Bimini tops

[ROBINSON]

Need to have a bimini made, is all mesh the way to go these days?

 

[wishiknew]

Need to have a bimini made, is all mesh the way to go these days?

Didnt you move to Texas to pull teats with you brother ????

 

[CampbellCarl]

Didnt you move to Texas to pull teats with you brother ????

Are you suggesting that he doesn't need a Bimini top because he lives in Texas and pulls teats?

 

[ROBINSON]

Haha I did, does that mean we can't boat? Haha

 

[Boschma]

Less is more...

 

[TCHB]

I had a mesh top and it was way too hot for us. We put on the normal canvas and much happier.

 

[t&y]

Need to have a bimini made, is all mesh the way to go these days?

Mesh doesn't block all the sun for obvious reasons so it's not as cool underneath. What I was told when I was going to get one made is it's best to go canvas and you can add the mesh down the center to help let the heat out and still keep most of the shade.

 

[TLAW719]

X2 on a center mesh strip. It will help let some of the heat out and still keep you cool. Also it wI'll help wind pass and not be such a parachute.

 

[Mach80]

I had mine made with two four inch mesh stripes. It works great. The original bimini was about half mesh and it was too hot as others have said. Im running up to about 70 mph with the top up and no problems. The two stripes are the white just outside of the purple center stripe in my avitar.

 

[BUSTI]

I had mine made with two four inch mesh stripes. It works great. The original bimini was about half mesh and it was too hot as others have said. Im running up to about 70 mph with the top up and no problems. The two stripes are the white just outside of the purple center stripe in my avitar.

Top looks good. Looks like you don't need a lot of mesh. I too am considering the mesh top. That's great if you could run70 mph with yours. My Howard will go 70 mph really quick if I don't pay attention so it would be nice to have a top that can handle it. Do you still have straps or solid poles on the ends?

 

[ROBINSON]

Does anybody mind posting pictures of their biminis? Trying to get design, height as well as material ideas. This is for a Hallett 210.

 

[djunkie]

 

[Boschma]

Go stainless not aluminum.

 

[Boschma]

http://eddiemarine.com/deck-hardware/bimini-mounts

 

[Boschma]

This stuff looks pretty trick

http://marineindustrieswest.com/Gro...N=e32d4b-728ad14e-c752-4fd4-a834-9f77ef0478ac

 

[Ultra247]

Robinson,
I just had a new top made for my Ultra. it is full mesh. My old canvas bimini was too small and billowed at speed. I decided to go stainless with front and rear poles. I've been concerned that one of the straps is going to snap at speed and the bimini will fly back and take out rear seat passengers. I also wanted more shade.
The results are mixed reviews.
First I didn't want to change the position of my bimini mounts so there was some geometry to do. I went from 5'7" long bimini to about 7'6". I order to fold back and still use the same mounts, I had to go about 6"lower. That also increased the shade so that was a help.
I can say that the stainless steel double thick with front and rear poles weighs about 80 pounds. It's actually hard for one person to put up. The front and rear poles also tend to turn into an octopus until you get them up. Having the poles also makes it a little harder to get in and out.
THe mesh definitely rides better. I notice that it "whistles" above 50 mph. You can hear the air going through it.
I haven't had the bimini up on a really hot day yet. I was told that the mesh will still block 95% of the sun. We'll see if it is too hot! I hope not.
A new bimini is not a task for the faint of heart. First question is are you going the same size as you currently have. That is easiest. Once your past the size issues, mesh or canvas. Based upon what I see here, I would probably go half canvas and half mesh next time.
This picture is the new
bimini This picture is the old bimini. Note the nice arch at speed! This picture is the old canvas bimini. The new one looks much nicer!

 

[Mach80]

Top looks good. Looks like you don't need a lot of mesh. I too am considering the mesh top. That's great if you could run70 mph with yours. My Howard will go 70 mph really quick if I don't pay attention so it would be nice to have a top that can handle it. Do you still have straps or solid poles on the ends?

I have straps in the front. Probably should change to poles. I dont drive it fast very often with the to up.

 

[ROBINSON]

What are everyone's thoughts of an all black bimini? To hot?

 

[robby dmax]

New bimini

 

[djunkie]

New bimini

That looks perfect. I hate when they're mounted super high. Just doesn't look right.

 

[ROBINSON]

New bimini

That sits perfectly

 

[robby dmax]

That looks perfect. I hate when they're mounted super high. Just doesn't look right.

That sits perfectly

Thank you.

 

[2FORCEFULL]

here's sue's.... I've been 95 top up,... speedo's off.. free ball'n:cool

I go with the straps as advised by all the top bimini builders... they say the poles will bend and colipse..

the idea for us is to have shade while boating.. tall canvas tops ha ve to come down to run at speed and the mostly shade the ducks...

 

[robby dmax]

here's sue's.... I've been 95 top up,... speedo's off.. free ball'n:cool

I go with the straps as advised by all the top bimini builders... they say the poles will bend and colipse..

the idea for us is to have shade while boating.. tall canvas tops ha View attachment 415009 View attachment 415010 View attachment 415012 View attachment 415013 View attachment 415014 View attachment 415016 ve to come down to run at speed and the mostly shade the ducks...

is that 95 steve with the speedo that is only 8% off...lol

 

[2FORCEFULL]

is that 95 steve with the speedo that is only 8% off...lol

that's with the speedo all the way off....in fact they are still at the store.....just can't see were'n those...

 

[wishiknew]

that's with the speedo all the way off....in fact they are still at the store.....just can't see were'n those...

LOL :lmao:lmao

 

[ROBINSON]

That looks good Steve, is it mesh, some mesh? Still trying to figure out color or colors, tossing around all black, black with red stripe down center or maybe something else, I may need to start drawing them out to get a visual. Going on this

 

[Sbarry]

here's sue's.... I've been 95 top up,... speedo's off.. free ball'n:cool

I go with the straps as advised by all the top bimini builders... they say the poles will bend and colipse..

the idea for us is to have shade while boating.. tall canvas tops ha View attachment 415009 View attachment 415010 View attachment 415012 View attachment 415013 View attachment 415014 View attachment 415016 ve to come down to run at speed and the mostly shade the ducks...

Who built that top? I'm kicking around having a new one built. Like you said, it sits too high and shades the ducks

 

[jgasman661]

I called around in Havasu to get a big one for my toon. Canvas sides and 20'' mesh down the center. Prices were insane. Had a guy back home in California do it for me for almost half the price. Looks awesome doesn't trap heat and towing around town 55 mph no problem with it up

 

[j-bone]

here's sue's.... I've been 95 top up,... speedo's off.. free ball'n:cool

What did you use to attach the straps to your hand rails?

 

[j-bone]

This guy has an awesome video of how to make a bitchin' bimini top. You have to see this.

[video=youtube;dsMq_cX4u8Utp]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsMq_cX4u8Utp:// [/video]

 

[2FORCEFULL]

That looks good Steve, is it mesh, some mesh? Still trying to figure out color or colors, tossing around all black, black with red stripe down center or maybe something else, I may need to start drawing them out to get a visual. Going on this View attachment 415050

all mesh.... straps hook to the same clam shell clamps that the big walk around top hooks to... so yes ... we have two tops ...cruiser top and the sport top

 

[RiverDave]

All black canvas is actually cooler then other colors.. I would think the mesh would be the same.

Mine is burgandy with a grey mesh stripe down the center. I have run it hard with it up, but mostly don't.. Not worried about the top, worried about putting a stress crack in the nonskid where the straps secure.