[Geekie1]

This thread couldn't be more timely. I had a problem with my bimini last fall when some axxhole climbed onto my boat using my main bimini aluminum top bow as a handle and bent it seriously. I made a temporary repair by cutting the bow and inserting a heavy aluminum tube inside the bow and Marine Texing it in. I decided that I was going to replace the straight sections of the bows with 1" SS. I am going to cut the 7/8" aluminum curved bows leaving enough straight to fit inside of the 1" straight SS sections. (I will need to have two bends made in the SS on one of the secondary bows) I want to replace the rear straps with a SS 1" tubular support. I haven't decided what to do with the front straps yet, keep them or replace with SS. I came into enough 1" 316 SS tubing to do the job with some left over. Bought all new 1" SS bimini top hardware to replace the nylon fittings. I haven't started to do this replacement job yet because I want to spend more time in the ocean, not working on the boat all summer.

All of the recent ideas on bimini top configurations in this forum have given me alot of ideas on how I am going to set my top up. I like Mac's forward position using plastic tees as a support. Crusher's setup is good also. One other problem I have with the gunnel mounted bimini is I also have gunnel mount outriggers and I can't have the outriggers and the bimini up at the same time. I think that I am going to move the mount for my bimini from the gunnels to the side windshield so the outriggers will clear the top. Of course if I do that I will also need to have the top material resown or have a new top made. Boy, it's really amazing how one thing leads to another. I have already spent alot of money only on ideas! A hole in the water you pour money into!!!