1985 OUTRAGE 18 Bimini Height

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John_Madison CT
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1985 OUTRAGE 18 Bimini Height

Postby John_Madison CT » Wed Mar 13, 2019 7:06 pm

Well guys, I'm back in the game. I've been on this website for many years, started with a Montauk 17, then went to a Outrage 22 Whaler Drive, then back to a Sport 13, Center Console 15, and a Outrage 25 Cuddy Whaler Drive. I sold my last two Whalers a couple years ago and was boatless in 2018.

That wasn't going to happen another year, so I went on the hunt for something small, either a Montauk 17, or Outrage 18--but I had my eye out for anything up to 25-feet. My budget was around $10,000, so I was limited.

After hunting around, I found a nice 1985 Outrage 18 on Facebook Marketplace. It has a 2001 Yamaha 130-HP. All in all, it's in good shape. Prior owner did a lot of nice work to it, like moving the battery to the console and oil tank.

The Bimini top is too low for me. You can't drive standing up. A quick measurement showed it's about 45-inches tall.

Do you happen to know the height of the Bimini top typically used on Outrages? I can't seem to find measurements. The tallest stock Bimini I can find on the market is 54-inches tall, but perhaps the Mills Bimini is custom built and a lot taller?

Whaler 18.jpg
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Tomtep
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Re: 1985 OUTRAGE 18 Bimini Height

Postby Tomtep » Wed Mar 13, 2019 10:35 pm

I have a Mills bimini on my outrage, unfortunately it is still covered for the winter. My son is 5-feet 10-inches and stands under it with plenty of headroom.

On a different topic: can you post pictures of the stern layout on your boat?

From the little that can be seen on the picture you posted the stern layout looks interesting.

floater
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Re: 1985 OUTRAGE 18 Bimini Height

Postby floater » Thu Mar 14, 2019 7:52 am

Cut the front and middle poles a little shorter. Slide the front and middle, smaller, poles up higher. Lengthen the rear straps and tighten down the front ones. Should give you more height on the top for now.

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Phil T
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Re: 1985 OUTRAGE 18 Bimini Height

Postby Phil T » Thu Mar 14, 2019 7:54 am

John--congrats on getting back on the water.

I had a bimini that was too short. Only because I am 6-feet 2-inches tall. In doing research I found two ideas.


--modify the main bow by adding a "hot dog" and adding additional length.

--purchase a new top from Mills and have them add height. I recall a member did this a while back. I think he added 6-inches of height, when opened, and was very pleased.

Aside: have you considered adding sliders so you can adjust the position of the top as well as having a choice to stow the top either forward or backwards?
1992 Outrage 17
2019 E-TEC 90
2018 LoadRite 18280096VT
Member since 2003

jimh
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Re: 1985 OUTRAGE 18 Bimini Height

Postby jimh » Thu Mar 14, 2019 8:49 am

Make a cut in the main rear frame. Add more tubing to it.

If the frame is aluminum, you should be able to find telescoping sizes of aluminum tubing. Often aluminum tubing is sold in 0.058-wall thickness. With that wall thickness, a change in OD of 0.125-inch will telescope the the next larger or smaller tubing. For example a 1-inch OD tube with 0.058 wall can fit over a 7/8-inch OD tube.

If it is stainless steel tubing, you could use wooden dowels to make the joint.

BBS
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Re: 1985 OUTRAGE 18 Bimini Height

Postby BBS » Thu Mar 14, 2019 11:42 am

I don't have access to measure mine right now but here is a picture. I'm 6' and can stand comfortably under it. I believe mine is the Mills Sun Top, it only has the one bow. [Looks like a Flying Top—jimh] It used to be on Gambler, I bought it from Dave about 5 years ago.

Sun Top 1.jpg
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John_Madison CT
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Re: 1985 OUTRAGE 18 Bimini Height

Postby John_Madison CT » Thu Mar 14, 2019 2:00 pm

Thanks. Who do you think sells this?



jimh wrote:Make a cut in the main rear frame. Add more tubing to it.

If the frame is aluminum, you should be able to find telescoping sizes of aluminum tubing. Often aluminum tubing is sold in 0.058-wall thickness. With that wall thickness, a change in OD of 0.125-inch will telescope the the next larger or smaller tubing. For example a 1-inch OD tube with 0.058 wall can fit over a 7/8-inch OD tube.

If it is stainless steel tubing, you could use wooden dowels to make the joint.

jimh
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Re: 1985 OUTRAGE 18 Bimini Height

Postby jimh » Thu Mar 14, 2019 2:07 pm

Re aluminum tubing: you can usually find 6061T-6 Aluminum tubing with 0.058-Wall at any good aluminum product warehouse. You can also buy it from more boutique sellers. Try

DX Engineering
https://www.dxengineering.com/search/pr ... er=Default

They are selling 6063-T832 which has a shiny finish, probably better for your application.

"6063" is an alloy; high strength
"T832" is the heat treatment and finish
The 0.058-wall is nice for telescoping tubing together.