Bimini Tops and Mounts

[gssixgun]

Doing a once over yesterday on the New to us 2400 SCR

I noted that one of the Bimini mounts was a little loose, and it got me wondering a few things..
We never did put on a Bimini on our old boat so this is all new to me

#1. It seems I will need an Allen wrench to loosen the sliding "T" brackets to lower the top for transport or weather.. This seems a bit odd to me, but what do I know

#2 This top has no Straps to tighten it and stabilize it, don't most have straps to adjust it, and tighten it down..

#3 The "Canvas" seems loose to my eye, which makes me think that at speed it is acting like a parachute, and taking Fuel and Speed from the boat ??

#4 I am of course going to fix the loose hole -BUT- looking at the other mounts it seems to be causing stress cracking in the fiberglass I noted a few tiny hairlines coming off them, I will fix those also..

Any "Bimini Top" advice would be much appreciated

[mmwjr]

1. All you need to do is undo the forward poles by removing the pins. Then fold it back and you should have a boot that fits over the canvas and zippers to enclose it.

2. No straps just three poles on each side.

3. Loose the Allen set screws and adjust to remove the slack.

4. Remove the bracket and fill the holes with epoxy resin then redrill.

[gssixgun]

Yep figured it all out on the boat when we went for our first cruise yesterday..

Met a couple of people over at the new slip, the boat was moored over on the East side of the lake (Pend Orielle) when we bought it. We are thinking of leaving it over in Hope ID next year also.

Anyway back on topic was looking at a Rinker 2655 yesterday and his bimini top
his was also a 3 Bow and he had front stabilizer straps that clipped to his windscreen.

I guess my questions are

When running across the lake at speed I folded and put the boot on, then when we stopped to drift for a bit I unfolded the top..
Would the straps help stabilize the top and reduce buffeting and stress on the mounts ???

or

Does it make more sense to just fold the top when running at speed


Also for transport and storage do I unclip the second pole and lay the top flat down across the back of the boat ??

[mmwjr]

I have run with my top up no issues. Mine is adjusted with no slack.

You should be able to transport it with it up and stowed in the boot. If you lay it down use some pipe insulation otherwise it will rub into the Gelcoat.

[RockyMtnErik]

I have a 2000 Maxum 2700 SCR. The plastic mounts that go onto the windshield to hold the bimini poles broke. My 16 yo son designed a new one on solidworks and printed it on the 3D printer at school....which is amazing I might ad. However, the printed mounts keep breaking as it is not strong enough.

Does anyone know where we can buy new pole mounts? These are the saddle shaped ones that attach to the side of the windshield with a two prongs extending up in which the bimini pole attaches with a bolt.

Thank you, Erik

[gssixgun]

This ???


Concave Mount 316 Stainless Steel Handrail Windshield Hinge Bimini Boat Marine | eBay

[RockyMtnErik]

The ones that came with the boat are plastic and the saddle portion that goes over the thick windshield frame is about 1" long and has a hole in it for a quick pin to remove to put down the top.

This looks like it may work. I would just have to unscrew the bolt to put the top down. No problem to do that.

Have you used this on your boat?