What's an optimal bimini height?

[GR8WHITE]

Hey guys. Dropped my boat off for interior work and decided to have him build me a larger 9ft bimini to shade the rear bench on my 21 Ultra Stealth. Cost for new fabric on the small aluminum pole bimini was $450 and he is charging $1300 for a stainless 9ft, so I decided to just do it now. Anyways one thing I didn't think about when I dropped the boat off on Saturday was what I want the installed height to be. I don't like it when they sit too tall and provided even less shade, but I am 6'1. What height are some of you guys running from floor to shade?

 

[02HoWaRd26]

Hey guys. Dropped my boat off for interior work and decided to have him build me a larger 9ft bimini to shade the rear bench on my 21 Ultra Stealth. Cost for new fabric on the small aluminum pole bimini was $450 and he is charging $1300 for a stainless 9ft, so I decided to just do it now. Anyways one thing I didn't think about when I dropped the boat off on Saturday was what I want the installed height to be. I don't like it when they sit too tall and provided even less shade, but I am 6'1. What height are some of you guys running from floor to shade?

Your best bet is to go to who’s building it and do some measurements. Mine looks good but at 6’3” it’s too low and a pita to get under to get in boat, so that’s why I’d say it’s something you have to personally do with the shop building it, so it works for all.

 

[GR8WHITE]

Wish my interior guy wasn't 2 hours away. I didn't even have a chance to measure the original bimini top height.

 

[Dcb.blake]

Your best bet is to go to who’s building it and do some measurements. Mine looks good but at 6’3” it’s too low and a pita to get under to get in boat, so that’s why I’d say it’s something you have to personally do with the shop building it, so it works for all.

X2 on this. Mine is almost too far back and you have to almost snake in off the hatch into the interior. Looks Bitchen but it’s more hassle than it’s worth for the type of boating we do.

 

[mattyc]

Both these guys are spot on. Obviously being able to stand uprite under it is ideal, but usually not the case because it would end up way too tall especially in your case. Anything less than standing uprite sucks, so if its gonna suck, you might as well make it look cool. Make it high enough to get in and out of the boat comfortably, pass a cooler in or out and make sure the hatch can be opened fully, if you have one. My wife is 5'3" and cant stand uprite under ours.

 

[hallett21]

I like them low for looks. I’d guess ours is 54” from floor to Bimini

 

[02HoWaRd26]

Both these guys are spot on. Obviously being able to stand uprite under it is ideal, but usually not the case because it would end up way too tall especially in your case. Anything less than standing uprite sucks, so if its gonna suck, you might as well make it look cool. Make it high enough to get in and out of the boat comfortably, pass a cooler in or out and make sure the hatch can be opened fully, if you have one. My wife is 5'3" and cant stand uprite under ours.

Yours is like mine and Blake’s, they look killer, but i think they are too far back, so climbing in is a hassle.

 

[outboard_256]

I made a simple fake one out of pvc and tarps to get the height and placement right before I got anything built. I am a visual guy so seeing it in place and moving around it helped out a lot.

 

[mattyc]

Yours is like mine and Blake’s, they look killer, but i think they are too far back, so climbing in is a hassle.

We are small so not bad for us, but the mach isnt as high in the back either

 

[GR8WHITE]

Anyone have any pics how far back they are set? Not sure how much overhang to have on the back hatch. I was thinking maybe 6" ish overhang?

 

[GR8WHITE]

Anyone have any pics how far back they are set? Not sure how much overhang to have on the back hatch. I was thinking maybe 6" ish overhang?

I like them low for looks. I’d guess ours is 54” from floor to Bimini

Holy hell! That would wreak havoc on my back lol! My wife is only 4'10, that height might work for her ha ha!

 

[GR8WHITE]

Both these guys are spot on. Obviously being able to stand uprite under it is ideal, but usually not the case because it would end up way too tall especially in your case. Anything less than standing uprite sucks, so if its gonna suck, you might as well make it look cool. Make it high enough to get in and out of the boat comfortably, pass a cooler in or out and make sure the hatch can be opened fully, if you have one. My wife is 5'3" and cant stand uprite under ours.

That looks very, very clean. How long is yours, 6-7ft? My Ultra is pretty long from driver to rear bench so it's gonna have to be about 9ft long to shade front to back.

 

[Dcb.blake]

Older pic but I think that’s the last time the Bimini was used lol. Imo I wouldn’t go much passed the hatch.

When we got to a spot we were stopping I would loosen the back straps so the back of the Bimini would give a little more room. If you’re doing hard poles I don’t think that’s an option

 

[mattyc]

That looks very, very clean. How long is yours, 6-7ft? My Ultra is pretty long from driver to rear bench so it's gonna have to be about 9ft long to shade front to back.

I would be guessing, but I'm thinking 7ft or so. The longer you make it, the longer it is in the stowed position. Gotta think about where you want it to rest as well. Height, length and stowed position are all relative.

 

[GR8WHITE]

I would be guessing, but I'm thinking 7ft or so. The longer you make it, the longer it is in the stowed position. Gotta think about where you want it to rest as well. Height, length and stowed position are all relative.

Currently there are two positions to mount it because it is so short and the cabin is so long. It mounts right next to the front seats when up and in use. Then you have to remove it and move it probably 3 feet back attaching next to rear bench for it to lay on the hatch when towing. The interior on this boat is hammered which is why I am having it completely redone. Not sure how you leave a cover off a boat for 4 years and not care about it.

 

[mattyc]

Currently there are two positions to mount it because it is so short and the cabin is so long. It mounts right next to the front seats when up and in use. Then you have to remove it and move it probably 3 feet back attaching next to rear bench for it to lay on the hatch when towing. The interior on this boat is hammered which is why I am having it completely redone. Not sure how you leave a cover off a boat for 4 years and not care about it.



View attachment 1254141

Maybe you could find a happy medium where you have one mount point midway and achieve a height and length you like? Seems it would be best to go spend some time with the builder and iron out those details. Bummer they're not close to.you, but better than getting something you're not happy with

 

[mattyc]

View attachment 1254117 Older pic but I think that’s the last time the Bimini was used lol. Imo I wouldn’t go much passed the hatch.

When we got to a spot we were stopping I would loosen the back straps so the back of the Bimini would give a little more room. If you’re doing hard poles I don’t think that’s an option

That picture cant be that old? I spy purple around the canopy

 

[Dcb.blake]

That picture cant be that old? I spy purple around the canopy

The owner before me, before he wrapped it silver……

 

[GR8WHITE]

Maybe you could find a happy medium where you have one mount point midway and achieve a height and length you like? Seems it would be best to go spend some time with the builder and iron out those details. Bummer they're not close to.you, but better than getting something you're not happy with

Yeah I'm probably going to have to take a trip down when he's ready to work on the bimini and see where everything lands.

 

[F.U.IRS]

Hey guys. Dropped my boat off for interior work and decided to have him build me a larger 9ft bimini to shade the rear bench on my 21 Ultra Stealth. Cost for new fabric on the small aluminum pole bimini was $450 and he is charging $1300 for a stainless 9ft, so I decided to just do it now. Anyways one thing I didn't think about when I dropped the boat off on Saturday was what I want the installed height to be. I don't like it when they sit too tall and provided even less shade, but I am 6'1. What height are some of you guys running from floor to shade?

Who's doing the new bimini for you?