Stabilizing Bimini Top

[Three shades of blue]

I admit we are newbies and we just installed a bimini top on our 19' Rinker. The top is 6' long x 78" wide x 46" high. We are starting to notice that most people go with a shorter top and mount it to their windshield rail. Like I said, newbies here, we mounted ours outside the windshield on the gunwhale and used rear support poles to keep it in an upright position when we aren't using it. Yesterday we noticed that it sways like crazy when we are out playing around. I'm sure we probably did something wrong, but not sure what. Maybe the positioning of the mounting brackets. Is this normal for a the frame to sway or does anyone have suggestions. Thanks

 

[rrhodes]

Re: Stabilizing Bimini Top

Can you post any pictures?

 

[jevery]

Re: Stabilizing Bimini Top

I doubt you've done anything wrong, they all sway to some extent. I think the tops with aluminum supports move around a little more than ones with stainless steel supports. And of course wind and boat speed correspond directly to how much the top moves around. I keep my speed under about 35 when the tops up.​

 

[Three shades of blue]

Re: Stabilizing Bimini Top

Can you post any pictures?

Here icouple from yesterday, at least you can see where the poles are mounted, or the vicinity. The other picture is pre-bimini but I highlighted where the poles are mounted. We only drove with it in the boot and encountered alot of sway.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Stabilizing Bimini Top

they make a sway bar, it mount on the stern, like your support poles, but it runs at an angle to stop the sway.

 

[Three shades of blue]

Re: Stabilizing Bimini Top

they make a sway bar, it mount on the stern, like your support poles, but it runs at an angle to stop the sway.

That sounds like the fix we need. I haven't found them at iboats, any idea where else we can look?

 

[captquest]

Re: Stabilizing Bimini Top

Mine sway a lot when underway. What I have done is carry a couple of long bungie cords with me. I run them across the back like a big X from the top to the transom. I can remove them to fish.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Stabilizing Bimini Top

I have one boat with a 72 inch tall bimini top, I never run with it up, its like a parachute in the wind even when folded up. I either drop it forward against the windshield posts or down flat across the splashwell. With a tall cabin and upper windshield, I have all the wind resistance I need to burn extra fuel without catching more air with the top up.
Mine would sway like mad if I were to run with it up or even up and closed. I plan to modify mine as part of an enclosure over the winter attaching it to the top of the windshield and adding side curtains as well.

 

[sundowner205]

Re: Stabilizing Bimini Top

they make a sway bar, it mount on the stern, like your support poles, but it runs at an angle to stop the sway.

I've got one - works well.

 

[Three shades of blue]

Re: Stabilizing Bimini Top

I've got one - works well.

Where might we find these?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Stabilizing Bimini Top

a lot of boat supply stores have them.
take a deck connector, mount it in the center rear of boat.
http://www.iboats.com/White_Deck_Hinge/dm/*******.454802649--**********.534891308--view_id.67566

then take an aluminum pole and put these on each end.

http://www.iboats.com/White_Interna...54802649--**********.534891308--view_id.67560

then you need to install a 7612 in this pic, on the upright of the existing rear brace. insert the pole with the two ends between the 2 connectors.

 

[Three shades of blue]

Re: Stabilizing Bimini Top

Thanks!

 

[JJwithaSearay]

Re: Stabilizing Bimini Top

With your Bimini in the closed position you have all the weight of the 2 crossmembers plus all the fabric and the boot. In short, it's top heavy. Try it full speed with the bimini open and you may find that it's actually pretty stable in this position. If so, then there's not much you can do about your problem other than slow down. I usually keep mine either full open or closed and down when moving fast.