Bimini Tops on fast boats?

[71V153]

Here's the top from the wrecked Glastron tweaked a lil bit to fit the Baja. Hinged clam shell mounts on the railing, so no deck mounts necessary. Just a pair of deck eyes fwd. Routinely ran over 60 with the top up.

[Fullthrottleguy]

Some great thoughts and photos guys! Keep em coming!

[71V153]

Here's one I did for the lunatic Weiler. I was scared to death the top would come apart any second, but it didn't. Told him 'forehand if it did it wasn't a warranty issue ...

Regardless this one was mounted on tracks inside the gunnal. Slid aft and hung on straps fwd of the splashwell.

[71V153]

Fwiw if a top is sewn with good material, the right thread, reinforced in the right places, and mounted securely. Then there's no reason not to safely run 65 or so.

Key is to leave a lil room for trim adjustment. Too much down force? Lean the top a lil aft. Too much lift? Lean fwd a bit.

[kct11]

They are nice to have when needed.
Once you have one, you will use it more then you think you would. Mine goes up and down in minutes and most of it stores under the hatch.

[agatoantska]

To install a Bimini top boat you need three mounting points minimum per side, so a total of 6. The middle location is where the bow/pole structure would connect.

[wideglide55]

Good to about 60, it's mesh down the middle to release some air out of it

[JR IN JAX]

I tried several good shops for a Bimini for my Allison Grandsport but none of the shops would build me one, saying it was too dangerous on a 100 MPH boat. I ordered the individual components from Eevile /Caravelle and added a sliding track down each side. It was like Spacex, reengineering after failure. I used 1" aluminum tube with 3/4 OD stainless tube inside for reinforcement. The second model was good until I turned a tight corner on the Suwannee at 70 MPH into a 20 knot head wind. The tube broke where the internal stainless tube stopped at the curves. Another revision was better but I forgot it was up on the Interstate after a long day and it broke at 85+ [strictly self-inflicted]. The last /still existing revision uses an internal PEX liner that follows the curve of the external 1" tubing and I also modified the swivel braces that slide in the tracks down each side. Allison provided me with a front pop-out hidden cleat on each side that allows me to hook two straps on each side of the windshield. I am still sure that it will break at 85 +/- . It folds up to lay flat behind the top headrests on the back seats on top of the storage hatches. It is nice while sitting at the Springs during a thunderstorm but doesn't do much when going fast in the rain.