pre install bimini top before i make a mistake thread

[catfishcarl99]

OK. i have a top to be shipped tomorrow. before i even get it thought i might as well hear some what NOT to do's before i do them. any pre install tips and dont dos.

this is it



its not a real expensive one. got what i could afford but wanted to get for a trip were taking the boat to next month. my 50 hp force on my 17' spectrum doesnt do over 30mph so i shouldnt have any big wind issues. it has 1" support bars.

my boat is 6' wide open bow. the back is square and i hope it will rest right on it and still be efficent when up. i fish on it more than not so ide like the all the way down option with it out of the way resting on the square stern.

anything you can tell me as i dont know squat as of now. has strap front tie down with ss attachments. any pre measuring stuff i can do that you guys know that could save me a headache and moving stuff would be great. im not worried about shade on the bow. it would be nice to cast from there and i have rod holders up there and can go sit in the drivers seat in the shade and watch the rods.

the top is 72" wide or 6' and 42 high. i measured so i can about stand and maybe even stand under it without squating. also from what ive read i should put 1 twist in the strap to stop flap?????

it will prob effect some of my holders in the rear when down all the way too. as seen in this pic. but they do come out by lifting and turning backwards and they instantly pop out. guess that one ill have to see. prob can get used to working around it while on support poles.


also i read on here after searching a bit that one fella had rivets pull out on front straps. and after he screwed them no more trouble. should i use screws? my gunwhale is all alum as the whole boat is as well.

 

[DBreskin]

Re: pre install bimini top before i make a mistake thread

Do make sure the front strap anchors are secure.
Measure twice, cut once.
Mock up the bimini in place before drilling the first hole so you can be sure it is placed where you want it.
Be sure to consider where the bimini will lay in the stowed position.
Be sure to smooth any rough edges on the screw heads in the bimini frame so they don't rub a hole in the fabric.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: pre install bimini top before i make a mistake thread

When you drill your mount holes bevel the holes a little with a larger size drill bit before installing the screws it will help with cracking.

Now I see your hull is aluminum :facepalm: But for anyone else that reads this ....

 

[ckangaroo70]

Re: pre install bimini top before i make a mistake thread

I just installed a new Bimini like the one you ordred on my 16ft Aluminum Lowe Hustler. The install was a piece of cake. I would recommend putting the thing together and then laying it on the boat to find your best mounting point. Check out where it lays when it is down and see how it covers when it is up. An extra set of hands helps with this. I had my boat out on the river yesterday morning and was running 30mph down the river with the top up and had no issues at all. You will want to make sure that your top mounts just slightly forward that way it won't act as a sail when you are moving with it up. When mine is up, it works out to where it just reaches the windshield and goes 6ft back from there. So the person in the front is not shaded and there is about 2-3 ft in the back of the boat not shaded when it is up....which actually works out just perfect for those fishing in the front and the rear.

 

[catfishcarl99]

Re: pre install bimini top before i make a mistake thread

the last part is what im hoping for. center shade to hide under and front and rear casting room. its in transit. should have sat or monday. woo hoo. the straps i guess have buckles? so it the fron loops are off a bit they can be tightened down. anmost certain they would have to but im not holding it yet. and ya tilting down on the front to allow wind to flow over not under. thats a must im sure.

ckangaroo you prob aint to fart from me. in about dead center illinois.

 

[ckangaroo70]

Re: pre install bimini top before i make a mistake thread

I am about 90 miles northwest of you. I live around 30 miles west of Peoria....however I do work over around Bloomington pretty often. If you was just down the road I would have helped you with the install, but you will find that they go on pretty easy.

 

[catfishcarl99]

Re: pre install bimini top before i make a mistake thread

lil south of galesburg area sounds like? i got a work buddie over in elmwood. prob not far from ya.

fed ex has it in champaign. im betting since they are tues- sat ill have tomorrow. pics of install soon. sure can use it. hot as heck here for 2 weeks now. going to the sprint car races in a few min. should be eventful in 100 deg heat index. ill have some cold beer though.

 

[ckangaroo70]

Re: pre install bimini top before i make a mistake thread

When I was out on the Illinois River on the 4th...it was very nice to be able to pop that thing up for some shade. I am 6' 2" and was suprised to find that I am able to walk under it. One of those things I wonder why I didn't buy sooner.

Yea...I live just about 25 miles south of Galesburg right on the Spoon River in the small town of London Mills. Our poor little river here by my house is looking pretty sad....cause we sure need some rain. So I fish the Illinois river when the Spoon River is too low to run on. Be sure to put up a few photos of your top when you get it on there..I would like to see it.

 

[catfishcarl99]

Re: pre install bimini top before i make a mistake thread

put it on at midnight. to dang hot during the day.

