www.iFourWinns.com

I always tow with mine down (on the short legs) and have never had a problem at all with it. I often tow long distances (1000 miles+) at highway speeds or better... and it is still in perfect condition. I do always put the boot over it and zip it up before towing.

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Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport

+1. The size, weight, and complexity of the bimini used on the '04 & '05 230 is such that hell will freeze over before I ever take the thing completely off. I tow long distances with it just as Alec describes and have never had the slightest issue.

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

I am amazed how tough my bimini is. This past weekend I pulled my boat in the lift started cleaning the boat out, wife hit the lift to pick the boat up. I look over after a few minutes and the bimini is getting squeezed on the roller bar at the top of the boat house. I hit the down switch and that thing sprung back to normal, and it was looking really bad.

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Only prob i have had with towing with the bimini up (rolled up in boot) is that the boot started to fray.....simple solution - i got some black docking lines (my top is black) and wrap the boot tight with this rope when trailering...only takes a minute and really knocks down the wind resistance since nothing is loose to flap in the wind.

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http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o71 ... wqm355.jpg


08' H210SS
VP 5.7Gi

Well I am having issues finding a metal one of these:

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/store ... 00_225-9-3

Not sure if mine is 3/4 or 7/8 but the one I got sent w/ a replacement short arm for my bimini is too small for the flush hinge receiever.

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2006 Four Winns Horizon 180 3.0L Volvo Penta
Towed by 1978 Chevrolet Pickup 4x4 (Yeah it's old but it has family history)

Not to highjack your thread -- but we will wave as we pass in a few weeks. We have a house rented on Keowee and we will be towing up from West Palm Beach ---

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DaleG -- West Palm Beach FL
2003 240Horizon -- 5.7Gi -Duoprop

That is outstanding, all the way to the south of the lake is a place called Lake Keowee Marina, there is a "Tiki Hut" restaurant and bar there that is pretty nice. You can also get a great map of the lake for like 10 bucks there. Points out the waterfall, jump off rock, etc.....

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2006 Four Winns Horizon 180 3.0L Volvo Penta
Towed by 1978 Chevrolet Pickup 4x4 (Yeah it's old but it has family history)

Try here. They have some ss ones toward the bottom of the page.
http://greatlakesskipper.com/category-1/44_193_224-boat-covers-and-bimini-tops-bimini-hardware-and-accessories.html

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2010 H190 4.3VP
Tow Vehicle:
2007 F150
Previous boats:
2009 H180 3.0VP
1996 Horizon QX 3.0VP

Here is where I got my pieces I am sure they will ship to the States.
http://www.jtstopshop.com

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Andrew
07 H180
2000 Buell X-1
Stouffville Ontario
Canada

I know that most boat makers do not install the bimini on the inside of the gunnels....but I did it that way...with slider tracks mounted to the coaming panels...this allowed me to:
1) eventually have a full enclosure made...this works much better if the bimini is mounted in the inside of the windshield frame
2) I just drop it down after using the boat and it lays on the rear seat...no worries when trailering because it's inside and covered by the cockpit cover
3) slider mounts (higly recommended) let you move it forward or back for more room when fishing..

I found the Taylor Made top to be of decent quality and there are so many mounting variations that you can make a truely custom installation depending on what you want. I knew eventually I will have an enclosure made so I had to go with the inside mount....

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Thanks for the links guys!!! I was able to order my 3/4" parts finally.....

I have found some stainless steel screws w/ nylon nuts that I am going to replace the b.s. plain screws w/ no nuts with. I am also going to use loctite on it. This way I know it is all secure and tight. I am soooo tired of fighting this thing.

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2006 Four Winns Horizon 180 3.0L Volvo Penta
Towed by 1978 Chevrolet Pickup 4x4 (Yeah it's old but it has family history)

my 05 190 just pulled the port side mount right out of the boat for mine. i looked at it and i guess its just screwed directly into the fiberglass and the previous owner must have run with the top up alot. it pulled the screws through the hull so i guess ill be putting a small wood block inside the hull and running a little longer screw so it has something solid to attach to. i though about putting machine bolts and washers through it but the inside does not look like it could support a very large washer do to the size

I stopped towing or boating with the top up, I just use it at anchor as it easy to deploy, the wind and vibration really plays havoc with the fiberglass mounts.

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Mike
2007 Horizon 200 SS
5.0 GXi SX drive.

Overton's carries all sorts of bimini hardware, just no posts or frames.

http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product ... rchID=4006

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2010 Sea Hunt Triton 220 "Big Whiskey"
2003 FW Freedom 180 Volvo Penta 4.3GL/SX-M "It'll Do Four Now" (Sold)
2012 Avalanche LTZ 4X4

I think I'll stop towing with mine up but folded up. I'll put it down on the short legs for the tow to the lake. I don't want to tow with it all the way down because the poles rest on the fiberglass above the seats and make marks.

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2005 Horizon 210, 5.7L Volvo