikes]

This past weekend I had a guest on the boat grab on to my bimini top and sit all the way down. They bent my rear bimini bar completely in half. This is a shame because I really enjoyed preserving the original parts of my boat. She's almost an antique after all! Anyway, I am dissapointed to find only the typical bimini tops available online for sale. Here is an image of basically the same top I have for my boat that I found online. Does anyone know where I can buy a replacement? Or at least just a replacement bar?

Notice in the picture how the top clips on the the windshield. It is not lifted up above like the typical top is. Am I calling this top the wrong thing or something? Any help is appreciated.

 

[captain_strikes]

[No message]

 

[briangcc]

Convertible top...at least that's what Bayliner and Four Winns called them. And I like these over the Bimini I have currently.

As for parts...have you checked iboats to see what parts they have to help you repair your top? Otherwise you may want to look up some local marine upholstery shops to see if they could custom make something for you.

Good luck!

 

[captain_strikes]

Thanks! That helps give me some direction. I am unable to locate any bars on iboats. I am going to try reshaping the bar that was damaged but I can only assume I won't get it perfect.

 

[briangcc]

You're welcome.

Depending on the setup I might suggest trying to slide the covering out of the way and then gently try to massage the bent bow back to shape. Otherwise there are other online retailers that have just the frame available although it seems silly to buy a whole new frame when you only need one part.


I gotta ask....did the passenger walk the plank after said incident??

 

[captain_strikes]

They were promptly dropped off at shore. This person boarded heavily intoxicated. Which I did not realize until after they were already on the boat. It was quick. He got on, broke my boat, I told him to get off. The sober one was allowed to stay. I had to unsnap the bimini and tie it down because it was so bent out of shape it wouldn't lay flat in the back of the boat.

It was crazy because they had just arrived at camp 10 minutes prior to me picking them up. So I've implemented a new rule. Everyone that gets on my boat is going to be asked if they are under the influence before they board.

 

[GA_Boater]

Check with a marine upholstery shop - They may have frames or frame parts. Dunno for sure.

Post a pic of the bent frame to get some ideas for repair. Some of us are pretty ingenious, read cheap! LOL

 

[82rude]

As others have said check locally.In my burg we have a woman the does that type of work and she is good and the tops and frames are better than any of that factory junk.

 

[briangcc]

Ouch!

Again, good luck with the repairs. Post some pics like GA mentioned as some wiser than I may have other options for you.

 

[captain_strikes]

Worked on it this weekend. Man, those things are tough to bend by yourself. Could have used an extra set of hands. Seems stable enough. Will have to test under the wind. It's still bent, its definitely not perfect. The canvas helps hide a lot of the imperfections. Note, this thing was nearly bent in half when i started on it. I'm lucky there weren't any creases.

 

[GA_Boater]

You managed to get it pretty straight. It's hard to see any bend in the pics.

 

[MTboatguy]

I would go with what you have now and spend time looking for a replacement, it does not look all that bad, in fact most people would not even know it had been bent. One thing I have done, is to thread a 1" rubber hose over tubing and slowly massage back into shape, that way you have a small amount of cushing between your hands and the aluminum tubing.

Good luck.

Friends are not always so friendly as you found out!

 

[captain_strikes]

I found a tag on the canvas that was basically hidden, this top was definitely custom made. I thought it had just come with the boat (I bought this boat from my grand father in-law a while back, non running and brought her back to life)

Thanks for all the input and suggestions everyone. Looks like I will be convertible top shopping soon! At least I will have shade for the summer!

 

[Maclin]

I love the style of those types, with the side runners. Glad you got it to where no one but you can tell now