Bimini top suggestions

I'm considering something that I thought I never would, a bimini on a Ski Nautique. No not my '76, that'd be horrible, but on an NWZ. Some bimini's look AWFUL on these boats, some look less awful. What's the size/make/model that looks best and what mounting location looks best? Pictures? I'd never do a tower and no extended pylon.


A possible boat, bimini looks goofy and mounted wrong.


Prime example of a hideous bimini.

Lewy is right about the height but wrong about the orientation- the first bimini is not mounted backwards. A backwards mount can facilitate folding forward (laying in front of the windshield) but otherwise doesn't look right IMHO. Keeping the height as low as practical, matching the angle of the windshield when possible and giving the whole thing a slight forward rake keep the hideous-ness to a minimum. No bimini looks awesome but there certainly are some heinous looking ones out there.

My attempt:

Mine is too wide IMO, but came with the boat & we only use it several times a year. I cut & sewed a hole in front section for Fly Hi cable to go through.

The older I get, the less I like being a french fry.

I like the idea of mounting in the topside of the rub rail..... does that meet your sensibilities Doug?

I think rubrail mounting would look a little odd and I'm really picky about the aesthetics of things like this. "Drill away" into the fiberglass, I say. You can always patch the gel later. There are plenty of threads about best practices for doing this on this site.

Joel,

Can you tell me the brand of yours or where you got it?

Thanks!

Putting the mounts to the rubrail works great for a couple reasons IMHO. One is that it means no drilling fiberglass, two when you aren't using the top you won't catch an arm, or stubbing a toe on it when walking on the gunnel, three if you do need to move it cause you placed it too far fwd or aft then you have 4 little holes in the rubrail that you can barely see and not the fiberglass. The attach points for the support straps are also in the rub rail.

Don't know about you but I absolutely HATE stubbing my toe on bimini brackets.

SNobsessed wrote: Mine is too wide IMO, but came with the boat & we only use it several times a year. I cut & sewed a hole in front section for Fly Hi cable to go through. The older I get, the less I like being a french fry.

Why do you feel yours is too wide?

Funny the different view on bimini's and how to mount. I'd rather fasten to the deck because it's easier to patch than the windshield frame and easier to deal with when the holes wobble out overtime. I'd be more apt to injure myself with the mounts in the rub rail as I often will slide my hands down it rather deck.

Seems the common length is from the windshield frame to maybe a foot past the pylon? That's what it looks like to me.

I prefer the front section to dip down and flow with windscreen line. With a closed bow this is not a problem but forget it for open bow. The low front also gives you better protection from the elements (sun & rain).

Have attached pic of my old 89 bimini. I used the flyhigh pole as the rear mount it passed through the bimini and the rear bow had a rubber pad that it rested against. Then used the front straps to tension the bimini.

The bimini frame was stainless this gave it enough strength to allow for the board racks on top. The bimini folded up to the top of the screen and the cover fitted over the collapsed bimini. This made it simple to store and deploy.

We use a bimini almost every time we hit the water except maybe the first few runs of season and the last few. The summers downunder in Tamworth can be sweltering. Would not survive without one.

** I expect to be flamed about bow lifting ring. Had the strap attached there for years with no sign of gel cracking :)

TRBenj - what manufacturer and color is your bimini? I have the same color 90....and looking for the same bimini as you....dont want something higher than yours...Thanks!!

I like that '75. Shaq would fit under that. If I knew Zach I'd throw in a Zach joke.

Hollywood wrote: Zach fits under the cover.

Ohh now that's just not fair, FUNNY, but not fair!

           

Mine is a sunbrella and its a must if you have kids...
I kinda like it too during the warm summer days here in the south

I won my Bimini at White Lake last year, from the great folks at WLM. Its a CARVER. I think it looks great, but having one in the Florida sun when you are out ALL day long is BEAUTIFUL!

Sensible mounting points. Looks nice. Backwards, but nice.