On Sep 26, 3:21 pm, "Glenn \(s/v Seawing\)"
wrote:
... Anyone built a hard bimini? Advise? Used this foam stuff?
Advise?...what's the stuff called & where can it be aquired? Advise on
bimini for a cruising boat? ...

Many places have a fiberglass shop that can supply all that you will
need including advise. It is worth looking in the phone book or
asking around at the boat yard. There are online places too.
Jamestown Distributors has some basics. Try http://tinyurl.com/yv2p8u
for their selection of cores. There are lots of ways of going about
the process and not knowing what you are using for arches or if you
need a dodger as well as a bimini makes it hard to speculate on the
best method for you. Like everyone else, I think you will be happiest
with a cored glass construction. Some foam cores will tolerate heat
forming and many cores can be bought scored with light glass mesh. Be
aware that some cores are scored so that they will lay into molds and
some are scored to help with resin infusion. You want the former.
Core-cell is the gold standard but balsa is least expensive and plenty
good enough for what you want...

Good luck!

-- Tom.