Bimini top - how tall is OK for cruising?

[am_dew]

I am looking at getting a bimini top for my 17 ft runabout which I want to be able to have up when cruising at 30-35 mph. I am 6'2" tall and ideally would love a top that I can stand under. My gunwales are about 26" tall, which would mean I would need a top that is about 48" high. A local bimini top maker told me a top like that would not withstand cruising speed. Does that seem right? I am willing to go shorter if that means more stability. How tall can you typically go with a bimini top and still be able to cruise with it up?

Thanks!

 

[Philster]

Re: Bimini top - how tall is OK for cruising?

Unless an an upholsterer/canvas maker pops in, you should follow the advice given to you already, and pose the follow-up question to the shop.


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[am_dew]

Re: Bimini top - how tall is OK for cruising?

Unless an an upholsterer/canvas maker pops in, you should follow the advice given to you already, and pose the follow-up question to the shop.

Agreed, however I am also looking for opinions and experiences from those who already have tops suitable for cruising. 46'" tall tops seem to be pretty standard so one would presume they would be OK and I'd be Ok with that despite not being able to stand up all the way.

 

[BoatDrinksQ5]

Re: Bimini top - how tall is OK for cruising?

Mine from Dowco (factory from Tahoe) is rated to 30mph and easily stood under by me (6.0ft) So i don't think you should have much trouble finding one rated to 35.

 

[Philster]

Re: Bimini top - how tall is OK for cruising?

Answers will range from 10-50 MPH, depending on the construction of the bimini, how it's mounted, the material used and the anchors/hardware.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: Bimini top - how tall is OK for cruising?

Just make sure it is adjusted properly and is not acting as a parachute or a spoiler and it will be fine.

 

[QC]

Re: Bimini top - how tall is OK for cruising?

One thing to consider is the taller the Bimini the shorter time it will shade you. Yes, I like to stand under the Bimini too, but at 5'7" I don't have the issue you do However . . . that doesn't change the fact that while seated you want the Bimini as short as possible so the sun doesn't come in under it when low in the sky. Like many things, a flipped up compromise.

 

[DBreskin]

Re: Bimini top - how tall is OK for cruising?

I don't understand why the height of the top would affect the cruising speed it can endure.

I have a bimini I purchased from iBoats; it has an aluminum frame and plastic hardware. The documentation included with it warns against using it above 35mph. Using stronger components such as stainless steel bows or metal hardware should increase the speed at which it can be used.

Most important should be the angle of attack; you should mount the bimini so it presents the smallest cross-section to headwind when on plane.

 

[jbetzelb]

Re: Bimini top - how tall is OK for cruising?

When I bought a bimini for my boat my decision on height was the same as yours. My bimini is a 48 inch high. It stands 6 foot 4 from the floor of the boat. Goal was to not have to bend over to stand up in the boat. It shades real well and I have had no issue with it holding together at any speed. I have run 50 mph and it was fine. Make sure you adjust it so the front is a couple inches lower than the back. Buy a decent bimini. IE: Stainless mounts not the plastic ones.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Bimini top - how tall is OK for cruising?



Both these biminis are high: The first is at least 6 feet and the other three photos show the second bimini at about 7 feet high (from the boat floor) The first boat top at 45 MPH and the second only gets about 35. Neither top gives any trouble and they are aluminum frames. I did reinforce them and there is an angle cross brace to keep them from shifting laterally.Not the aluminum tube rear supports in addition to the straps, The straps DO flutter at speed and I was forced to change from bronze tie down clips to nylon because of the wear caused by the constant fluttering.

I got them cheap--one was 60 and the other was 75-- I didnt want to go through the fuss of taking them apart and shortening the tubing so I just made do with the way they came.

 

[QC]

Re: Bimini top - how tall is OK for cruising?

You're gonna love/hate this ^^^^^^ Twist your Bimini straps another half turn or two, and the flutter will stop. Old truckers tip. Look at any strapped down load

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: Bimini top - how tall is OK for cruising?

25 mph is safe for a 60" bimini but beyond that depends a lot on any winds. I lost one going around a bend at 35mph and into a headwind comming down the channel. All you ever hear as a loud snap and then the danged thing is down around your ears.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Bimini top - how tall is OK for cruising?

View attachment 147711

Nice airbrush work on the motor cover!

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Bimini top - how tall is OK for cruising?



Not airbrush. It is a decal. Reason: These engine covers get a lot of abuse and scratching multi-hundred dollar airbrush art sucks. If I ruin a 35 dollar decal I just peel it off and apply a new one.

Here are a couple of others. two are waiting to be applied to blank covers. Are you getting the feeling that perhaps I like Mermaids and Chryslers? Well--- The last one isn't really a mermaid but she is close enough.

 

[am_dew]

Re: Bimini top - how tall is OK for cruising?

Thanks eveyone for your comments. I now have another issue...

After taking some measurements of my boat and determining the area I want the top to cover, I have come to the conclusion that a 6' long top will not lay down far enough back so that it lays behind my rear jump seats and engine cover. On average it seems that when a 6' long top is taken down and laid down flat, it is about 60-62" long from the mount point to the rear of the top's boot cover. Assuming the central mount points for a 6' long top are approx. half way between the front and rear of the top (when upright) my central mount points would be about 7' forward of the area right behind my rear jump seats and engine cover. So, it looks like I will need to mount bimini sliders in order to be able to slide the cover back far enough so it does not lay over my rear jump seats and engine cover. Do these bimini sliders work well? How is the mount point held securely in one place in the slider when the top is upright?

 

[QC]

Re: Bimini top - how tall is OK for cruising?

Another alternative is two sets of mounting points. One set for up and one set for stowage down.

 

[am_dew]

Re: Bimini top - how tall is OK for cruising?

Another alternative is two sets of mounting points. One set for up and one set for stowage down.

Good suggestion. I would want something that would allow for easy and quick movement from one mount point to the other, preferably without having to use a tool of some kind.

 

[QC]

Re: Bimini top - how tall is OK for cruising?

My first setup used quick release pins:

Second set used these quick release type:

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Bimini top - how tall is OK for cruising?

I like those second ones. I will be changing mine to those someday.

 

[am_dew]

Re: Bimini top - how tall is OK for cruising?

Thanks! They are not cheap but will consider.