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Author Topic:   Bimini top

Nushlie posted 05-15-2009 10:42 AM ET (US)
Gentlemen & Ladies:
Is it difficult to install an aftermarket bimini top? We need to have a bimini put on our 17' Whaler and I'm not sure where to buy the bimini top.
If anybody can offer some suggestions regarding type, cost, retailer, etc,. your help is greatly appreciated.
Nushlie
pglein posted 05-15-2009 12:29 PM ET (US)
How difficult it is will depend on how handy you are with typical household tools. Generally a properly designed and sized bimini is pretty simple to install, requiring nothing more than a drill, a screwdriver, and perhaps a set of helping hands.
As for where to buy one, the obvious recomendation is Wm J. Mills, which for many years was the OEM supplier to Boston Whaler. They should have an off-the-shelf product for your boat. However, my guess would be that, if all you want is a simple bimini, there may be less expensive items. Of course, you get what you pay for.
If you want the ultimate in quality and features, I still believe that hiring a local specialist to build you a custom set of canvas is always the way to go. This, of course, is almost always the most expensive option.
Irish Hooker posted 05-15-2009 11:33 PM ET (US)
I wouldn't say your local canvas guy is the most expensive. Mine beat Mills by almost 400 USD, and is just as nice if not nicer than Mills due to the custom build. Just make sure to tell him what type of sunbrella fab you want.
Especially in today's economy, your local canvas guy is probably getting hit hard just like everyone else. And in my opinion I would rather keep my money in my local economy rather than sending it elsewhere.
IH
cohasett73 posted 05-16-2009 08:30 AM ET (US)
A three bow from Cabela or anywhere else will do just fine.
Search this site for threads on the subject.
Plenty of advice.
As for mounting install the track on the small step inside the rails so you can fold the tpo easily.
Tom from Rubicon,WI
NorthShoreWhaler posted 05-16-2009 09:14 AM ET (US)
I just ordered a 3 bow Westland Sunbrella with SS Frame/Hardware for under $500. I used the site: www.go2marine.com. They seemed to have the most reasonable prices. Hope to have it within a couple of weeks.
Tohsgib posted 05-16-2009 09:49 AM ET (US)
I had mine custom made to look like a dive flag. I think it was like $375.
highanddry posted 05-16-2009 11:47 AM ET (US)
Who made the dive flag top?
rborroto posted 05-16-2009 03:52 PM ET (US)
I purchased my 3-bow Bimini top from Boatersoutlet.com. It has a stainless frame/fittings and Jockey Red Sunbrella fabric. I paid $506.00 and asked for free shipping... and they gave it to me. I also bought a pair of support poles to hold up the top out of the way when not in use. They cost extra.
One caveat with this particular top... the stainless kit comes with stainless rivets, not screws, which is correct. They did include a manual rivet tool, however you'll find it nearly impossible to install stainless rivets with a manual tool. After 4 painful and lengthy rivets I opted for a trip to Home Depot and bought aluminum rivets instead. They're not as tough but I don't abuse my boat or use it commercially, so the manufacturer (Carver Covers) said it was OK.
Assembling the kit was cake, and it took me all of 30 minutes. Installation was pretty painless too. Just make sure you double and triple measure everything. The kit included universal angle hinges, which was terrific. Some boats have a slight angle at the hinge mounting points for water drainage. The range of widths for my top was 4 inches (62"-66"). The way you "adjust" the width is to simply squeeze/expand the hinge point slightly, in my case a 2-inch squeeze per side.
I'd say that installing a Bimini top can be accomplished by someone with average handy skills.
Here are some photos of my boat:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11991822@N03/
and here is a link to the Bimini top selection page at boatersoutlet.com :
http://www.boatersoutlet.com/biminitopselectionguide-1.aspx
Good luck!
René Borroto
Hallandale Beach, Florida
rborroto posted 05-16-2009 04:14 PM ET (US)
I wanted to add a couple of points and clarifications. I purchased my top from BoatersOutlet.com (dealer) but the top itself is manufactured by Carver Covers.
A local installation is certainly convenient, and more than likely guarantees you a proper installation (and someone to go back to if it's not), but in and of itself does not automatically make it a better cover than one purchased online. My top is as good as, or better than, any other top on the market, whether it was purchased from across the street or across the country. Carver Covers has been making them for many years.
The folks at Boaters Outlet were helpful, knowledgeable and polite on the phone, as well as by email. If you don't live in Utah you won't get charged sales tax (typical online scenario) and as I did, ask for free shipping.
Murphy posted 05-16-2009 11:39 PM ET (US)
I ordered a Westland Sunbrella top from Iboats.com for my 13, it was about $250. I have been very happy with it.
SC Joe posted 05-17-2009 05:12 PM ET (US)
I have been wanting to change the color of my factory installed bimini top on my Montauk 170 from black to Jockey Red.
Great Lakes boat tops, the original manufacturer of the top, has quoted me $560 for the sunbrella fabric alone. I do not think this includes a matching boot. I have not checked with any local canvas shops.

