CONTINUOUSWAVE

I recently purchased a 2014 Montauk 170. I was unclear how to fold down the Bimini top for highway travel, so I searched the forum for tips.

I expecting that folding down the Bimini top for highway travel to be something simple. I thought surely engineers had devised a simple solution to prevent the Bimini frame from flopping around--but apparently not yet.

In a five-year-old thread, I found other comments about the problem of folding down a Bimini top for highway travel, albeit on a 190 MONTAUK.

Below are several illustrations of a method for folding down the Bimini Top which may be helpful for 170 MONTAUK owners. My method may save others time and avoid hull and frame rail damage. I developed this method by my own tinkering.

My method of folding down a Bimini top for highway travel on a 170 MONTAUK employs four two-feet-long cam straps and two 18-inch-long rubber bungee cords with hooks. [Cam straps are a type of hold-down strap that are only tightened by hand strength, and they can be released gradually.] The two-feet-long cam straps hold the poles of the Bimini top frame tightly together; the two 18-inch-long bungee cords with hooks provide a suspension [of the Bimini top frame from the bow railing]; this suspension keeps [the frame of the Bimini top] from rubbing and chattering on the gunwales.







I hope publication of this method is helpful. If others have found a better way, please respond with details.

[The method of folding down the Bimini top on a 170 MONTAUK for highway travel that is illustrated above] looks like it would work very well.

I have a 2010 and a 2011 170 Montauk. I stow the Bimini top to the stern when not in use. This may not protect the cover from the wind quite as well as stowing to the bow. If highway towing at distances greater than 100 miles I normally also use a boat cover. The covers are holding up well.







An advantage of stowing the Bimini top to the stern is that the bow seating cushion and anchor well are not obstructed.

A disadvantage of stowing to the rear is that you have to step over the bimini to get to the swim platform.

To move the Bimini out of the way when raising the engine, a small cord secures the mounting bracket [perhaps means the moveable hinges for the frame] to the forward end of the side railings.

I lay my newly installed NOS Carver bimini aft with the boot. No straps or any attachments.

At highway speeds I do not notice any movement. This may be due to the torsion-axle trailer, which allows the boat to ride as if on a cloud.