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Author Topic:   montauk bimini top

scottfarm posted 01-15-2001 07:20 PM ET (US)
I am thinking of installing a bimini top on my montauk. Is the bimini top that comes from the factory 6 or 8 feet long--is it 60 inches from mounting point in height--is it 3 or 4 bow--should it be mounted fixed or sliding track-is it more out of the way when you mount it laying toward the front(seems like it would be). Any help on the best measurements for top on this model boat would be appreciated. Thanks Dennis
alvispollard posted 01-16-2001 08:57 AM ET (US)
Do yourself a favor and get the best top on the market - a William J. Mills. It lays inside the front of the boat, out of the way. Don't go with the rear or Whalers' new top that lays outside front rail. Check out Mills website. I have received more positive comments on my top than any other accessory. You can run the boat WOT and it will not catch wind. They also have the full enclosure you can add later. Get the best for the best boat on the water.
alvis pollard
scottfarm posted 01-17-2001 09:20 AM ET (US)
Checked with Mills about bimini top--($669.00 plus $140.00 shipping. Ouch!!!!!!
bigz posted 01-17-2001 09:47 AM ET (US)
Dennis yep it seems steep --- remember it's an all stainless frame not aluminum and it is a perfect fit --- you can go with the current BW Montauk top --- check with your local BW dealer and again be prepared to be price shocked, as Alvis mentioned no were close to Mills fit or quality -- you also can get a local canvas firm to quote but I'll bet they will be pretty close to Mills with ss bows --- make sure it is Sunbrella fabric, that's what Mills uses ---
Tom
Jersey Jim posted 01-25-2001 07:52 PM ET (US)
I'm confused. I'm looking at a new Montauk
with sun top(bimini), center console cover and seat cover all from BW. Are these factory(Mills) items or does BW use a different vendor?
whalernut posted 01-25-2001 08:13 PM ET (US)
Hi Jim, how ya been. Boston Whaler hasn`t used Mills as their canvas supplier for some time, I believe since Brunswick took them over, I don`t know who the new supplier is? Maybee someone with a newer Whaler can answer that? Regards-Jack Graner.
Dick posted 01-25-2001 08:22 PM ET (US)
The new canvas supplier is probably Great Lakes Manufacturing in Vonor Tn. They do all the Sea Ray canvas except for the Phoenix boats.
Dick
andygere posted 01-25-2001 08:53 PM ET (US)
Dick is right; I checked the label at the boat show. For what it's worth, my '83 vintage Mills set is like new, and they just made a new flying top boot for me. I was very happy with the customer service they provided.
Jersey Jim posted 01-26-2001 09:23 AM ET (US)
thanks for the info- never owned a boat with
a sun/bimini top. I'm 6ft tall-is there enough head room to stand up at the center console of a Montauk and drive the boat with the top up? Can you run the boat at speed with the top up?
triblet posted 01-26-2001 09:34 AM ET (US)
How about for someone 6' 5"?
Chuck
alvispollard posted 02-20-2001 08:11 PM ET (US)
Wm. J. Mills top is 6'4" tall at helm.
alvis pollard
triblet posted 02-20-2001 10:56 PM ET (US)
Are you sure it's 6' 4"?
I just got an e-mail from Leslie at Mills
saying they could add two inches to make it
6' 5" (same as me, and not enough).
Chuck
Hank posted 02-21-2001 11:27 PM ET (US)
The general consensus about bimini tops for the Montauk seems to lean toward the Mills top. My '84 Montauk, bought 3 years ago, came with a bimini top which I'm quite sure is NOT a Mills product. Although my boat is used in Florida, the bimini top is left at the dock more often than not because of its inconvenience.
1. With the top up, it is impossible to board the boat without considerable gymnastics as it blocks the space between the forward and aft rails.(It's mounted there). Additionally, it interferes with the fishing rods in the rod holders at the front of the console. Of course, fishing room is restricted.
2. With the top down it takes up space inboard of the forward rails and is a hazard when trying to fish from the forward platform.
3. When the anchor is pulled on board with the top down(several times during a day's fishing) the top gets covered with muck.
It does ride well and protects from the sun, but it never seems worth the effort when I go fishing.
Would I have similar problems with a Mills top or a BW top ?
