www.iFourWinns.com

I'm looking at having a bimini installed on my boat in the next few weeks and was wondering if some of you with Horizons could help with measurements/suggestions.

I'd like to be able to walk under it, but don't want it too high. I'm 6'2", so I'm thinking a 46" would be fine.

Secondly, I think I want the front mounts on the side of the boat as opposed to the windshield using stainless steel quick connect mounts. This way I would only need to adjust my canvas cover at the rear support pole.

Do I need stainless steel poles, or are aluminum fine?

What is the height that most of you have yours set at? Any pictures or examples that I could use would also be great.

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-Rob.


Current boat: 2011 Yamaha AR210
Previous boat: 1998 Horizon RX 4.3GL SX

I too am going to have a bimini installed. I am going to have a local canvas place make me a custom one. How long of a bimini do you want? Ours will be 8'. My canvas guy said with an 8' bimini, all stainless should be used for stability while up on plane. I believe 46" should be fine, you should just be able to walk under that. I too would like to go with the quick disconnect option as I will leave it in the garage while the boat has the mooring cover on.

I am also going to hve "short" poles made for trailering. I do loke your idea of installing it outside of the windshield. I will see what my canvas guy says when I take the boat to him. Should cost between $700 - $900. I considered using GMI Design but I do not like how their biminis only open one way. So the bimini would have to be installed really far back and look very strange. If I had the stock bimini from FW, the bimini would open front and rear from the center point.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

I'm going to put a 6' on since 8' may seem rather large on an 18 footer. Should be enough to give us some shade though.

Stability is what I'm worried about, I've seen some that are swaying pretty bad while under way. Are the FW ones all stainless?

I also want the short poles for garage storage and long distance trailering.

I'll probably check out a few places next week to see what my options are. I'd like to be as close to the FW models as possible, but the dealer quoted me $1500 installed. I had another quote for a custom top at $350 installed for sunbrella fabric, aluminum poles, and nylon fittings (immediate upgrade to stainless). I think for another $50 they would modify the snap-on cover to fit around the rear supports. I haven't seen their work though, so I'm a little skeptical.

_________________
-Rob.


Current boat: 2011 Yamaha AR210
Previous boat: 1998 Horizon RX 4.3GL SX

I would not even consider anything except stainless for the poles and all related hardware. Some (not all) FW models used aluminum back around 2000 and when you look at them now they tend to be bent and beat up. I think all the current ones are stainless. I can run WOT in light-medium chop and it's quite stable, which is pretty amazing considering the size of the 240's bimini. Those diagonals in the top corners have a lot to do with it and are a worthwhile element.

I noticed Overton's sells much of the bimini hardware used in FW factory biminis (many of which are made - or at least the canvas portion - by Great Lakes Boat Tops). Such as:

http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product ... 009&r=view
http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product ... 009&r=view
http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product ... 009&r=view

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

I am 6'7" and the dealer adjusted my bimini so I could stand underneath it. The only problem is it won't lock in the down position. So I just ride with it zipped up when I want to go fast.

Doug
'

Rob...I would call another Four Winns dealer...that price is crazy. My FW dealer quoted me $826 for the bimini and $85 (one hour) for the install. Plus, at 6' yours would only be a 3 bow and at 8' mine would be 4 bow. Like I said...that price is way out of wack.

Like I said, we decided to go the custom route as I know I can tell them exactly what I want and they will be able to modify my cockpit cover at the same time.

On the other end...that custom guy at $350 seems WAY too cheap.

I clocked my head on mine once but I'll be darned if I remember how high it was.

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2005 Horizon 210, 5.7L Volvo

230 - That's the exact hardware that I want. Even if I end up with aluminum poles, I'm pretty convinced on the stainless fittings.

I have a couple other custom places to check out, I'll compare the poles. Like Wet Dogg, I'll need my canvas modified.

_________________
-Rob.


Current boat: 2011 Yamaha AR210
Previous boat: 1998 Horizon RX 4.3GL SX