Bimini Top Woes....

sweating_ice · **Posted:** Sat Jun 12, 2010 8:17 pm

I guess I am curious to know how many people here have constant problems w/ their factory bimini tops? I had had my 2006 four winns horizon 180 for about a month or so now, and everytime I take it out, a piece of the bimini falls off or breaks. Today had some friends on the boat and the main wingnut that holds the the bimini assembly to the boat snapped clean off, I will have to remove the bracket and drill out the leftover part of the screw. Just frustrated to hell w/ this bimini, the rear mounts where you secure it when it is down have both fallen off before, and one was totally lost, the white plastic piece that goes between both bars as a support fell off and was lost. Is all of this normal for a bimini top, the parts are getting expensive!!

nhprinter · **Posted:** Sun Jun 13, 2010 6:43 am

I haven't had mine long enough to have parts fall off, but when we picked up our boat this year the dealer noticed a lot of movement of the bimini when we were on our trial run so he put some spacers in when we got back to the marina. It really seems to help. Our previous boat had the movement and I do remember having to tighten the screws more than once.

Maybe this thread will be of help to you: http://www.smwebhead.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=4790

Dave

Burdette · **Posted:** Sun Jun 13, 2010 7:49 am

I have had mine a few years now no real problems. I didn’t like all the plastics connecters so I changed them to stainless but only for looks. I also added small rubber plumbing washers at each pivot point, this stopped any rattles.

sweating_ice · **Posted:** Sun Jun 13, 2010 10:42 am

I don't have a local dealer so I have to call and order parts and have them shipped to me. I took the bimini home w/ me from the lake this time. I am debating just putting a factory wakeboard tower w/ a bimini on it now. I know xtp makes the tower which is a division of monster. Anyone have any ideas on how much these setup's run?

qweedqwag · **Joined:** Mon Aug 24, 2009 9:26 pm **Posts:** 163

Boating fast with the top up is not really good for it, nor is towing is it to or from the lake, I try to stow it unless I at anchor.

sweating_ice · **Posted:** Mon Jun 14, 2010 9:36 am

I don't go fast w/ the top up, even if it is not deployed. I just called the closest Four Winns dealer to get the replacement parts, they had a hard time trying to figure out what to do for some reason, then they couldn't find the parts, then they told me they didn't have them and wouldn't have them and to go to a local canvas shop.... I finally found some places online to order the parts, problem is I was unsure of fit, so I had to order multiple sets of various things. I did inquire about a factory wakeboard tower w/ bimini was told 5k installed. Then they couldn't even tell me if the canvas cockpit cover I have currently would fit the boat w/ the wakeboard tower on there.

TX H210SS · **Joined:** Thu May 27, 2010 9:10 am **Posts:** 1488

I like the tower mounted bimini's - naturally mine doesn't have this.....my bimini stows in front of the tower and is out of the way, but deploying it requires all 4 poles to be lowered and then raised....a little cumbersome to push those pins in to get them in position. This style also goes under the tower, which makes mounting speakers and/or mirrors in the desired positions impossible.

No real stablity issues though....all stainless helps for sure.

robbo3 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 14, 2010 11:29 am

I don't have the factory top, but I feel your pain. First I would ditch the plastic hardware and replace with stainless steel.

I broke 2 and bent 2 of the bolts used in the standard mount (mine were stainless) and replace with the quick release side mounts and a shim on each side (see http://www.smwebhead.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=3262&p=35049&hilit=bimini#p35049)

I still have some sway, but it's far more stable than my first mounting points. I'm not sure if I can get it any better than it is now, although when I have it in the trailering position it doesn't budge.

I've also used locktite to keep the bolts from loosening up, but I also inspect periodically for loosening.

I like the idea of plumbing washers to reduce the play at some of the connection points, I'm going to give that one a try...

sweating_ice · **Posted:** Mon Jun 14, 2010 12:25 pm

Well I ordered a butt load of parts from wholesale marine online. Got all stainless steel components. Ended up spending another 30 bucks on this bimini which puts me at over 80 dollars to date. I found a picture of what my boat would look like w/ a factory wakeboard tower, LOVED IT....

http://www.fourwinns.com/2009/model/H180

however the price is the deal breaker for me. I paid 8k for the boat, and to spend 5k on just a tower assembly.....well that just doesn't seem feasible to me. I have heard people rave about the monster towers, but to me they look kinda funny. Really bowed out and super tall or something. Has anyone found a way to get the xtp factory tower for less? Or how about a very similar looking tower?

DaleG · **Posted:** Mon Jun 14, 2010 1:00 pm

There is nothing plastic anywhere on my bimini -- I tow with it folded but up, as you see in the picture -- and I boat at regular planing speeds with it up -- no issues -- but it is a larger boat with probably a stronger top. It is the Four Winns factory top.

sweating_ice · **Posted:** Mon Jun 14, 2010 1:03 pm

Well mine is the factory four winns top as well....I did find a cool barewest wakeboard tower the T5, it looks pretty awesome. Thinking that might be the route to go, but my area has no dealers, and the online dealers aren't offerring the bimini tops to go w/ the tower....arrgh always something isn't it.

Burdette · **Posted:** Mon Jun 14, 2010 1:50 pm

The dealer told me after I complained about the plastic fitting that all the 180 and 190 bimini top use plastic fitting. Stainless is only used where it connects to the boat. I haven't broken any main pivots but I have had problems with them coming loose and bending. I have the top opened when cruising at low and high speed as well as for tubing skiing etc.
The only problem with changing to all stainless fittings is the tubing is bent and the stainless fitting don’t like to slide pass the bends. It is possible but you will have to try to straighten the tubes and bend them back to fit the boat. And you will scratch the tubes a bit. If you open up the inside of the fittings they will be loose on the tubes. I prefer the look of the stainless ,I think if was worth the effort.

EvilZ · **Posted:** Mon Jun 14, 2010 1:56 pm

Sweating_Ice - where are you located?

sweating_ice · **Posted:** Mon Jun 14, 2010 2:32 pm

I am in Greenville, SC......

skidaddytn · **Joined:** Mon May 03, 2010 11:12 am **Posts:** 281

My bimini has a couple of velcro attachments that go to the tower on either side that have definitely taken a beating from driving with it up... I don't exceed 30mph with it up, but over time that will cause issues... I try not to run with it up any more... I'm pretty sure that it can be sewn and fixed rather easily...

www.iFourWinns.com

Bimini Top Woes....

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