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Bimini tops
"SteveB" wrote in message news 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. |
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