Bent my Bimini frame at speed..

[traquer]

As I was coming back down the river from Pirates this weekend, the sun was long gone and I was distracted by having to jump start my battery as well as worry about all the drunks in my boat so I completely forgot that I had my bimini up.

I was doing probably 65-70 the whole time between the two no wake zones and luckily the bimini didn't take a shit at that speed, only after the second nowake zone when I got up to about 45mph. One of the front straps ripped right in half and sent my bimini tumbling back at an angle.

So now the front section of the frame is bent and I'm wondering if I can just take it apart and bend the tubing back with a conduit bender or will it weaken it and shatter on me? I assume it's aluminum and not stainless since it's pretty light but I will check this weekend when I'm out there again.

Does anyone have a referral for the best bimini shop in socal? I obviously need a replacement strap, as well as possibly asking them to make me a new front bar for the bimini if I can't make the old one look right.

Thanks!

 

[t&y]

A-1 Canvas in Upland is who I'm going with for my next Bimini:thumbup:

http://www.a1canvas.com/

 

[j-bone]

http://bienzmarinecanvas.com/

This guys is awesome. Does a lot of biminis for several high end manufacturers. He just did one for me. Love it.

 

[Sun burners]

I swear by Mesh down the center. My buddy had full mesh for about 6 years at WOT. He then sold the boat no problems at all with the Bimini.

 

[shueman]

I bent on back in place and it lasted fine. At Eliminator we have a bunch of old pieces out back ... get good measusrements and your welcome to see if any pieces are useable.

 

[Roaddogg 4040]

I have seen two boats this week driving through Havasu with the Bimini tops all bent to hell. Looks like someone made a little oooops with their tops...:yikes

Steve

 

[traquer]

I bent on back in place and it lasted fine. At Eliminator we have a bunch of old pieces out back ... get good measusrements and your welcome to see if any pieces are useable.

Thank you! I probably will be able to bend it back but if not, you're nearby

 

[El Chingon]

I swear by Mesh down the center. My buddy had full mesh for about 6 years at WOT. He then sold the boat no problems at all with the Bimini.

Hey Mike,
You talked us into the mesh strip too.11 years later it's still holdin up. Believe you hooked us up with Toni.

 

[Jonas Grumby]

I swear by Mesh down the center. My buddy had full mesh for about 6 years at WOT. He then sold the boat no problems at all with the Bimini.

Who builds them with mesh? All?, just have to ask?

 

[Singleton]

Who builds them with mesh? All?, just have to ask?

http://bienzmarinecanvas.com

 

[Runs2rch]

I swear by Mesh down the center. My buddy had full mesh for about 6 years at WOT. He then sold the boat no problems at all with the Bimini.

Makes a huge difference. Have mesh through the center on both boats.

 

[Jonas Grumby]

http://bienzmarinecanvas.com

Thx, been thinking to get mine redone, even at 35-40mph, it seems ready to blow. Then of course, the times you forget, look up as you blow past 60, and have a "oh shit" moment.

 

[2FORCEFULL]

As I was coming back down the river from Pirates this weekend, the sun was long gone and I was distracted by having to jump start my battery as well as worry about all the drunks in my boat so I completely forgot that I had my bimini up.

I was doing probably 65-70 the whole time between the two no wake zones and luckily the bimini didn't take a shit at that speed, only after the second nowake zone when I got up to about 45mph. One of the front straps ripped right in half and sent my bimini tumbling back at an angle.

So now the front section of the frame is bent and I'm wondering if I can just take it apart and bend the tubing back with a conduit bender or will it weaken it and shatter on me? I assume it's aluminum and not stainless since it's pretty light but I will check this weekend when I'm out there again.

Does anyone have a referral for the best bimini shop in socal? I obviously need a replacement strap, as well as possibly asking them to make me a new front bar for the bimini if I can't make the old one look right.

Thanks!

