Mounting a Bimini

I am about to start the process of adding a bimini to my 97 SN. I have a couple of questions to make sure that the install goes smoothly.

My strategy for drilling holes for the mounting hardware is to drill a pilot hole then drill a counter sink hole to remove gel coat so I do not get cracks in the gel. Is this correct? Any other tips on mounting the hardware and or bimini?

Also, any pictures of bimini mount locations on a 97-2001 SN would be helpful to get an idea of where I want to put it. Thanks in advance, Bryan

I just added one to my 2000 Sport Nautique, and yes I hated doing it also, but got through it. Olde adage, measure twice, cut once. Well, my sugestion, measure 3 times, drill once. Start with a pilot hole. Then re-drill 1-2 sizes smaller than the screw. Then surface drill, and surface drill ONLY, the gelcoat with a drill twice, maybe three times the size of the second drill size you used to prepare the screw hole. This worked well form me and the bimini is secure.

Good Luck!

Wow, you guys are way more intense than me. I mounted mine with a pilot hole then the actual and it went well. Sounds like I was lucky on my 97 SN.

If I was to do it again there is two things I would have done differently.

One, rotate the brackets higher onto the gel coat. I put mine at about a 45 degree angle on the deck and the stainless buckle now rubs on the gel coat so I to make up some string leaders to get the buckle away.

Two, one of the buckles falls PERFECTLY in-line with a boom. I didn't think about it at the time b/c we didn't have a boom but now whenever we put the boom on I have to remove the starboard clip.

I will be out at my boat this weekend so if you want some pics drop me a message.

I mounted mine into the windshield frame and used one of the vent screws for the foward strap location.

I used the screws that came with the top (BMI) I think they are #8 or #10 and about 1/2"-3/4" long. For the front straps I used one of the vent screws and bolted the otherside through the metal. The rear straps are inside the gunnel near where the rubber steps are. I shortened the main legs of my top and can't fold the top foward but mine either lays on the motor box or is removed when not up. Mine is on unless we are using the skyhigh wakeboard pole. I would have had to put two cuts in the top and the skyhigh won't fit nder the canopy of my boatlift so it's no big deal.

Here are some pictures I took over the weekend. Like I said above, the main issue was that I mounted the strap clips too far down the deck, making the buckles rub against the deck (because when tight they don't stay at the peak of the loop, they slip down the side). To fix this I am going to make up some string leaders for each strap.

I too mounted mine so the back of the bimini touches the fly-high pole, and we had to cut an opening in the front of the bimini for the strap. We covered the hole with a rectangular piece sewn on one end and with velcro on the sides and other end to hold it in place when the pole is not up. I sort of wish I had moved the bimini back a little, but I would have had to cut another hole in the back for the pole to go through, plus it makes it easier to get in and out of the front seats.