Hank
Chesapeake posted 02-22-2001 08:52 AM ET (US)
Men: I have four Perko SS rod holders mounted permanently on the rails of my 16. Will Mills customize a boat cover to include some time of pockets, etc. to go over the rod holders without having to move them??
Bob
Fred Torres posted 02-22-2001 04:31 PM ET (US)
What is the web page for the Mills tops????
triblet posted 02-22-2001 06:29 PM ET (US)
http://www.millscanvas.com/
Chuck
kelb posted 02-22-2001 10:23 PM ET (US)
Hank's right,
The top's a pain in the butt. Used it three times. Once stureon fishing (never again fishing), twice with the family. With the bow pad on my montauk, puting the top down makes the pad usless. I feel the same way about my Mill's motor cover, or the boat cover for that matter. Well I do park in the garage. Too much is sometimes too much. Save some money for gas.
stagalv posted 02-22-2001 10:29 PM ET (US)
Has anyone ever seen a Montauk with a T-Top? I have seen alot of Montauks but none with a T-Top. Rex
Fred Torres posted 02-24-2001 05:15 PM ET (US)
Which size is most common on a Montauk 6' or 8' top? And why? I can see why when the top is down it can get in the way up front, does it take up alot of space at the stern? Just trying to get as much info as possible before I purchase anything.
kingfish posted 02-24-2001 06:25 PM ET (US)
The Mills sun top (bimini) has it's hinge anchors set in slides that snap to the aft end of rails that mount on the gunwales when flying. When stowed, the hinge anchors snap at the foreward end of the rails and the canvas wraps around the bows, gets covered with a boot, and stows forward, *outside* the rails. It is very neat, well engineered, and handy. I used mine all the time, fishing or not. Obviously, like anything else that mounts on a boat, under some circumstances it is preferable to have it out of the way, so you stow it. When stowed, it reduces the area available for dancing around on the small forward corner decks outside the rails, but it does not eliminate it.
jimh posted 02-24-2001 06:59 PM ET (US)
Regarding the Mills Flying Top and speed:
I just got back from some Classic Whaler salt-water sea trials (aboard WHALE LURE) and can report that the Wm. J. Mills top suffered no ill effects at 55 MPH.
--jimh

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Author	Topic: montauk bimini top
scottfarm	posted 01-15-2001 07:20 PM ET (US) I am thinking of installing a bimini top on my montauk. Is the bimini top that comes from the factory 6 or 8 feet long--is it 60 inches from mounting point in height--is it 3 or 4 bow--should it be mounted fixed or sliding track-is it more out of the way when you mount it laying toward the front(seems like it would be). Any help on the best measurements for top on this model boat would be appreciated. Thanks Dennis
alvispollard	posted 01-16-2001 08:57 AM ET (US) Do yourself a favor and get the best top on the market - a William J. Mills. It lays inside the front of the boat, out of the way. Don't go with the rear or Whalers' new top that lays outside front rail. Check out Mills website. I have received more positive comments on my top than any other accessory. You can run the boat WOT and it will not catch wind. They also have the full enclosure you can add later. Get the best for the best boat on the water. alvis pollard
scottfarm	posted 01-17-2001 09:20 AM ET (US) Checked with Mills about bimini top--($669.00 plus $140.00 shipping. Ouch!!!!!!
bigz	posted 01-17-2001 09:47 AM ET (US) Dennis yep it seems steep --- remember it's an all stainless frame not aluminum and it is a perfect fit --- you can go with the current BW Montauk top --- check with your local BW dealer and again be prepared to be price shocked, as Alvis mentioned no were close to Mills fit or quality -- you also can get a local canvas firm to quote but I'll bet they will be pretty close to Mills with ss bows --- make sure it is Sunbrella fabric, that's what Mills uses --- Tom
Jersey Jim	posted 01-25-2001 07:52 PM ET (US) I'm confused. I'm looking at a new Montauk with sun top(bimini), center console cover and seat cover all from BW. Are these factory(Mills) items or does BW use a different vendor?
whalernut	posted 01-25-2001 08:13 PM ET (US) Hi Jim, how ya been. Boston Whaler hasn`t used Mills as their canvas supplier for some time, I believe since Brunswick took them over, I don`t know who the new supplier is? Maybee someone with a newer Whaler can answer that? Regards-Jack Graner.
