Biminy Top for my cockpit.

[gabriel.donnelly]

Any one know where to get a 'budget friendly' one of these ? its not that im cheap, its just that my whole (pretty extensive) resto project is about 2 1/2 - 3k... as far as i can tell Biminy wants about $1500... What?!? i just want some protection from the Texas sun, it doesn't hafta be fancy, I don't need wind shields and zippers, no disco ball or smoke machine... just some protection that doesn't look half-ass.
Help me out fellas... Cheers, Happy New Year!
Gabriel.

 

[jibes138]

Build one yourself

I built one for my 35 and it has been great. Cost is probably more like 350 and most of that is for fittings and hardware. Go to the sailrte.com web site and buy a set of frames and the hardware you need to mount it, get enough fabric and zippers. They give you the instructions for free. All you need is a sheet of plywood, you screw the mounts to the plywood the same width as on the boat and build it at home then after finished install it on the boat. Since the fabric is only a few layers a home sewing machine should do the trick.

 

[Joe11688]

I built one for my 35 and it has been great. Cost is probably more like 350 and most of that is for fittings and hardware. Go to the sailrte.com web site and buy a set of frames and the hardware you need to mount it, get enough fabric and zippers. They give you the instructions for free. All you need is a sheet of plywood, you screw the mounts to the plywood the same width as on the boat and build it at home then after finished install it on the boat. Since the fabric is only a few layers a home sewing machine should do the trick.

Dave,
Do you by any chance have a picture of your Bimini Top that you could post on this forum for us? Here's one that I made in about 10 minutes with a small polytarp. I call it my "poor sailor's Bimini Top."
Joe

 

[DeniseO30]

Gab you should be able to buy an off the shelf bimini for your boat that will work. But if your back stay is in the way, the top can be cut and have a pass through with a zipper installed so the bimini can be more aft. that would be easier then building a custom made one.

 

[Sunbird22358]

We bought a pretty reasonable Bimini for our small powerboat from OVERTON'S (www.Overtons.com). We bought their "Sharkskin" polyester top which for your 25 would cost in the neighborhood of $180.00-250.00 plus shipping (frame comes unassembled, saving on shipping). The frame is aluminum and pretty basic, 3-bows, nylon fittings, stainless screws. We've had it now for 2 seasons and it is standing up well. The top that I mention above is 5'6" long and 42" high. They have higher and lower frames (32", 36", 46", 52", and 48") but the 42" height gives us more than sitting headroom above a seat that is about 8" or so below the deck level of the hinges. They also sell tops made from Sunbrella, adds about $10-15 for the 42" high tops, but the Sharkskin has worked fine for us. The cloth seems to be about the weight of the cloth in typical sails, maybe slightly heavier and it provides enough shade for us (we have the sharkskin blue color). All straps and fittings are included, as is a storage boot and installation took my Dad about 1 hour or less. The frame is stable enough that we can stand aft of the bimini and rest an arm on it while steering in calm water (tiller-steered outboard).

Not fancy, but not at all "cheap" looking despite the price!

 

[gabriel.donnelly]

You guys are the Best thanks for all the suggestions!
Gabe.

 

[sPk]

I installed one of the off the shelf ones from West Marine. I can't remember the exact price but was probably around $300 and it works great. Aluminum poles, came with a cover, easy to install. I didn't even cut it for the back stay, I adjusted the shape of the bimini so it was more vertical and less horizontal so it fits OK between the back stay and boom.