blue dragon wrote:
^^ My last 3 hour tow was with the bimini up, and I lost one of the screws (worked loose due to bimini swaying), so I definitely won't mind spending on the shorter poles.
Always put Loctite on biminipole screws. You won't lose another one. We just finished a 550 mile tow with the bimini folded on the sunpad. No damage to vinyl or anywhere on the bimini or boot.
Also, even with short poles, you still put alot of stress on the gunwale attachment point, because the folded bimini will sway from side to side, and eventually cause gel-coat spider cracks. The short poles seem to work "OK" on 18 to 20 ft boats, but larger boats 24' and up have larger heavier bimini's . Dealer's even recommend not to tow with shorty poles, just lay the bimini down on the back seat, cover it with towels, foam noodles, tennis balls, whatever it takes to protect your vinyl. The bimini will not sway when folded down on the seat, it will when up, or with shortie poles.
But if you insist, you can buy the 7/8" pole, cut it to length, and buy all the fittings you need at Overton's , Worst Marine or at the Mecca of bimini parts,
Marine Part Depot. Total for two shortie's should be about $150.00
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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:2000 Four Winns 268 Vista
Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral
235 ssi cuddy
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), so the bimini would be resting on the back seat. I don't want to damage the vinyl in anyway, because that would be way costlier than spending on the poles.
