Bimini Tops
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We have a beautiful pattern for a H34 Bimini
Hi - We built a beautiful rail mount bimini for a Hunter 34 last year. If you are interested in the pricing and seeing some pictures, send me an email at Bly@sailboatowners.com. Bly Berken
Hi - We built a beautiful rail mount bimini for a Hunter 34 last year. If you are interested in the pricing and seeing some pictures, send me an email at Bly@sailboatowners.com. Bly Berken
I think you want a good quality bimini
You want a good quality bimini made of sunbrella fabric. Quality stainless steel also. Not sure if you need to go custom. Have seen them for your model boat on the internet. Do a search. Ebay or the classified ads on this site are great places to look. May take time but it will show up at a good price eventually.
You want a good quality bimini made of sunbrella fabric. Quality stainless steel also. Not sure if you need to go custom. Have seen them for your model boat on the internet. Do a search. Ebay or the classified ads on this site are great places to look. May take time but it will show up at a good price eventually.
Bimini, dodger, back porch
If you already have a dodger then you will want to consider getting a bimini that you can zipper in a connecting piece of sumbrella fabric between the dodger and the bimini. It gives you a nice back porch when it rains and you are on the hook or at the dock.
If you already have a dodger then you will want to consider getting a bimini that you can zipper in a connecting piece of sumbrella fabric between the dodger and the bimini. It gives you a nice back porch when it rains and you are on the hook or at the dock.
How much is cheap?
How much is cheap? If you go for a cheap aluminum frame with inexpensive fabric you can get something new. Set your budget and start the shopping process.
How much is cheap? If you go for a cheap aluminum frame with inexpensive fabric you can get something new. Set your budget and start the shopping process.
Thanks for the info
No dodger......... How much is cheap? I don't know, I called on one place that had a new one for $1200. That seems like a lot??? $300-500???? Just looking for someone who may have gone through this.
No dodger......... How much is cheap? I don't know, I called on one place that had a new one for $1200. That seems like a lot??? $300-500???? Just looking for someone who may have gone through this.
ebay
Thanks Kenny- I looked on ebay foud a place that makes a top that fits several boats. Still shopping around.
Thanks Kenny- I looked on ebay foud a place that makes a top that fits several boats. Still shopping around.
Bimini
I just went through the process. I have ordered the bimini , a main sailo cover and a console cover from indycanvas.com. Supposed to be shipped this week. Will let you know on quality when I get it.
I just went through the process. I have ordered the bimini , a main sailo cover and a console cover from indycanvas.com. Supposed to be shipped this week. Will let you know on quality when I get it.
$0.02
I see you are from Chicago, which means you can use aluminum without a problem. The boat will be in fresh water, right? Sunbrella...make sure it's Marine grade. A Bimini is so easy to make yourself, why not try it? Someone posted they have the plans. I made my sail covers and saved a bundle. A friend is making a power boat cover (2 pieces, all flat) and is charging $1000 which is $200 less than she paid 7 years ago and far $500 less than her lowest estimate. And if you REALLY don't want to mess with it, let me know. Maybe Bly Berken can send me the plans and we can work something out. I don't use a bimini. We have a vinyl covered Sunbrella material tarp left over from the PO and just drape it over the boom. Works OK. Why not try something like that? I would like to make a Dodger, but think I would rather have it solid vs. cloth. My boat is a 37 Irwin.
I see you are from Chicago, which means you can use aluminum without a problem. The boat will be in fresh water, right? Sunbrella...make sure it's Marine grade. A Bimini is so easy to make yourself, why not try it? Someone posted they have the plans. I made my sail covers and saved a bundle. A friend is making a power boat cover (2 pieces, all flat) and is charging $1000 which is $200 less than she paid 7 years ago and far $500 less than her lowest estimate. And if you REALLY don't want to mess with it, let me know. Maybe Bly Berken can send me the plans and we can work something out. I don't use a bimini. We have a vinyl covered Sunbrella material tarp left over from the PO and just drape it over the boom. Works OK. Why not try something like that? I would like to make a Dodger, but think I would rather have it solid vs. cloth. My boat is a 37 Irwin.
Aluminum Frames?
Although they won't corrode in fresh water, the strength of aluminum must be considered at the time of purchase. There is quite a bit of price difference between aluminum and SS. But the labor cost should be the same.
Although they won't corrode in fresh water, the strength of aluminum must be considered at the time of purchase. There is quite a bit of price difference between aluminum and SS. But the labor cost should be the same.
Island Nautical
Island Nautical (Indodger) has some pretty reasonable prices. They are all self-installs but they come with directions and a full hardware package as well as a phone number to call for advice at the time of the install.
Island Nautical (Indodger) has some pretty reasonable prices. They are all self-installs but they come with directions and a full hardware package as well as a phone number to call for advice at the time of the install.
Home made
As of now, we are in the final touches of finishing our bimini. Being from Florida, we have suffered through the past four summers baking in the sun. We have made do with the unbrella in the winch system to some reliefe. Unfortunately, we look like a garbage scow, what with the laundry hanging from the lifelines and all. Ok, maybe not a garbage scow, but a redneck yacht at least. Recently, a friend asked us if we needed a bimini frame he had extra. We jumped at it, it fit perfectly. We ordered some sunbrella aff of ebay, it took us awhile as we wanted to get the color to match our main sail cover. It ended up at under $10/yard. Last Sunday, the admiral got busy and, voilah, a bimini took shape. Now, we just have to go daown to the boat next weekend and test fit it. The admiral will make a few adjustments, and we have a new bimini. Total cost: 3 yards sunbrella $30.00 mounting hardware $ 8.50 straps $25.00 velcro $20.00 Total $83.50 We could have made the straps too for considerably less but, what the hey, let's splurge a little.
