There are three general sources for a Bimini top for a MONTAUK 17:
- buy from Wm. J. Mills. & Co., the original OEM for classic-era Boston Whaler boat canvas and made to suit the particulars of Dick Fisher; they are still supplying these products; you then install the top by following the directions provided;
- commission a local artisan to fabricate a Bimini top to your specifications and the artisan will perform the installation on the boat; or
- buy an off-the-shelf Bimini top said to be suitable for a Boston Whaler MONTAUK 17 from a big supplier of boat canvas, and fit the top to the boat as you see best.
Any of the three options will result in a usable Bimini top.
There are two important elements of the top construction to consider: the frame material and the fabric material. These choices will affect the cost, the strength, and the durability of the top.
FRAME MATERIAL
The frame for a Bimini top can be made from aluminum tubing or from stainless steel tubing. Aluminum tubing frames are lighter, not as strong, and generally less expensive. They often use plastic fittings or cast white-metal fittings for hinges. Stainless steel tubing frames are heavier, stronger, and more expensive. The fittings are all stainless steel and much stronger than plastic or cast fittings. The result is a stainless steel Bimini top frame is a more solid structure than an aluminum frame. There usually is a considerable cost difference going to all stainless steel frame and fittings. When aboard a boat and underway, the crew might grab onto the top frame as a hand hold for support. A frame made from steel will be more able to tolerate this sort of unexpected loading than an aluminum frame.
FABRIC MATERIAL
The fabric for a Bimini top is overwhelmingly best if made with the Glen Raven Mills SUNBRELLA material. The SUNBRELLA has been the gold-standard fabric for boat canvas for many decades because it is very color stable, tolerates exposure to sunlight and weather, when maintained well is very water resistant, and is very long-lasting. There are other materials which generally are less expensive, but their appearance, resistance to fading, weather resistance, and durability may not be as good as SUNBRELLA. Generally alternative fabrics are often promoted as being "as good as" SUNBRELLA but less expensive.
BUYING OFF THE SHELF PRE-MADE TOPS
Regarding buying an off-the-shelf top from a big manufacturer of Bimini tops, the Boston Whaler 16/17-foot hull has been in production since the 1960's, and there are hundreds of thousands of these boats. Accordingly, almost any big supplier of boat tops will have a top that is designed for a MONTAUK 17.
VERTICAL CLEARANCE UNDER TOP
Regarding a 6-foot-2-inches tall helmsman being able to stand under the Bimini top at the center console of a MONTAUK 17, this is a legitimate concern. Generally the frame size for a Bimini top is specified by the width of the frame and the height of the frame above the mounting point. The mounting point can vary. Some frames are mounted to hinges that are fixed to the gunwales, others are mounted to hinges fixed to the inwales, and others are mounted to hinges mounted to the railings of the side rails. Each mounting point will result in a different overall height under the Bimini top for a particular frame height. To know if a particular top will provide the desired height clearance, you have to measure from the mounting point of the frame hinge. The top should be level when deployed, so the angle of the frame rail must be considered when calculating the height under the top.
SLIDING TRACK
Regarding installation of a slide track so the hinge point of the frame can be moved fore and aft along the gunwale, the need for this depends on where you wish the folded top and its frame to be stowed when not erected. In general, whenever the boat is in use, the frame for the top will be erected. When the boat is not in use, the frame for the top should be able to be collapsed in order to reduce the overall height of the boat for trailer travel and storage. If the top is to be collapsed and folded down while the boat is in use, the frame and folded canvas will restrict movement fore and aft in the cockpit. For this reason the folded and collapsed top is often stowed at the very bow or very stern of the boat.