Bimini Top question

[djhartley2003]

Has anyone lowered there own bimini top? Was it very hard to do? I think my bimini is too tall. I would like to bring it down about a foot and a half to two feet. Just not sure if its something that is doable on my own or should I take it to a shop?

 

[HOOTER SLED-]

I have.......... not hard at all. But shit......... yours looks like a top hat. LOL..... I just cut my poles, it was that easy. yours looks a lil different though cuz you have no real LONG end. Not sure if that makes sense. Look at some pics of other boats to see if you know what I mean.

 

[HOOTER SLED-]

Lemme see if I can make sense of this........... look at your pic. The poles on the right going up to your cover will have to slide up. You cut the pole from the end that attaches to hardware on the boat. I'm not sure if sliding your right side up will affect how the fabric on the cover fits. But yours looks kind of weird on the right side anyways. It looks like it bows a little bit. Too long? You may need to cut that one a little too. Be careful not to cut too much and mess up the angles to make the top not be snug. Make sense?

 

[BajaMike]

You are not going to be able to walk around under your bimini if you cut it down.

 

[HOOTER SLED-]

You are not going to be able to walk around under your bimini if you cut it down.

Yea, but it will look cooler.

 

[HOOTER SLED-]

I didn't realize you have poles up front too. Damn, that's alot of poles. This may take a lil more work. I'm sure it can be done though.

 

[djhartley2003]

First, your right about the bow but that hoop has been replaced.

As far as not being able to walk under it my brother in law is 6'2" and can walk under it with out ducking. I'm 5'8", I think I can bring it down a little and still walk under it and get more shade out of it. I don't really care if my brother in law has to duck to walk under it.

I made some marks on my picture to see if I am understanding you. I think I see what your talking about now. Most of the hardware on my bimini is pushed on with Allen set screws so I can more them around. Let me know if what I have marked up is what your talking about. Thanks for the input.

the picture I marked up is not showing up well but the hoop that is bent would get slid in the direction of the arrow and then I would make 4 cuts per side where I have the 4 small white lines. I am considering getting rid of the front poles and using straps just to get rid of some of the poles.

 

[HOOTER SLED-]

First, your right about the bow but that hoop has been replaced.

As far as not being able to walk under it my brother in law is 6'2" and can walk under it with out ducking. I'm 5'8", I think I can bring it down a little and still walk under it and get more shade out of it. I don't really care if my brother in law has to duck to walk under it.

I made some marks on my picture to see if I am understanding you. I think I see what your talking about now. Most of the hardware on my bimini is pushed on with Allen set screws so I can more them around. Let me know if what I have marked up is what your talking about. Thanks for the input.

the picture I marked up is not showing up well but the hoop that is bent would get slid in the direction of the arrow and then I would make 4 cuts per side where I have the 4 small white lines. I am considering getting rid of the front poles and using straps just to get rid of some of the poles.
View attachment 159023

That looks about right. But you may not have to cut the one to the right of the black arrow. Think about it, the top is lowering towards the boat. You don't want to shrink the poles that will extend and keep the top's fabric taut. Since you have a bigger amount of fabric, keeping those front poles may work better to help stabilize that weight, especially for driving. i guess you'd have to see how sturdy it would be to use straps instead. I know what you mean though..... you'll probably have to cut those front poles too to make it shorter. Is the boat at the river? Or at home?

 

[djhartley2003]

It lives in Havasu.

 

[2FORCEFULL]

Has anyone lowered there own bimini top? Was it very hard to do? I think my bimini is too tall. I would like to bring it down about a foot and a half to two feet. Just not sure if its something that is doable on my own or should I take it to a shop?

View attachment 158987

I can see why you wanna lower it... are you the one with the froggie, or the one in the life jacket

 

[2FORCEFULL]

jk....the hard part is moving the two center braces

usally have to re sew the pockets

 

[FREAK JUICE]

2FF is an expert at lowering binimi tops

 

[Outlaw]

I cut mine down by 13" just take your time and cut a little at a time.

I ended up cutting 7" off the main bars and 3-1/2 off the second brace

remember to check it folded up before you make the cuts

 

[Ultra247]

You have to really watch the angles when you cut the bows. We shortened one "many years ago" and this was the result. It came out very "bowed". You have to be really carefull that you can keep the top "flat". I'd be pretty slow to try it again after the results the first time. It's not as easy as you think.

 

[2FORCEFULL]

You have to really watch the angles when you cut the bows. We shortened one "many years ago" and this was the result. It came out very "bowed". You have to be really carefull that you can keep the top "flat". I'd be pretty slow to try it again after the results the first time. It's not as easy as you think.

thats what I was say'n , you have to move the sewn in pockets or re bend
the two middle braces and mke them longer or they won't stack when you fold it up

 

[Motor Boater]

Lowering a 3 bow and lowering a 4 bow are 2 different animals. 3 bows can be done without too much trouble but 4 bow is basically a full redo.

 

[djhartley2003]

I can see why you wanna lower it... are you the one with the froggie, or the one in the life jacket

Take your pick, both of them are almost bigger than my half a midget ass.

 

[djhartley2003]

The next time I go up I'm going to take it and find out what it will cost to have it done. It sounds like It might be more than I want to get into and I don't want to screw it up because we use it all the time. Thanks for all the input and advice. When I get it figured out Ill put some pictures up.