Heat owners with Biminis - How does your bimini sit - does it obstruct raising and lowering the engine hatch so you have to lift it out of the way every time? Also what is a fair price? I got a bid for a full stainless 2 color for $730 - that seems pretty high to me. Will Nordic sell them direct and ship? Thanks for the help.

$730 is a very good price, particularly if it's made from stainless tubing. We generally use aluminum here, because it's freshwater, and half the weight. Easier to handle, and reduced weight for the boat.
Mine is a custom fit 4 bow, 2 colors. I also had full front, side, and aft curtains made for mine this year with zip out smilies.
I think I'm now into the $1500 range for all my stuff. I did it in 2 stages and can't remember exactly what the invoices were.
Regards,
Steve
PS It's a shame you are so far away, because my guy (Canvas Unique, Old Hickory, TN) has all the dimensions, and does great work.
I would also check with the Nordic factory.

Shane, was that Sugarhouse?
I went somewhere else and should have went to Sugarhouse

Also, the Nordic ones, when not in use do not prop up and ride out of the way like the others. It does lay on the hatch and is a pain in the rear.

Dave

Dave,

Yes that was the quote from Sugarhouse - was the good guy deal. A buddy hooked me up with Sharps today and they quoted 650 for full stainless including rear stantions and 2 color canvas. Not sure if I want the Bimini sitting up in the air though. Do you know if it works to have it lay around the back of the engine hatch and then just slide it forward to a second set of mounting points. That's the way it is on my buddies 30' Sleek. I would like to have it sit under the engine hatch but that would involve some surgery that I don't want to wait for.

The stock ones from Nordic do come with two sets of mounts. The back set is for when it's up and the forward set are for when not in use. When not in use and in the forward set, it rides softly on the hatch. If you leave it in the rear ones and lay it down the bars lay on the hatch.
It was a royal pain always crawling over it when we weren't using it. It just seemed in the way to us. With it proped up you don't know it's there and is much better (even for drying towels ;o)
Also with the prop up type, there are no straps in the back; it's self supportive. The back straps were always in my way. They may make a lay down type without back straps but I don't know. The rear stands work in place of straps; the front straps just pull against them.
Anyway, that has been our experience. All comes down to preference

Do you know someone down around you that had a new Teague 850 installed in thier Heat. I've got someone who wants to play

Kokopelli,
My top stores either way. In the front mounts, it has 2 fold down supports that hold it up at a 30o angle in the boot. I also have padded sleeves that zip over the uprights so I can fold them parallel to the frame and lay it down when installed in the rear mounts. It lays down between the end of the hatch/sunlounge and swin platform. If the water is rough, I run a couple of bungees over the bimini and through the swim platform grab rail to keep it from bouncing around.
The engine compartment storage idea would be great, but would require a very small bimini, or some excellent engineering.
I usually don't run with mine unless it's particularly hot, and we'll be rafted up for a long time, or the weather is dicey. When the weather is dicey I take my side curtains along too.
My canvas guy made me 3 custom bags to store them in. I just slide the bags up under the v-berth through the acess panel. When threatening weather shows up, and everyone else is in panic mode headed for the ramp, which is usually in a state of chaos too, we just put up the "laundry" and have another drink ............
I'll post some pics.
Steve

Yea, what Steve said
Sounds exactly like what I have except mine are always in the front and the rears are only for the supports. Two different boats though.
The padded sleeves look like rifle bags and have 3/8 foam padding.
I use these when taveling on the trailer. The cockpit cover is a tight, but a good fit.
Dave

Thanks for the info guys. I'm taking it in Mon. and I'll print and take your comments with me to help explain what I'm after.