Dick	posted 01-25-2001 08:22 PM ET (US) The new canvas supplier is probably Great Lakes Manufacturing in Vonor Tn. They do all the Sea Ray canvas except for the Phoenix boats. Dick
andygere	posted 01-25-2001 08:53 PM ET (US) Dick is right; I checked the label at the boat show. For what it's worth, my '83 vintage Mills set is like new, and they just made a new flying top boot for me. I was very happy with the customer service they provided.
Jersey Jim	posted 01-26-2001 09:23 AM ET (US) thanks for the info- never owned a boat with a sun/bimini top. I'm 6ft tall-is there enough head room to stand up at the center console of a Montauk and drive the boat with the top up? Can you run the boat at speed with the top up?
triblet	posted 01-26-2001 09:34 AM ET (US) How about for someone 6' 5"? Chuck
alvispollard	posted 02-20-2001 08:11 PM ET (US) Wm. J. Mills top is 6'4" tall at helm. alvis pollard
triblet	posted 02-20-2001 10:56 PM ET (US) Are you sure it's 6' 4"? I just got an e-mail from Leslie at Mills saying they could add two inches to make it 6' 5" (same as me, and not enough). Chuck
Hank	posted 02-21-2001 11:27 PM ET (US) The general consensus about bimini tops for the Montauk seems to lean toward the Mills top. My '84 Montauk, bought 3 years ago, came with a bimini top which I'm quite sure is NOT a Mills product. Although my boat is used in Florida, the bimini top is left at the dock more often than not because of its inconvenience. 1. With the top up, it is impossible to board the boat without considerable gymnastics as it blocks the space between the forward and aft rails.(It's mounted there). Additionally, it interferes with the fishing rods in the rod holders at the front of the console. Of course, fishing room is restricted. 2. With the top down it takes up space inboard of the forward rails and is a hazard when trying to fish from the forward platform. 3. When the anchor is pulled on board with the top down(several times during a day's fishing) the top gets covered with muck. It does ride well and protects from the sun, but it never seems worth the effort when I go fishing. Would I have similar problems with a Mills top or a BW top ? Hank
Chesapeake	posted 02-22-2001 08:52 AM ET (US) Men: I have four Perko SS rod holders mounted permanently on the rails of my 16. Will Mills customize a boat cover to include some time of pockets, etc. to go over the rod holders without having to move them?? Bob
Fred Torres	posted 02-22-2001 04:31 PM ET (US) What is the web page for the Mills tops????
triblet	posted 02-22-2001 06:29 PM ET (US) http://www.millscanvas.com/ Chuck
kelb	posted 02-22-2001 10:23 PM ET (US) Hank's right, The top's a pain in the butt. Used it three times. Once stureon fishing (never again fishing), twice with the family. With the bow pad on my montauk, puting the top down makes the pad usless. I feel the same way about my Mill's motor cover, or the boat cover for that matter. Well I do park in the garage. Too much is sometimes too much. Save some money for gas.
stagalv	posted 02-22-2001 10:29 PM ET (US) Has anyone ever seen a Montauk with a T-Top? I have seen alot of Montauks but none with a T-Top. Rex
Fred Torres	posted 02-24-2001 05:15 PM ET (US) Which size is most common on a Montauk 6' or 8' top? And why? I can see why when the top is down it can get in the way up front, does it take up alot of space at the stern? Just trying to get as much info as possible before I purchase anything.
kingfish	posted 02-24-2001 06:25 PM ET (US) The Mills sun top (bimini) has it's hinge anchors set in slides that snap to the aft end of rails that mount on the gunwales when flying. When stowed, the hinge anchors snap at the foreward end of the rails and the canvas wraps around the bows, gets covered with a boot, and stows forward, outside the rails. It is very neat, well engineered, and handy. I used mine all the time, fishing or not. Obviously, like anything else that mounts on a boat, under some circumstances it is preferable to have it out of the way, so you stow it. When stowed, it reduces the area available for dancing around on the small forward corner decks outside the rails, but it does not eliminate it.
jimh	posted 02-24-2001 06:59 PM ET (US) Regarding the Mills Flying Top and speed: I just got back from some Classic Whaler salt-water sea trials (aboard WHALE LURE) and can report that the Wm. J. Mills top suffered no ill effects at 55 MPH. --jimh