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Author Topic:   Help with Bimini Top, please.

Salmon Tub posted 01-29-2004 08:23 PM ET (US)
Well, I bought a Mills top from one of our fellow Wavers here a year or so ago, and now I would like to finish the project. I would like to make the rails for the top, the only thing is, I do not have a template for how long the legs should be. I could buy a whole bunch of tubes, make them long, then cut to fit, but, I am trying to do this in a frugal manner and avoid buying extra tubes if I can. I basically need to know how many inches the tubes are from the mounting point to the top of the bend for the main arch, second arch, third arch. I'v got the width down, so that is ok. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

whalersman posted 01-29-2004 08:47 PM ET (US)
Salmon Tub,
First of all we need to know what Whaler you are referring to here..
Second, depending on the model, we need to know where the mounting point is going to be. Either on top of the gunwales or down inside somewhere.
Joe Kriz
Salmon Tub posted 01-29-2004 08:58 PM ET (US)
My bad, I though you guys knew me (my boat) by now :).
Montauk.
Mounted on the rails, regardless of what dealer has said, but disregard that, I wanted to know what the standard Mills tops come with (lengths). I imagine they are standard.
whalersman posted 01-29-2004 09:35 PM ET (US)
Salmon Tub,
I didn't have you on my list of Montauk owners so I didn't know.
www.sisqtel.net/~jkriz/drawings/montauk-hin.html
It is sometimes hard to keep up with who owns what boat..
Here is a photo of a Sun Top (Bimini) I put on a friend of mines 1977 Montauk. These were mounted on top of the gunwales and using sliders so the top would live over and in front of the bow rail when in the down position.
www.sisqtel.net/~blewis/Montauk/montauk.html
The top is on backwards in the photos as we needed to make a minor bend so the top would lay flat when stowed.
The height is really a preference. Some people are taller then others. I do not know the exact height that the original Mills Sun Top measures so maybe someone else can give you that measurement. The original older models were however mounted inside the gunwales and not on top. The newer models from about 1996 and newer were mounted with sliders on top of the gunwales. I think the newer models have the better setup as when the top is down, it lives outside and in front of the bow rail. Completely out of the boat and out of the way which gives you more room in the boat..
If you are 6 feet tall, then I would say you want the top to be about 6 feet 6 inches from the floor of the Montauk to the top of the canvas..
Let us know what you find out and what works for you..
Joe Kriz
Salmon Tub posted 01-30-2004 12:07 PM ET (US)
Ya, thanks, nice pics. I did some measurements yesterday and think they should be fine. Since they are going on top of the rails, I am not worried about them being too low, it is just that if you make them too short, they may not open wide enough to stretch the canvas. I guess I was looking for the easy answer, but bit the bullet and did the measurements anyway. Thanks again.
ratherwhalering posted 01-30-2004 01:25 PM ET (US)
I have an original Mills Bimini with a factory mount on my 1987 Montauk, here in SF (Marin) You are welcome to drop by and take any additional measurement you may need.
--Rob--
272-5540
Salmon Tub posted 02-11-2004 07:29 PM ET (US)
Ya, hey Rob, thanks for the offer, may take you up on in in a few weeks or so if possible, am a bit busy with other projects now. Thanks again.
Mike.
BugsyG posted 02-11-2004 09:18 PM ET (US)
Hi guys,
I have an enclosure coming up....I will provide pics for whoever wants them.
JAZZ

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Author	Topic: Help with Bimini Top, please.
Salmon Tub	posted 01-29-2004 08:23 PM ET (US) Well, I bought a Mills top from one of our fellow Wavers here a year or so ago, and now I would like to finish the project. I would like to make the rails for the top, the only thing is, I do not have a template for how long the legs should be. I could buy a whole bunch of tubes, make them long, then cut to fit, but, I am trying to do this in a frugal manner and avoid buying extra tubes if I can. I basically need to know how many inches the tubes are from the mounting point to the top of the bend for the main arch, second arch, third arch. I'v got the width down, so that is ok. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
whalersman	posted 01-29-2004 08:47 PM ET (US) Salmon Tub, First of all we need to know what Whaler you are referring to here.. Second, depending on the model, we need to know where the mounting point is going to be. Either on top of the gunwales or down inside somewhere. Joe Kriz
Salmon Tub	posted 01-29-2004 08:58 PM ET (US) My bad, I though you guys knew me (my boat) by now :). Montauk. Mounted on the rails, regardless of what dealer has said, but disregard that, I wanted to know what the standard Mills tops come with (lengths). I imagine they are standard.
whalersman	posted 01-29-2004 09:35 PM ET (US) Salmon Tub, I didn't have you on my list of Montauk owners so I didn't know. www.sisqtel.net/~jkriz/drawings/montauk-hin.html It is sometimes hard to keep up with who owns what boat.. Here is a photo of a Sun Top (Bimini) I put on a friend of mines 1977 Montauk. These were mounted on top of the gunwales and using sliders so the top would live over and in front of the bow rail when in the down position. www.sisqtel.net/~blewis/Montauk/montauk.html The top is on backwards in the photos as we needed to make a minor bend so the top would lay flat when stowed. The height is really a preference. Some people are taller then others. I do not know the exact height that the original Mills Sun Top measures so maybe someone else can give you that measurement. The original older models were however mounted inside the gunwales and not on top. The newer models from about 1996 and newer were mounted with sliders on top of the gunwales. I think the newer models have the better setup as when the top is down, it lives outside and in front of the bow rail. Completely out of the boat and out of the way which gives you more room in the boat.. If you are 6 feet tall, then I would say you want the top to be about 6 feet 6 inches from the floor of the Montauk to the top of the canvas.. Let us know what you find out and what works for you.. Joe Kriz
Salmon Tub	posted 01-30-2004 12:07 PM ET (US) Ya, thanks, nice pics. I did some measurements yesterday and think they should be fine. Since they are going on top of the rails, I am not worried about them being too low, it is just that if you make them too short, they may not open wide enough to stretch the canvas. I guess I was looking for the easy answer, but bit the bullet and did the measurements anyway. Thanks again.
ratherwhalering	posted 01-30-2004 01:25 PM ET (US) I have an original Mills Bimini with a factory mount on my 1987 Montauk, here in SF (Marin) You are welcome to drop by and take any additional measurement you may need. --Rob-- 272-5540
Salmon Tub	posted 02-11-2004 07:29 PM ET (US) Ya, hey Rob, thanks for the offer, may take you up on in in a few weeks or so if possible, am a bit busy with other projects now. Thanks again. Mike.
BugsyG	posted 02-11-2004 09:18 PM ET (US) Hi guys, I have an enclosure coming up....I will provide pics for whoever wants them. JAZZ