As of now, we are in the final touches of finishing our bimini. Being from Florida, we have suffered through the past four summers baking in the sun. We have made do with the unbrella in the winch system to some reliefe. Unfortunately, we look like a garbage scow, what with the laundry hanging from the lifelines and all. Ok, maybe not a garbage scow, but a redneck yacht at least. Recently, a friend asked us if we needed a bimini frame he had extra. We jumped at it, it fit perfectly. We ordered some sunbrella aff of ebay, it took us awhile as we wanted to get the color to match our main sail cover. It ended up at under $10/yard. Last Sunday, the admiral got busy and, voilah, a bimini took shape. Now, we just have to go daown to the boat next weekend and test fit it. The admiral will make a few adjustments, and we have a new bimini. Total cost: 3 yards sunbrella $30.00 mounting hardware $ 8.50 straps $25.00 velcro $20.00 Total $83.50 We could have made the straps too for considerably less but, what the hey, let's splurge a little.
How does one know...
The correct pipe length for bending to get a particular width? What size bend does one use for what size pipe? These are things I cannot find. I have Don Casey's book on Fabric Work and it show biminis, but no pertinent info.
The correct pipe length for bending to get a particular width? What size bend does one use for what size pipe? These are things I cannot find. I have Don Casey's book on Fabric Work and it show biminis, but no pertinent info.
Brian, Talk to an electrician that bends conduit
all the time. I don't remember the exact but what I do is practice on a piece of $3.00 conduit. The conduit bender for the right size tubing will bend the proper radius, that doesn't change. Stop down at Home depot and take a look at a conduit bender. r.w.landau
all the time. I don't remember the exact but what I do is practice on a piece of $3.00 conduit. The conduit bender for the right size tubing will bend the proper radius, that doesn't change. Stop down at Home depot and take a look at a conduit bender. r.w.landau
Sewing Machine
What type of sewing machine do you use sewing Sunbrella? How much does one cost? The admiral has a very fancy high tech sewing machine. She has advised me that it cannot sew through Sunbrella, much less Sunbrella w/ webbing.
What type of sewing machine do you use sewing Sunbrella? How much does one cost? The admiral has a very fancy high tech sewing machine. She has advised me that it cannot sew through Sunbrella, much less Sunbrella w/ webbing.
Rick, I have sewn with a 1950's baby blue Singer.
I would still be using it but could find the right belt for it. Sunbrella is not that closely weaved and you can sew multiple layers without much problem. I now own a knock off of the sailrite zigzag machine, called Tuff Sew. It was about half the cost but identical to the Sailrite zigzag. Tuff Sew went out of business or something because the website doesn't work anymore. If you sew sails, new material isn't bad but 5+ layers of older dacron that is dirty, is hard to sew with an old machine. r.w.landau
I would still be using it but could find the right belt for it. Sunbrella is not that closely weaved and you can sew multiple layers without much problem. I now own a knock off of the sailrite zigzag machine, called Tuff Sew. It was about half the cost but identical to the Sailrite zigzag. Tuff Sew went out of business or something because the website doesn't work anymore. If you sew sails, new material isn't bad but 5+ layers of older dacron that is dirty, is hard to sew with an old machine. r.w.landau
Sewing machine
We use a JC Penneys home sewing machine. The admiral says to use a #18 jeans needle and go ahead and get the sunbrella thread. The one for home models, not commercial. Commercial grade thread will wear out your home machine.
We use a JC Penneys home sewing machine. The admiral says to use a #18 jeans needle and go ahead and get the sunbrella thread. The one for home models, not commercial. Commercial grade thread will wear out your home machine.
Brian, Conduit, Electrical department.
Plumbers use 90's and 45's. The conduit bender is a simple lever device with a radius curve that is made for give tubing sizes. Here is the EMT bender, it is missing the 3' of pipe used as a lever. r.w.landau Edited: this link doesn't take you all the way in. After you click the link, click Tools on the left side, then page 3, then the emt (conduit) bender is the third from the last item on the page. Note that 3/4 conduit is Internal diameter. That is 7/8 Outside diameter tubing.
Plumbers use 90's and 45's. The conduit bender is a simple lever device with a radius curve that is made for give tubing sizes. Here is the EMT bender, it is missing the 3' of pipe used as a lever. r.w.landau Edited: this link doesn't take you all the way in. After you click the link, click Tools on the left side, then page 3, then the emt (conduit) bender is the third from the last item on the page. Note that 3/4 conduit is Internal diameter. That is 7/8 Outside diameter tubing.
I was told that these benders were not adequate
I had looked into this for a small job that I had to do. I was told that these conduit benders were not up to the job. With the price of heavy walled SS tube, it is not worth the savings in labor to sacrifice the cost of the materials.
I had looked into this for a small job that I had to do. I was told that these conduit benders were not up to the job. With the price of heavy walled SS tube, it is not worth the savings in labor to sacrifice the cost of the materials.
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