www.iFourWinns.com

We trailer our 2006 278 Vista w/out arch and boot the bimini's then lay them down against the windshield and across the back. I wanted to ask if there is a better way to store the bimini's in a down position.

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2006 Four Winns 278 Vista
1994 Stingray 609zp

Interested in responses...I never put mine down. I close the two up and put the boots on them, then I wrap a tie around the two to stop them from chaffing each other. But they are always in the up position. Am I doing it wrong?

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Chris and Alicia
Las Vegas, NV
ALTIVA
1996 Four Winns 238 Vista Dlx 5.8Fi

Also interested in responses. I take mine off because it is so tall on the road as it is and I only trailer twice a year so its not a big deal to take down and throw in the back of the truck.

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--2002 3880 Regal Flybridge | Twin Merc 8.1HO **Seven**
--2003 AB 13 VST Console Inflatable | Tohatsu 40hp TLDI **Phish'n ski**
--310 Mercury Inflatable | 1982 9.9 Johnson

I close, boot and lay mine across the back seat and trailer 1100 miles.

If I am close, I'll close, boot and trailer to launch 10 miles in the up position. No problems.

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2003 Four Winns 170 Freedom Cincinnati, Ohio / Cape Coral, Florida

I'm paranoid because our Four Winns bimini was damaged by the dealer who towed it with it up for us after we bought it . For short trips of 55 mph or less I will leave it up. A longer or faster trip I'll take it down. The Four Winns wouldn't lay down nicely so I took it down and put it in the cockpit. With our Crownline, it lays down nicely against the rear seats so I did that for the one long trip I've taken.

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Terry
Current: 07 Crownline 255 CCR cuddy - 350 Mag MPI/B3 "Casi Cielo"

Previous:97 245 Sundowner 5.7GI/SX

Tow vehicle: 1986 GMC 2500 Camper Special 454/TH400

I trailer my boat and have always left them in the up position in the boot without any problems.

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1996 278 Vista Dlx Twin 5.0
1999 Sea Ray 215 ex cruiser (sold)
1989 Seaswirl (sold)

Interesting. We trailer ours about 3 hours one way to the coast. I'm thinking of making some short struts to keep it off of the seats. I've seen some on other boats.

We're headed down tomorrow so I can get some measurements and see what I can come up with.

Thanks for the responses. We just bought this boat Memorial Day weekend and are still getting used to it. It's a big upgrade from our 1994 Stingray 20' cuddy!

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2006 Four Winns 278 Vista
1994 Stingray 609zp

Always up. I towed my 278 with both biminis up. I hit 80mph a couple times. Always towed my Regal with bimini up. I think with it down would cause stress on the mounts.

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2006 Four Winns 278

I take my front one down and leave the back one up... No real reasons other than bug guts.

With my Doral cuddy I left it up most times and never had an issue.

I trailer often.

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2004 - 288 Vista
Twin - 5.0 Volvo Penta GXi DP

I should say that our Four Winns had aluminum poles and plastic fittings so that may have contributed to the ease of damage.

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Terry
Current: 07 Crownline 255 CCR cuddy - 350 Mag MPI/B3 "Casi Cielo"

Previous:97 245 Sundowner 5.7GI/SX

Tow vehicle: 1986 GMC 2500 Camper Special 454/TH400