Aftermarket Bimini Options?

(ebone66) · (ebone66) **Join Date: Dec 2005** 04-18-2006, 12:53 PM

Any ideas on where to find a reasonably priced bimini top. Dealership wants $500. I tried towerbiminis.com and they quoted me $715 for just a plain, one color bimini. I'm in an '06 Outback.

(rgilby) · (rgilby) **Join Date: Jan 2006** 04-18-2006, 1:47 PM

loudliquid.com i think has decent ones that attach to the tower...but i believe they start around $500 as well. if you can find one cheaper than that...let me know.

(deuce) · (deuce) **Join Date: Mar 2002** 04-18-2006, 2:19 PM

http://www.sewlong.com/ftt.htm

I think these guys did mine(through my dealer) and I am 100% impressed. I have no idea what it cost.....???

(krbaugh) · (krbaugh) **Join Date: Mar 2002** 04-18-2006, 2:38 PM

Those are GREAT but way over 500.00

(ebone66) · (ebone66) **Join Date: Dec 2005** 04-18-2006, 2:41 PM

Any experience w/ boatcovers.com? They quoted me $350 shipped w/a boot and rear legs.

(insuranceman) · (insuranceman) **Join Date: Jun 2005** 04-18-2006, 2:53 PM

Elane, Is the one you were quoted from boatcovers a boat or tower mounted. If you have a tower, I don't think you will be happy with the fit.

Also the one that the dealer is trying to sell you is made from sunbrella and will last a long time. I had a boat mounted one on my old outback and I hated it with the tower. I contacted my dealer and ordered the tower mounted one and it was so much nicer.

Sorry but these things are expensive

(ebone66) · (ebone66) **Join Date: Dec 2005** 04-18-2006, 4:08 PM

Good point insuranceman. I don't think it's tower mounted.

(krbaugh) · (krbaugh) **Join Date: Mar 2002** 04-18-2006, 4:46 PM

The biminis on that web site loooked well quality challenged

Plus if you have a tower you will want a tower mount bimini you may just have to suck it up and pay for it

(deuce) · (deuce) **Join Date: Mar 2002** 04-19-2006, 7:27 AM

Kevin, the website I posted?

(dizzyj) · (dizzyj) **Join Date: Jul 2003** 04-19-2006, 8:28 AM

I've been looking for a place that would create an over the top bimini for my tower. Thanks!!

(jmanolinsky) · (jmanolinsky) **Join Date: Dec 2005** 04-19-2006, 9:19 AM

I have ordered a boot for the tower mounted bimini on my 2000 Mobius from the link below. I haven't gotten it yet, but the guys I spoke with seemed nice and answered all my questions. They are an authorized sunbrella dealer and my boot will match my bimini exactly. I let you know how it looks.

http://www.americanmarineind.com/boatTops.htm

Jman}

(krbaugh) · (krbaugh) **Join Date: Mar 2002** 04-19-2006, 9:33 AM

Ej no the one you posted is a GREAT bimini

(eustace) · (eustace) **Join Date: Nov 2002** 04-19-2006, 1:22 PM

Elane, Here is my DIY bimini project:

Bimini Top for around $200; I started with a standard 3-bow 30” H x 67” W bimini from coversearch.com

The next step was to replace the tower cap screws with ones 1 1/2” long (3/8-16). Leaving nearly 1/2” of exposed threads.

I then took threaded 3/8-16 standoffs and brazed 1/4 -20 nuts to the standoffs.

I bolted the standoff / nut configuration to the exposed tower screws and measured the distance in between.

After assembling the largest of the bimini frames to determine the difference in the widths that would need to be made up, I disassembled the frame and used a 3/4” conduit bender to equally de-arch each side until it was a the correct width.

It was then necessary to do the same for the remaining 2 frames in order to meet the width of the slide-jaw mounts on the main bimini frame.

After re-assembling the bimini I found that the front frame was too wide so using a tubing cutter I narrowed it by 3” taking 1 1/2 ” from each side of the cross piece.

Upload

(insuranceman) · (insuranceman) **Join Date: Jun 2005** 04-19-2006, 2:04 PM

Eustace, That really looks nice.

Did a good job.

(ebone66) · (ebone66) **Join Date: Dec 2005** 04-19-2006, 5:38 PM

Eustace, Nice work. A little out of my league though. How bout I give you $250 and you come over and set me up.

(pickle311) · (pickle311) **Join Date: Oct 2005** 04-19-2006, 5:43 PM

I got the FTT from www.sewlong.com and I love it. It was just under $650 with shipping. It looks way better than the stock bimini and is much more rigid.