"SteveB" wrote in message
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I, well, my wife actually, wants a bimini top for my Lund 16. Comes in at
around $500 for frame and canvas.

I'm a metalworker, and have a welder and an industrial Singer walking foot
sewing machine. A friend of mine used to do boat work, and I've seen him
make lots of tops. Not a lot to them, actually.

Hardware seems to be the costliest thing, all being stainless steel. The
tubing was probably special, too.

Went looking for boat part the other day, and noticed some hardware, and
IIRC, it was for 7/8" OD tube.

In all of your vast experiences, what would be your opinion of making one
of these out of conduit, or a light wall round tube? Possibly custom
making some of the hardware pieces out of steel that I can have powder
coated. The canvas could be Sunbrella, or even the cheap shadecloth
material at Home Depot is decent shade. I have a couple of big
shadecloths of that material, just had to resew the edges after about four
years of 24/7 outdoors exposure.

Anyone ever do this type of DIY project?

TIA

Steve


My top[ has aluminum tubing frame. It does snap to the windshield, but I
see lots of small boat bimini's with aluminum frame. Use Sunbrella. You
will need a couple of hardware items. Maybe cheaper to buy on a couple
parts. You need a hinge for the top. West Marine WM Model #: 397275 but
you can also get a side mount hinge. Plus a hinge for the middle of the
main upright to allow the back hoop to fold against the main hoop. WM
592651 is what they look like. Just weld a couple ears on the tube. 7/8"
tube is probably fine for a 16; boat. Then a couple straps to go forward
and sternward to hole the top in place. WM Model #: 393514 is the attachment
for the boat. They also come in nylon. Cheaper. Just weld up a 4 of them.
http://www.boatcoversdirect.com/products/bimini_tops/
is a picture of the top type.