How to Measure for a Bimini Top - 3 Easy Steps.

1. Select your BIMINI HEIGHT

1. Start with the Total Desired Height: Measure from the centerline floor of the boat to determine how much headroom you want for the bimini.
2. Mounting Point: Decide where you will mount your bimini top.
3. Floor to Mounting Point Height: Measure the vertical distance from the centerline floor to the mounting point on the sides of the boat.
4. Determine Bimini Height: Subtract the Floor to Mounting Point Height measurement from your Total Desired Height. This is the height that you want to use when selecting your bimini.

 

2. Select your BIMINI WIDTH

1. Measure the distance from the selected bimini mounting point on one side of your boat to the same location on the other side of your boat (this usually is not the same as the beam or width of the boat).
2. Select the appropriate bimini width range that includes your width measurement.

 

3. Select your BIMINI LENGTH

1. Decide how much area you wish to shade on your boat.
2. Select from the available bimini lengths.

 

Selecting the Right Bimini Top

 

Contact us if you need assistance in selecting the correct sized bimini top. We can often look up what aftermarket bimini top is recommended for your boat's make and model. We offer bimini tops that come complete with the frame and fabric as well as replacment fabric and frames. If you are looking for a replacement bimini top or bimini top frame, you will want to make sure that you select the same manufacturer for that frame or fabric that is on your boat (Westland / Taylor Made etc). Otherwise, the fabric or frame may not fit. The same rule applies to replacement bimini top boots (storage bags). If the bimini top is an OEM, contact your boat's manufacturer to see if Taylor Made, Westland, Carver or Great Lakes Boat Top made the bimini top for your boat.

 

Sunbrella is typically the best in class fabric, next is Ultima / Sharskin Supreme, then Hot Shot or Sharksin.

 

 

Types of Bimini Tops

 

A boat bimini top is an inexpensive means to make a sunny day on the boat so much more enjoyable. The old trusty baseball cap in comparison has limited function compared to a stout 3 bow bimini top that not only will provide shade for the balding spot-on top of the noggin but will keep the seats from getting uncomfortably hot, help to reduce some of the glare and keep the feet and ears from getting roasted. Let us not forget they also provide some protection from that unexpected downpour. Bimini tops for boats do not have to be custom manufactured and are available in bimini top kits for the DIY inclined.

 

There is a variety of choices in bimini top hardware such as the tubing for the frames, the number of bows, the fittings, and the fabric. Bimini top tubing used to make the bows is manufactured from either round or square tubing (typically used for bimini tops for pontoons).

 

The fittings used to keep all the bimini top bows together are available and manufactured in different types of material raging from plastic to solid stainless steel. The plastic or nylon fittings come in two color option, white and black.

 

In the event the bimini top fabric requires replacing, there are also choices of fabric manufacturers, colors, and patterns. They can be no doubt be custom sewn but before venturing down that path it might be prudent to look at all the options available from kit manufacturers that offer bimini top replacement canvas. Bimini top manufacturers such as ‘Westland®’ and ‘Taylor Made®’ all offer aftermarket support and replacement parts for their products including the bimini top replacement canvas. Bimini tops for pontoon boats are a common addition to a pontoon boat and although bimini’s might look flimsy but they are incredibly stout and fit and hold up well on all types of craft. Most pontoon boat railings are square and there are manufacturers that manufacture and provide square tubing bimini top kits such as the powered bimini top from ‘SureShade®’.

 

Installing a bimini on a boat is straight forward and are only hindered by the imagination. It is not uncommon to find a super sport wake board boat to have a wakeboard tower bimini top or a bass boat with a bass boat bimini top. Bimini tops are all verry similar therefore one type of bimini can fit on various craft with the main differences being the width. For example, a pontoon bimini top that is 8ft wide will not work as a Jon boat bimini top that is only say 4ft wide. This is because the frames and the cover are not adjustable sideways. Length way there is usually a little wiggle room because the bimini can hang over the stern some or it can extend a little forward a bit. The length of a bimini will determine the number of bows that is necessary to keep the bimini top cover taught and it is not unusual to see a 4 bow bimini top or even on with more. Bimini tops are also manufactured as hard tops with the soft top bimini having the advantage over the hard top counterpart in that it can fold up if desired.