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Author	Topic: Bimini top
Nushlie	posted 05-15-2009 10:42 AM ET (US) Gentlemen & Ladies: Is it difficult to install an aftermarket bimini top? We need to have a bimini put on our 17' Whaler and I'm not sure where to buy the bimini top. If anybody can offer some suggestions regarding type, cost, retailer, etc,. your help is greatly appreciated. Nushlie
pglein	posted 05-15-2009 12:29 PM ET (US) How difficult it is will depend on how handy you are with typical household tools. Generally a properly designed and sized bimini is pretty simple to install, requiring nothing more than a drill, a screwdriver, and perhaps a set of helping hands. As for where to buy one, the obvious recomendation is Wm J. Mills, which for many years was the OEM supplier to Boston Whaler. They should have an off-the-shelf product for your boat. However, my guess would be that, if all you want is a simple bimini, there may be less expensive items. Of course, you get what you pay for. If you want the ultimate in quality and features, I still believe that hiring a local specialist to build you a custom set of canvas is always the way to go. This, of course, is almost always the most expensive option.
Irish Hooker	posted 05-15-2009 11:33 PM ET (US) I wouldn't say your local canvas guy is the most expensive. Mine beat Mills by almost 400 USD, and is just as nice if not nicer than Mills due to the custom build. Just make sure to tell him what type of sunbrella fab you want. Especially in today's economy, your local canvas guy is probably getting hit hard just like everyone else. And in my opinion I would rather keep my money in my local economy rather than sending it elsewhere. IH
cohasett73	posted 05-16-2009 08:30 AM ET (US) A three bow from Cabela or anywhere else will do just fine. Search this site for threads on the subject. Plenty of advice. As for mounting install the track on the small step inside the rails so you can fold the tpo easily. Tom from Rubicon,WI
NorthShoreWhaler	posted 05-16-2009 09:14 AM ET (US) I just ordered a 3 bow Westland Sunbrella with SS Frame/Hardware for under $500. I used the site: www.go2marine.com. They seemed to have the most reasonable prices. Hope to have it within a couple of weeks.
Tohsgib	posted 05-16-2009 09:49 AM ET (US) I had mine custom made to look like a dive flag. I think it was like $375.
highanddry	posted 05-16-2009 11:47 AM ET (US) Who made the dive flag top?
rborroto	posted 05-16-2009 03:52 PM ET (US) I purchased my 3-bow Bimini top from Boatersoutlet.com. It has a stainless frame/fittings and Jockey Red Sunbrella fabric. I paid $506.00 and asked for free shipping... and they gave it to me. I also bought a pair of support poles to hold up the top out of the way when not in use. They cost extra. One caveat with this particular top... the stainless kit comes with stainless rivets, not screws, which is correct. They did include a manual rivet tool, however you'll find it nearly impossible to install stainless rivets with a manual tool. After 4 painful and lengthy rivets I opted for a trip to Home Depot and bought aluminum rivets instead. They're not as tough but I don't abuse my boat or use it commercially, so the manufacturer (Carver Covers) said it was OK. Assembling the kit was cake, and it took me all of 30 minutes. Installation was pretty painless too. Just make sure you double and triple measure everything. The kit included universal angle hinges, which was terrific. Some boats have a slight angle at the hinge mounting points for water drainage. The range of widths for my top was 4 inches (62"-66"). The way you "adjust" the width is to simply squeeze/expand the hinge point slightly, in my case a 2-inch squeeze per side. I'd say that installing a Bimini top can be accomplished by someone with average handy skills. Here are some photos of my boat: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11991822@N03/ and here is a link to the Bimini top selection page at boatersoutlet.com : http://www.boatersoutlet.com/biminitopselectionguide-1.aspx Good luck! René Borroto Hallandale Beach, Florida
rborroto	posted 05-16-2009 04:14 PM ET (US) I wanted to add a couple of points and clarifications. I purchased my top from BoatersOutlet.com (dealer) but the top itself is manufactured by Carver Covers. A local installation is certainly convenient, and more than likely guarantees you a proper installation (and someone to go back to if it's not), but in and of itself does not automatically make it a better cover than one purchased online. My top is as good as, or better than, any other top on the market, whether it was purchased from across the street or across the country. Carver Covers has been making them for many years. The folks at Boaters Outlet were helpful, knowledgeable and polite on the phone, as well as by email. If you don't live in Utah you won't get charged sales tax (typical online scenario) and as I did, ask for free shipping.
Murphy	posted 05-16-2009 11:39 PM ET (US) I ordered a Westland Sunbrella top from Iboats.com for my 13, it was about $250. I have been very happy with it.
SC Joe	posted 05-17-2009 05:12 PM ET (US) I have been wanting to change the color of my factory installed bimini top on my Montauk 170 from black to Jockey Red. Great Lakes boat tops, the original manufacturer of the top, has quoted me $560 for the sunbrella fabric alone. I do not think this includes a matching boot. I have not checked with any local canvas shops.