My bimini is too wide. How should I shorten it?

[xxturbowesxx]

I bought a Bimini top for a boat i used to own. I sold the boat and kept the Bimini and installed the foul weather top back on the old boat. Ive reinstalled it on my new boat but my new boat is not as wide.. I want to take away about 4 inches in width. Can i just cut all 3 bows 4 inches in the center,reattach them using a slightly larger piece of pipe as a connector? Basically slide the larger pipe over the smaller and screw them together.


The Bimini is fine when it is mounted up but wont fold down correctly. I have the mounts on the inside of the boat gunwales and may try to reinstall them on the outside so that i can gain the width needed but I don't think want an ugly piece of hardware on the outside. Or has anyone else had to do this and have any tips before I take a hacksaw to this thing..

 

[Bart Sr.]

Re: My bimini is too wide. How should I shorten it?

Could you put a couple of bends 180* over near the bracket/mount ends?

I would check to see if it is possible but they may not quite fold down properly.I do bending as a trade so it would be easy for me.

Otherwise your cut and brace will work.

 

[xxturbowesxx]

Re: My bimini is too wide. How should I shorten it?

What will I need to bend them(pipe bender i assume) I have no experience at pipe bending.. i'm going to consider relocating the brackets to help because having a wider Bimini wouldn't be a bad thing in the heat around here...

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: My bimini is too wide. How should I shorten it?

I wouldn't bend the tubes. I would make up an off-set mounting bracket. 2 inches on each side would do it.

 

[bhammer]

Re: My bimini is too wide. How should I shorten it?

Making the mounts fit the top are good. 2" on each side isn't that much. You could also cut the tubes in the middle but instead of going on the outside of the tube, I would find a peice of rod to fit the ID and insert it. I know my local hardware store sells solid almn material by hte foot. I would set it at in about 3" each side. Use a good meatl epoxy to affix, or you could rent a tubbing joiner crimper to crimp the rod to tube.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: My bimini is too wide. How should I shorten it?

your easiest fix is to mount on top of the gunnel using a slide bar. sure you can cut the bars in the center, but the rag will not fit properly. http://www.iboats.com/Top_Slide_Tra...73703934--**********.546201655--view_id.14131

 

[5150abf]

Re: My bimini is too wide. How should I shorten it?

Watch bending them espacially if this frame is older, extrusion hardens over time and it may just crack.

And you would have to straighten the original bend first and aluminum doesn't like to bend more than once.

I woudl stick with your original idea, cut a bit out of the middle, way less to go wrong with this method.

You will have a bit of overhang on the sides but 3''-4'' shouldn't be too bad.

 

[Ram58]

Re: My bimini is too wide. How should I shorten it?

If you are mounted on the inside of your gunnels now, you should be able to do a top rail mount and gain 4" overall. They make all types of mounts for whatever your application is. As TD said, if you cut the tubing the rag will not fit correctly.

 

[AguaSki]

Re: My bimini is too wide. How should I shorten it?

sure you can cut the bars in the center, but the rag will not fit properly. http://www.iboats.com/Top_Slide_Tra...73703934--**********.546201655--view_id.14131

Yep, my brother-in-law ran into the same issue when he installed a wakeboard tower. With the tower installed his bimini was a little too big to open under the tower. He did end up cutting out a portion of the bars with acceptable results, but the top is now slightly too big for his frame. Because the top is too big it does not have an extra tight fit and flaps around in the wind while underway. As mentioned this was done with acceptable results, but prefer the looks of a tightly fitted bimini.

 

[Bart Sr.]

Re: My bimini is too wide. How should I shorten it?

Adding two bends on each upright leg would NOT require any straightening of existing bends. The added bends would not be more than 20* or so.

I based my advice on the statement that he didn't want to move the brackets.