 

[catfishcarl99]

Re: pre install bimini top before i make a mistake thread

i got this off ebay. $143 shipped. i was scepticle about quality. im impressed. the alum tubes were all covered in a protective film i had to remove. the the walls of the tubes are very thick. i mean thick as a few quarters stacked. no way these are bending with normal use. they have push and snap lock connecters so no screw heads to tear canvas. came with the support poles too. and 4 straps in the event i need to use the rear straps. 10 year warrenty on frame 7 on canvas. came with boot for it when in down position. was shipped on the 5th and here today.

looks like you may have gotten yours from same person. looks exactly like yours.

and i measured before i got it. and i thought i could be close to not hitting my head. and it is. i can freely walk under. gonna take some getting used to with rod holders but it comes off easy too. i like it.

 

[catfishcarl99]

Re: pre install bimini top before i make a mistake thread

couple pics today. its actually cooled down to 80's. had a rain storm this morning. right on my new top lol. whats the odds. first rain weve had in a month or more. left it up last night after i installed it. never thought wed actually get rain. no wind thank heavens.

 

[ckangaroo70]

Re: pre install bimini top before i make a mistake thread

That looks fantastic!!!! Looks the same as mine except yours has the rear support poles which are nice. Mine has forward and rear straps to hold it in position. My only regret with mine is that I wished I would have bought it sooner. When I think of all the times I sat fishing for cats baking in the hot sun...this top would have been really nice. The real nice thing about it...it only takes a few seconds to put up and drop back down. So.... no more sitting out in the middle of the river without any shade for you or me.

 

[catfishcarl99]

Re: pre install bimini top before i make a mistake thread

That looks fantastic!!!! Looks the same as mine except yours has the rear support poles which are nice. Mine has forward and rear straps to hold it in position. My only regret with mine is that I wished I would have bought it sooner. When I think of all the times I sat fishing for cats baking in the hot sun...this top would have been really nice. The real nice thing about it...it only takes a few seconds to put up and drop back down. So.... no more sitting out in the middle of the river without any shade for you or me.

ya im guessing yours is a 4 seasons? i love it. fished around it tonight. gonna take a lil getting used to but not to bad. casting room out front and rear. and all the way down only takes removing 2 wing nuts from base of support poles. here she is a wot. never flinched. and i drove 20 miles home with it on the poles and boot on it. didnt sway much at all. though i wont make that a habbit in case of winds but tonight was calm.

 

[ckangaroo70]

Re: pre install bimini top before i make a mistake thread

I was out yesterday as well. Worked a half day and went fishing the other half.LOL Here is a photo of my top up and yes..mine is a four seasons as well. My old Mercury Thunderbolt 50 runs like a scalded dog and I was running 32mph yesterday and my top don't flinch either. I am suprised the top don't hurt my top speed that much. I was expecting the top to be a real drag, but it seems to only slow me down a few mph. I was fishing the front and my wife was fishing the back. The top would only be a real problem if there was three fishermen in the boat instead of two. I do undo the straps on whatever side I am casting out of when sitting broadside. My wife and I were really enjoying the shade it provided yesterday and we also enjoyed the fact that the cats were biting and we we both managed to catch 5 each. A real nice afternoon to be out on the water and I am really loving that new top!

 

[delirious]

Re: pre install bimini top before i make a mistake thread

When you drill your mount holes bevel the holes a little with a larger size drill bit before installing the screws it will help with cracking.

Now I see your hull is aluminum :facepalm: But for anyone else that reads this ....

when i worked at a boat factory, my job was tops and windshields, and yes i do recomend beveling the screw holes, but will ADVIZE AGAINST a lager drill bit to do so. i can suddenly "grab" and you end up with a lager hole. use a rosebud countersing bit. also for a #8 screw, use a 9/64ths bit for fiberglass drilling, and a 1/8ths bit for aluminum.

 

[hostage]

Re: pre install bimini top before i make a mistake thread

Dry fit it before you drill anything. Also doing it at high noon might help as you can have a better idea of where the shade will cast. Make sure it gives you (the driver) shade, while giving as much shade to those behind you. If I could do mine over again I would have used 3M 5200, instead of just following the instructions.

 

[catfishcarl99]

Re: pre install bimini top before i make a mistake thread

I was out yesterday as well. Worked a half day and went fishing the other half.LOL Here is a photo of my top up and yes..mine is a four seasons as well. My old Mercury Thunderbolt 50 runs like a scalded dog and I was running 32mph yesterday and my top don't flinch either. I am suprised the top don't hurt my top speed that much. I was expecting the top to be a real drag, but it seems to only slow me down a few mph. I was fishing the front and my wife was fishing the back. The top would only be a real problem if there was three fishermen in the boat instead of two. I do undo the straps on whatever side I am casting out of when sitting broadside. My wife and I were really enjoying the shade it provided yesterday and we also enjoyed the fact that the cats were biting and we we both managed to catch 5 each. A real nice afternoon to be out on the water and I am really loving that new top!
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your the third ive know of that have a 4 seasons that loves it. me included. theres a fella from cali on a fishing forum im on that has one as well and he loves it. said hes seen tops at double the price whith less quality. mine was $134 shipped. and worth every penny. the 1" poles are thick and the canvas was beading like a new waxed car. ten year warrenty on frame 7 on canvas.