Full Bimini enclosure on a Go Fast?
 

Except for June, July and August, it can get freakin cold boating in New England.

One of my winter projects this year is to cover my cockpit with a bimini and a full canvas enclosure.

Anyone ever done it?

Anything I should avoid?

I am assuming I will have to use polls to hold it up instead of those straps due to the speed.

Thanks I'll do that.

If anyone has any photos please post...

I have a fully enclosed top on my 37 AT and love it. I had Muskegon Awning make mine and they did a great job. They build all the enclosed tops for PQ and they guranteed me I could run 65MPH all day long with the top up. Make sure they use all stainless steel. The other thing I love about the top is it can be store in the engine hatch or be kept in an arch position when you are in a hurry.

I have the full enclosure for my 42 Sonic. Cuts the wind great, and have run at 50mph with no problem. I have tested it at anything above 50, although Im sure it would be fine up about 60.

Kinda funny seeing a Go Fast with the enclosure, but it sure has come in handy !

Heres a pic of a 42 with the full canvas. I dont have any pics of mine with it.....

Wow, that looks pretty cool.

How do you like the Sonic?

I am going to definately go for the enclosure, but what I cant figure out is how to attatch the viynl windscreen to my fairing since it is a V-shape and the from of a Bimini is straight across...

:rolleyes: :confused: :(

Does that anchor on the bow bounce around on you in the rough?

We had this one custom made for our 28' Active Thunder at Lakeside Canvas, Muskegon, MI in summer of '02. You can run with it or just the bimini up at speed.

We had the front sections built so they actually extend down to the bottom of the fairing, giving it more of a 'raked' angle for running when it is up, if necessary. The front section is also split into two peices, and velcros vertically in the middle, making it easier to put up and down

We had zip-out screens added for each side piece, and a large matching duffle-type bag made for storing the top when not in use. All the windows are Eisenglass, which should be rolled, not folded. The duffle bag comes in handy for keeping these in 'like-new' condition.

I wouldn't own any boat (except for my small fishing boats :) ) without having some type of protection from Mother Nature's surprises. Done correctly, they can still look good, even on a performance boat. We are VERY happy with ours.
Jim

heres Karl's 380 powerquest with the top up :D

go to fountainpowerboats.com and check their sportfishcruiser line. I have the 32' with full cuddy and fixed top. Yes it's slower and taller but it sure extends the season.

Me no comprende :D

Keep's us out of the element ..when needed.....and it makes it nice IF we need to stay overnight on the boat.

Thanks for the input everybody.

JAFO - Your boat is a bit bigger, but very similiar to
mine. Do you have any other pictures of your
roof?

Any close ups?

I have a buddy with a 47' Fountain, and he claims to gain 3 mph with his enclosure up. He is running somewhere in the 80's with no problems. I don't know if it is the cold water or aero dynamics?:confused:

Air Dog- No close-ups, but a couple of different angles taken when the enclosure was completed...

rear view

Air......my bimini is straight across also. The front deck does have a v shape. The front clear windshield zips onto the front bimini, and then snaps to the front deck. I have two sets of snaps on the front deck, its not that bad.... one is for the cockpit cover, the other is for the windshield. The same holds true for the gunwhales, two sets of snaps. The arch has snaps for the sides to attach to, and the bimini also has zippers to attach the side curtains. The bimini has a boot that holds the bimini when not in use,and holds it to the arch. Nice set up, and all factory.

As for the anchor on the deck of that boat, it is pretty secure. It doesnt move at all ! Another neat Sonic trait/option !

As for my Sonic, great boat ! Love it. Eats up the rough with no problem. Run thru 4-6's and hardly flinch at speed. Average conditions here on the bay are about 2-3's. Cruiser wakes & strong wind make it 4-6' or more. Just run right thru em. Very impressive ride ! Very stable, very dry, very comfortable ride. Stand up head room thruout the cabin. Cant ask for more....

Hope this helps you out, and good luck with your search & enclosure !

We had one made for our 280 Velocity and we use when overnighting in bad or cold weather. We have an 8 foot bimini and had side aft and front curtains made up that zip to the bimini They are clear and snap to the exsistin cockpit cover snaps. Make sure that you also have screens in the side curtains so that you can get fresh air and keep the humidity down.

Enciter,

That is the first cat that I have seen with an enclosure. I bet you get some looks with that.

Here is a couple of pictures of a cat with tops. This isn't mine, but I have tops on my cat just like it. This is a close-up side view without the front plastic in.

Here is the same cat and tops that show the head room inside - 6' 2". I can run with the tops up at about 55 mph. I can stay warm in shorts and T-shirt down to about 50 degrees. The engine scoops help keep it plenty warm inside.

Where is everybody else in that picture?
Is that very early or very late in the season?
Here's a 31 Excalibur with a full top.
It's in Sweden!

If you knew Karl youd know thats a pic that was probably taken at 6AM or so.........so everyone is still asleep. Karl on the other hand probably washed and waxed the boat twice allready and was waiting for his wife to wake up so he could clean out the inside! :D he's that anal about keeping the boat clean! :D

As for there not being anyone around......he's usually the first one in the marina come april......i think he drops in the weekend right before Easter. :cool:

Thanks for all the photo's guy's.

I love this place, you can start a thread about anything and get great results.


Jafo - The Bimini looks great. That is exactly the look I was trying to create.

If you ever take more photos, could you pm them to me with maybe some measurements?

Thanks dude...

Chris

last year

Here is a picture of a 253 Checkmate runing 45 - 50 mph last October.