Bimini top questions

[brs517]

Hi, I'm going to buy a bimini top and I have a couple questions. My boat is a 1986 Chaparral 178XL open-bow. 16'6" centerline length, 86" beam.<br /><br />There are different heights to the tops I've seen, why? Is it so that you can walk under them? <br /><br />They ask for "width" when you order a top. I'm assuming that is for the width of the top, but what do you use to determine that? The beam? That would seem to make sense, but I haven't seen it spelled out anywhere.<br /><br />I was reading a bit about sharkskin and that seems to be a good choice. Lots of colors available, but it seems like white might be the best option, to reflect the heat. Has anyone had experience with the darker colored bimini tops getting hot?<br /><br />Thanks for your help.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Bimini top questions

My dark blue one doesn't get hot.

 

[Teutonics]

Re: Bimini top questions

I just got a sand colored one, and in hindsight I would go for a darker color. Although the sand colored top provides "shade", it is still very bright under the top... I expected it to be much darker.<br /><br />Measure the width from the (anticipated?) mounting points. My boat already had top mounts on the window frames. <br /><br />The different heights are exactly as you described. Either to be able to stand up, or bring it lower if preferred. I got the 36" (lowest available) height, and mounted on the factory mounts on the window frames, I can stand up under it (I'm 6'2").<br /><br />I too did what I thought was a lot of research, and sharkskin seemed to be the best solution for a bimini. Highest water repellency, doesn't breathe (but not needed on a bimini like it is for a cover), good longevity with minimal fade, and better pricing than sunbrella. Works for me!

 

[artburr]

Re: Bimini top questions

I bought white vinyl because it was cheap, waterproof (I live in Oregon) and should reflect heat. It does. No complaints.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Bimini top questions

Did anyone get the offer for free shipping on the sharkskin?<br />I tried to order one today and the promo code will not work..so no more free shipping.

 

[blouderback]

Re: Bimini top questions

Go with a darker color. On those really sunny, bright days, the darker color will give your eyes a break from all that sunlight reflecting off the water, the white interior, etc. It won't get hot.

 

[craze1cars]

Re: Bimini top questions

Mine is Sharkskin, Dark blue, Medium height (42" to 46"??), aluminum tubing, on an 18 foot open bow Rinker. Best purchase I ever made...no regrets. Mine was frankly way too tall out of the box, so I hacksawed the posts down as far as possible following the instructions. I guess I sort of wish I could have dropped another 3 inches, but it works very well as is and the extra headroom is outstanding when dealing with tubes, skis, etc. It's never been in the way at all. I'm over 6 feet tall and I've got a good 10 inches above my head to spare. It endures 40mph runs across the lake with no flapping or signs of sway...solid as a rock.<br /><br />I agree with other here that a darker color is better to minimize eye strain from glare, and it does not get hot.

 

[QC]

Re: Bimini top questions

I also agree with darker. Seems backwards, but light colored biminis feel hotter and are tough on the eyes. FWIW, blue seems to resist fading the best.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Bimini top questions

go for the color that will best compliment your boat. if you have a red boat the reds are hard to match, so are some of the blues. figure out where you want to mount it. measure to the deck, subtract that measurement from the height you want the bimini. i prefer to walk around rather than stoop. i also like 8' long tops and it gives much more shade. my sister has a 23' Chris Craft deckboat with a 6' sunbrella bimini the drvier is not covered the way it was set up from the factory. it basically only covers the back seat. this is the only negative i found with this boat.

 

[Teutonics]

Re: Bimini top questions

Originally posted by tashasdaddy:<br /> ....i also like 8' long tops and it gives much more shade.....

I agree. Also in hindsight, I would go for the 8' over the 6'.

 

[brs517]

Re: Bimini top questions

Thanks everyone, I would not have thought about the brightness factor. I will go with Sharkskin, dark blue to match my boat. <br /><br />I can't remember if I posted this earlier, but my boat is only 16'6" at the centerline. Would you still recommend going with the 8' top, or is that almost too big for a smaller boat like mine?

 

[QC]

Re: Bimini top questions

Personally, I believe that a boat's appearance is just as important as the function. I don't like biminis that are too tall or too large and have actually cut one down to give it a good look. This, as noted above, can also help with the aerodynamics or lack thereof . . . Another thing to think about is that the taller the bimini the earlier in the day that the sun gets "under" it.<br /><br />With that said, I think an 8 footer may be a bit too large for a 16 foot boat. What I would suggest is that after you buy yours, I would play around with a lot of different placement spots. I would think about many things that might not initially come to mind. Where do you place your arm while driving? Would it interfere with the mounting point? Can you stand up and still drive her? I like to be able to stand at the helm, I had one boat where I had to actually come out from underneath the low mounted bimini to drive her standing, but that actually didn't bother me much. When you make a hard turn, can you see as the boat heels over? Sorry to add more variables, but these are things that will or won't be noticeable later . . .<br /><br />One last thing. You may actually want to install two sets of mounts. One further aft that you can use while trailering or when you are running with the bimini down. The aft set of mounts is set up so when the bimini is down it sets just barely aft of the engine cover and on top of the transom. You can sometimes use this set as the aft strap mount when it is in the up and forward position. . .

 

[craze1cars]

Re: Bimini top questions

I'd vote 6 foot for your smaller boat. Then again, I haven't seen your setup so only you will know for sure what you want/need. Just spend a little time in your boat with a tape measure and think it through...<br /><br />Another consideration is exactly where is this top going to sit when it's folded up? My extra tall one lays down nicely on the front edge of my rear swim platform and it doesn't get in the way at all. But if my top was the shorter 36 inch version it would sit right down on top of the engine cover and block use of the rear seats...bad. Or it would have to be mounted too far back in the boat to shade the driver. That's why you see many boats with biminis supported by sticks that keep them up in the air even when they're folded closed. Those supports are optional/extra cost. You may or may not need them depending on how your boat is set up. I managed to get by well without them with careful planning and buying a taller top. Option #2 is the 2nd set of mounts like QC mentions...you can move it to rear mounts for storage, then move it to front mounts when it's up...a little more labor intensive but functional.

 

[gewf631]

Re: Bimini top questions

Originally posted by QC:<br /> <br />One last thing. You may actually want to install two sets of mounts.

Or better yet, just get sliding mounts and a track - they you can do whatever you want with it, up OR down. Sliders on iBoats

 

[jka]

Re: Bimini top questions

BRS....<br />I just bought a Bimini from Overton's. I got the Sunbrella 3 pole. Overtons.com. It's very simple to measure. Give em a call...they have a tech team that can VERY easily tell you how to measure. I found Overton's hundreds of dollars cheaper than local firms that will make a sunbrella and install. I got logo red...for my 4winns 190. red will fade faster but only after YEARS of direct sunlight. I got side mounts and the rear brace bracket. got aluminum poles...stainless added 250.<br />as for height of bimini...i got a 46". i measured that height up from the side of the boat where the window is attached to the hull...right by the drivers seat. it'll be plenty high enough for a 6'4" person to walk under. as for width, just measure from side to side....and that'll give you how wide. when ordering, most widths are within a range. my boat is 77 inches wide so I ordered a 73-78 inch width. measurement was taken at the point just behind the window where it attaches to boat behind drivers seat.

 

[artburr]

Re: Bimini top questions

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y100/artburr/Alumacraftwithtop.jpg <br /><br />I dunno. I like the white vinyl and since it is opaque it does not transmit heat.<br /><br />I don't particularly like the looks of it but the height makes easier to sit and fish from under it.