Metal Bimini

[Sailm8]

I have given up on this idea because I think it is too heavy for a bimini. I sail a Hunter 29.5 and have been considering a hard bimini. This product caught my eye: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Metal-Sa...el-Roof-Panel-in-Ocean-Blue-2313435/204255150
but it would weigh in at about 60lbs. I feel it would be too top heavy. I can get the same product in aluminum but it is 4 times the price and I'm trying to do this on the cheap.
I currently have a very worn sunbrella bimini and dodger.
Opinions please

 

[kloudie1]

Something like this? http://www.glasteel.com/en/Brands/48/exterior
Dunno where to get it but at 0.42 pounds per square foot, probably a fine material to make a bimini from.
I have seen it on side railings on large power boats and it looks great..

 

[Mark Maulden]

Google hard dodger..

 

[Gunni]

Sailm8; Were you in Punta Gorda when H. Charley came through? Top heavy is not the concern, the concern is windage. You should be able to strip your boat to the deck in minutes and put is in safe storage (someplace where it can't launch into your neighbor's rigging)

 

[Sailm8]

Yes to Charley. My old boat survived sort of, but was never the same. Finally gave it away. My plan for this boat, was to be able to remove the bimini. We had 4 days warning for Charley and had stripped everything off the boat. My damage was from rolling in my slip and hitting the boat up on a lift next to me lost rubrail, broken rigging, cracked mast bent swim ladder. ($11,000 worth of damage). The bigger boats around me, were sunk by a poorly prepared trawler that came down our canal from 500 yards away. Sunk or totaled at least 5 boats.

 

[jviss]

You can probably find a bimini frame at a marine second-hand store, cheap. Sunbrella 54" wide is $23/yard. You'd need four to five yards. You can stitch this on a regular sewing machine.

 

[SFS]

You can stitch this on a regular sexing machine.

But upgrading to the Deluxe version of a sexing machine may be worth the additional cost.

 

[jviss]

But upgrading to the Deluxe version of a sexing machine may be worth the additional cost.

Fixed. Ha!

 

[justsomeguy]

I currently have a very worn sunbrella bimini and dodger.
Opinions please

Still have the frames? A good time to become familiar with sexing.

 

[Sailm8]

LOL everyone's a comedian. I probably will try sewing but I'm left handed and blind in one eye so I'll probably sew a few fingers together.

 

[Sailm8]

Something like this? http://www.glasteel.com/en/Brands/48/exterior
Dunno where to get it but at 0.42 pounds per square foot, probably a fine material to make a bimini from.
I have seen it on side railings on large power boats and it looks great..

Thanks, I sent them an email.