Aluminum frame Bimini for salt water boater

[Shabah 182]

I am shopping for a Bimini for my 21 foot cuddy. I trailer it and use it as a weekend cruiser. The stainless Bimini tops are almost twice the price of anodized aluminum. I know that stainless is better, but with proper care, will aluminum do okay? Anyone have an aluminum framed bimini that they use in salt water?

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Aluminum frame Bimini for salt water boater

Yep it will work fine. Aluminum boats do too.

Remember your not sticking it into salt water and leaving it there. Just rinse it when you rinse the whole boat.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Aluminum frame Bimini for salt water boater

Aluminum works fine....the tubes are polished and seem to stay pretty much like new....

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Aluminum frame Bimini for salt water boater

Save the bucks,alum is great and weighs waaaaaay less than SS. Charlie

 

[dingbat]

Re: Aluminum frame Bimini for salt water boater

The aluminum will hold up with care as long as you remove your canvas after use. If you leave the canvas on after use, you eventually end up with the dreaded white power syndrome where the canvas was in contact with the aluminum.

You may also have a stability issue. The frame on my last boat made with 1" aluminum tubing and it was pretty stable. A friend had one made of 3/4" tubing and it wasn't anywhere near as sturdy

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Aluminum frame Bimini for salt water boater

Besides being polished, I think my last top had a clear coating. Regardless, you don't want a SS. I made that mistake once on a custom made top and SS is just too heavy.

Mark

 

[babbot]

Re: Aluminum frame Bimini for salt water boater

I have all aluminum, I also bought the adjustable struts. Well the first time out on the salt water the next day I could not adjust the strut it was all corroded inside. I was able to pull it apart carefully twisting with a wrench and sanded the corrosion off. I didn't think I had to rinse because it never got wet. I would not recommend those. The rest of the frame is polished and doesn't show any signs of corrosion.

 

[Shabah 182]

Re: Aluminum frame Bimini for salt water boater

Hmmm, I am surprised by the answers here. I was guessing that everyone would tell me to pay the extra money for stainless steel. The aluminum biminis cost about 40 percent less than stainless, and I am a weekend trailer boater who washes my boat after each use. I hear you Dingbat about the stability. Most aluminum I have priced are 7/8 inch versus the weaker 3/4. I will look for 1 inch tubing options. Still undecided, bu seriously considering aluminum now.

 

[emilsr]

Re: Aluminum frame Bimini for salt water boater

I just bought a custom bimini last summer. 1" stainless. It's actually not as heavy as I thought it would be even though it's 8' long. Strong as heck though; didn't move running 50mph in 20-30mph wind gusts.

I'm not trying to steer you away from aluminum, but in my case I feel I got what I paid for with SS.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Aluminum frame Bimini for salt water boater

The aluminum biminis cost about 40 percent less than stainless, and I am a weekend trailer boater who washes my boat after each use.

I had the bimini, camper canvas and new frames completely redesigned on my 27' last spring. I was perfectly willing to pay for new stainless, but on the advise of my canvas guy we scrapped the stainless and went with aluminum. My boat is wet slipped in salt all season.The place I used (AMC Marine Canvas) is THE outfitter in this area- everybody uses them and they always get high marks. In your situation I wouldn't even give it a second thought- aluminum is fine.

My .02

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: Aluminum frame Bimini for salt water boater

I am a huge fan of aluminum. It's a perfect match for salt water, and really, an ideal material for boats. The only physical advantage SS has is strength which can make for a bimini that you can use at WOT. That said, the fabric will take a huge beating at WOT, so it's probably not a great idea anyway. SS is really pretty though...

 

[Shabah 182]

Re: Aluminum frame Bimini for salt water boater

Okay I am sold....aluminum it is!