bimini top--who's got one?
 

I want to have one custom made for my 303. My question is should I have it made with support poles so I don't have to lay it down on the sumpad, or should I lay it down when not in use?

It will be up with the family in the boat (infant on board) but will be down for faster runs with my buddies.

Let me know what you have on your boat.

Toolman

Norty has one and flies it proudly!:( :( :confused:

Toolman; I have a 303 that come with a bimani. It has the support poles but I don't run with it folded and on the poles because it bounces around too much. The poles do make it easy to fold and cover before laying down.

:D :D :D Yeah! I have one, but only have used it once in the ocean when Jeffrey wanted to put it up last year. Friggin poodle! Other than that, I only had it on when I took delivery of the boat in Havasu. It's a bimini that Dick Simon had made for me........they called it "The 100MPH Bimini". I guess because it was made with 1" stainless. :D :D

Here's a link to some pictures taken the weekend I took delivery. I think it makes the boat look funny, but it sure is functional in the hot hot weather in Havasu.

http://www.vxi.cc/phantomchaos/Universal-Chaos.htm


Good Luck!

I have one one "Outlaw" that when mounted, lays down on the sunpad. Fortunately, it comes off in about two minutes or less and I only have it on in the dead heat of summer when the wife complains too much. Amazing how often I forget to put it on before we get to the ramp. Oh well.....:D

Poodle!

I will have one when my new 353 arrives in 3 weeks

I hate it. And that's DOBERMAN to you (and birds, cats, three other dogs, and of course, Elroy the bunny rabbit.

Well, I guess I'm a poodle. I have one on my 311. Here in Upstate NY, you never know when your gonna get douched!!! It's nice to have. Folds down on sunpad. Don't like it there because it deforms the sun pad a bit. But. I'm kind of like Formula Outlaw,,,,,,,,,, I really only bring to keep the wife happy.

Really need to have the top made so it will lay down. Driving at speed in waves or wakes shakes the chit out of it in the upright and folded position.

Come on now, can any of you see the Great Don running around with a bimini on his boat??????

Poodles!


:D

How many times have you "caught" me with mine on?


Besides, who had a black (in Florida) custom cockpit cover made?

Next Fourth of July we'll come down and frie eggs and bacon on your cockpit cover. :D :D :D :D

Wll I guess I am Poddle too because I have one on my 311. Although I just having bought the boat I have not put it up yet. Does that count?

I have one on my 311. It spends most of the time down on the sundeck. It has all the curtains and windsheild pieces, so it is nice to have when you get caught in a surprise storm. Also nice at the beach when it is really hot to catch a break.

I just wish their was a better way to store it. I have to move it every time I need to check something on the engines, which is too frequent.

Yeah , yeah, I got one too. We usually raft up most days in the summer and the shade is nice when it's really hot.
Only ran with it up three times and two of them it was raining :( . I have plastic for the front and both plastic and screens for the sides;) . Overnite I can button it up and be bug free;).
I have the rear support poles but almost ALWAYS lay it back on the engine hatch while running.

Heck, why don't you guys just go with a hardtop and a tuna tower?? It will look just as good.:p :rolleyes: :D

Ah grasshopper, you have much to learn. The only time the cockpit cover will be on is overnight. The moon isn't quite bright enough to bring the temps up enough to fry the eggs.:) :)

I dont have any of the curtains for mine, but I am sure they would be nice in a storm.

Has anyone ever tried to store theirs in the under the engine hatch. I was thinking about doing that with mine by putting the supports to the back. Any suggestions?

On my 242, the whole thing fit under the hatch which was nice. The mounting tabs were on the inside of the deck so it was narrow. Mine is too wide to stick under the engine hatch, so it is very very seldom on.

And I'll still bet it gets hotter than holy hell in someone's (who shall remain nameless) 302.

p.s. don't do what I did and leave a banana in the cabin, which somehow fell off the counter onto the upholstery, sat in the cabin for two months while at the boatyard and created the single worst mess to clean I've ever attempted on a boat. I got it out, but took over three hours. STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HOWEVER, had that happened in "someone else's" boat, it may have created the "Formula Syndrome":D

:cool: But that black cover does look wicked cool.:cool:

Had a black cover on my Liberator. It did look cool but was one hot MoFo even in Jersey if you didn't get it off before 10 am:rolleyes:

Ah grasshopper, I have an anchor shade if it gets too hot. Number of times I used it in the last two years=zero! We just take a dip if it gets too hot. Now, I'll admit I have dropped a few beads while idling downwind.

Only you Cuda or sould we say Ms Cuda!

My bimini was not intendid to run with! But while over nite at the casino or other venue we could enjoy the cockpit if it gets misty or really snotty and of course those smoking days it will be nice. I don't think we will use it often but when we do it will be appreciated.
PS side,aft and front also.
JIm

I suppose you'll do that in black as well.

No lid on my machine!!!:)

Don't the "soap suds" go all over the place, but I guess the water slinging all over the place on "spin cycle" will keep you cooler.

Here's a Thunderbird with a top on it so you guys don't get hot.

Actually, that's a nice looking old Thunderbird!! My Dad would like that boat.

Its in great condition it looks like but to old for me, I like that new style look...