34 bimini

[Bill Hauskins]

Hi, Anyone have a bimini top frame for a Hunter 34. Just bought the boat... Installing a new compression post, and bulkhead between the head and settee. Love the boat. All nice and original (one owner). Really enjoy this site.
Bill Hauskins
Crowleys Yacht Yard\ Chicago

 

[Allan12210]

I have a bimini frame and the cover, but I'm keeping it. I bought mine from the store right here on this site, so if you want a guaranteed fit at a reasonable price for new, I recommend this one. Understand if you are looking to save $$ with a DIY project. Good luck.

Meanwhile, we would be interested in how the compression post project is coming. So many of us have faced that one and there seems to always be some new and unique solutions.

 

[Bill Hauskins]

hi allan Yeah its an interesting project, seems many ways to get it done.I need to look inside the roof rib to see whats in there. The top deck is very solid with no movement at all when I bounce up and down on it. The post was completely rotted out with some deformation at the place where the post mets the bottom of the rib. I would have to repair damage to the rib bottom, don't really know if I need to open the rib to reinforce inside the rib. I'm leaning to just repairing fiberglass and making repair from the top with a stainless post welded to a stainless plate that sits on the deck and the mast step bolted to the plate. That would transfer the mast load down to the bottom rib. I will know more when I drill a 3" hole thru the deck and rib to put the post thru and can see whats in the upper rib. The bulkhead between the head and setee was also rotted from the long time leak in the post so I'm replace that too. Had to cut it in half to get it out of the hatch.
I looked at the rail mount bimini on this site and it seems to be a quality unit. $1300 is not cheap but I'm not sure I could build one much cheaper given the quality of the components used. Is yours a rail mount. Best wishes Bill

 

[kloudie1]

Hey, Bill, welcome to the gang.. I solved my rib mess from the bottom; had just a smidge of rot in the post top so replaced the rotted wood with a block of solid aluminum after removing as much of the mush as I could reach. Now post bears on block which is bonded to underside of deck.
Your method is a lot more thorough, I think.. Claude Auger sort of did the post and plate but positioned the plate under the deck to avoid the outside fiberglass work as I did.. Good luck and post some pix!..

 

[Dave Groshong]

Hey Bill, our h34 rail mount bimini is our proudest design, actually designed by a customer:

http://shop.hunterowners.com/cu/detail-tmpl.php?a=2&pid=53977&model=34

 

[Dave Pawloski]

Two years ago I was faced with having to replace the compression post in my 1985 H-31. The original oak post was rotted at the bottom. Apparently, water infiltration beneath the mast step is a common problem with the mid-1980s boats. Presumably, either the mast step screws or the opening for wiring developed a very small leak which over time rotted the oak post. Fortunately there was no damage to the cabintop fiberglass.
I was able to have a local (a real craftsman) woodworking shop make me a replacement 4" x 4" oak compression post with a channel routered on one side for the wiring that runs through the cabintop from the mast and down to beneath the sole. I also had him make the teak cover trim for the 3 exposed sides of the compression post.
I then tapped in (temporary) 2x4 material on both sides of the compression post to support the cabintop rib, and then removed the original compression post. Measured CAREFULLY the height needed for the new post, trimmed to size, secured, removed the temporary 2x4 supports, and then installed the replacement cover trim.