I've been in the 90's with mine.... when it goes it will be like www3....no survivers

 

[2FORCEFULL]

I swear by Mesh down the center. My buddy had full mesh for about 6 years at WOT. He then sold the boat no problems at all with the Bimini.

the mesh and the good straps..... the only way to go.... the poles will bend...

mine is a custom high speed and set level... doesn't trap air....I actually can go faster with it up then stacked on the rear

 

[2FORCEFULL]

Who builds them with mesh? All?, just have to ask?

michelle in havasu... great prices....strong frames...custom covers I think is the name...

 

[2FORCEFULL]

another $.02.... the higher the poles.... the slower the top....

 

[Havasu Hangin']

Definately at least mesh down the center. Some guys go with full mesh, but I personally don't like how it lets some sun through. I'd rather strengthen the straps (a very weak point).

Also, stainless poles instead of aluminum will help- the only downside are they are a bit heavier and cost more. Most of the 100MPH biminis I've seen have mesh, stainless poles, and no straps. That may sound like overkill, but when you are going 60MPH, and hit a 40MPH gust, it adds up real quick. Don't skimp on the straps or connecting hardware- a bimini can hurt someone when it falls hard.

 

[traquer]

Definately at least mesh down the center. Some guys go with full mesh, but I personally don't like how it lets some sun through. I'd rather strengthen the straps (a very weak point).

Also, stainless poles instead of aluminum will help- the only downside are they are a bit heavier and cost more. Most of the 100MPH biminis I've seen have mesh, stainless poles, and no straps. That may sound like overkill, but when you are going 60MPH, and hit a 40MPH gust, it adds up real quick. Don't skimp on the straps or connecting hardware- a bimini can hurt someone when it falls hard.

I bought these online the other day, looked to be the most heavy duty with the best hardware: http://www.canvas-boat-cover-and-repair-advisor.com/bimini-top-accessories.html

So this is a good time to ask: How are you supposed to angle your bimini? Mine is perfectly straight on the top and is quite long. Do I angle the front down to compensate for a trimmed up pitch?

BTW my boats not with me now but I'm really trying to think, I believe my bimini might actually be stainless since I don't recall it really being that lightweight? Anyone know what kind of Biminis Essex put on their high-end boats in the mid 90s?

 

[rivermobster]

Definately at least mesh down the center. Some guys go with full mesh, but I personally don't like how it lets some sun through. I'd rather strengthen the straps (a very weak point).

Also, stainless poles instead of aluminum will help- the only downside are they are a bit heavier and cost more. Most of the 100MPH biminis I've seen have mesh, stainless poles, and no straps. That may sound like overkill, but when you are going 60MPH, and hit a 40MPH gust, it adds up real quick. Don't skimp on the straps or connecting hardware- a bimini can hurt someone when it falls hard.

This ^^^

I went full stainless on mine as well. Straps and alum are an accident waiting to happen. (as the op now knows very well) :yikes

 

[Havasu Hangin']

So this is a good time to ask: How are you supposed to angle your bimini? Mine is perfectly straight on the top and is quite long. Do I angle the front down to compensate for a trimmed up pitch?

I adjusted mine based on where the attitude of the boat is at speed (how far the bow rises). Personally, I made small adjustments until it was neutral- you can tell if it's neutral by where the wind is pushing on it- the front and back should be as equal as possible.

Some fast bimini guys like the front slightly down, so if it lets loose, it won't kill someone in the backseat...lol. But neutral is your safest bet...and less stress on the hardware.

 

[Boschma]

Might need to detune your boat if you don't want to bend one again.

 

[Ultra247]

I did a bimini this spring. The original bimini was 5'7" long and just didn't give enough shade. It was too high and tended to "balloon" at speed. I was always worried that I would break a strap.

I had a new 8' bimini made with full mesh and stainless steel frame with front and rear poles. This thing is heavy and built like a tank!! It's a little heavy to put up but I think it is going to be very stable. Like many of us, I have issues with too much sun so being able to put the bimini up and still make speed runs is a huge advantage.

The material is the mesh which will allow air flow and breath. I had it made by Juan at All American Canvas in Montclair. He did a great job at a reasonable cost.

The top picture is the old one. The bottom is the new one. The new one runs flat with no "billow". It's heavy and hard to put up but once it's in place it's like a hard top. I've done speed runs with no issues.