Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

HandymanHerb wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 11, 2022 7:17 am

Not cheap but there is an option https://www.sureshade.com/power-bimini/
PS doesn't carry them anymore, they had them when we rebuilt built mine

I would have gone with the power bimini solution, but it has a max boat speed of 25 MPH when the top is deployed. That was a deal killer for me.

My actuator setup has worked great for the last two seasons. I love to cruise by other pontoons stopped at our low bridge as they manually lower their tops, while I wave and cruise by with mine is lowering as I approach the bridge.

Although I haven't really examined it closely, I think I might be able to add two more actuators to the front supports on my bimini and let them "pull" the top into the fully deployed position. It might be a spring poject I have to look into!

steve1313 wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 13, 2022 11:51 am

HandymanHerb wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 11, 2022 7:17 am

Not cheap but there is an option https://www.sureshade.com/power-bimini/
PS doesn't carry them anymore, they had them when we rebuilt built mine

I would have gone with the power bimini solution, but it has a max boat speed of 25 MPH when the top is deployed. That was a deal killer for me.
................................................................
........................................

That part is not a problem for me!
Life in the cheap seats

Marc

Marc K wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 13, 2022 2:54 pm

steve1313 wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 13, 2022 11:51 am

HandymanHerb wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 11, 2022 7:17 am

Not cheap but there is an option https://www.sureshade.com/power-bimini/
PS doesn't carry them anymore, they had them when we rebuilt built mine

I would have gone with the power bimini solution, but it has a max boat speed of 25 MPH when the top is deployed. That was a deal killer for me.
................................................................
........................................

That part is not a problem for me!
Life in the cheap seats

Marc

Our Qwest came with a single powered Bimini; which I had no interest in, but it came already on the boat. As noted above; it says 25 MPH top speed with the top up. I had a second non-powered Bimini made to go in front of the powered one. That one ties into the front of the powered top, which gives it mechanical stability, and decreases the wind loading on the legs of the powered Bimini. That design all comes down to two one inch square aluminum top legs on each side, and those “legs” bolt directly to the powered mechanisms.

I cruised that boat at 30 mph all last summer, with a few brief runs up into the mid-40’s MPH without any problems. Once the warranty period for the powered top is over; if it breaks, it’ll be replaced with a non-powered set-up.

I guess a powered top may be worthwhile for some, but out boat tops pretty much stay “up” all season, which is easily 8-9 months long down here. We don’t have any desire to sit out in the full sun for any extended periods. We both didn’t worry about how much sun we were getting when younger, but we have no desire now to increase any chances of skin cancer beyond what’s already been done. The tops only get stowed on our boats when a storm is coming, and the boat stays in the water at one of our docks all season; unless there’s a hurricane coming.

Great setup and a nice boat!

Marc K wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 02, 2022 6:42 am

Great setup and a nice boat!

Thank you Sir!
Glad you like it.

Red bimini casts the same glow as red light districts do.....you pimp ho'

Love it

bansil wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 05, 2022 10:16 am

Red bimini casts the same glow as red light districts do.....you pimp ho'

Love it

Well, then you’d really love it at night, with all the blue LEDs in the drink holders and eight inch speakers turned on.
Also; my wife says that the color of the tops, seat accents and piping is Salmon, not red.

Need a night pic now!

It’s not dark; but you can see the lights.

Why can’t the Admins make this site more photo friendly?

In reality the site format is 20 years old, if they change it we will lose stuff and then we would beotch because it was changed.

bansil wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 12, 2022 1:59 pm

In reality the site format is 20 years old, if they change it we will lose stuff and then we would beotch because it was changed.

I do understand that very well! Among the other sites that I frequent are two (I’m a mod on one) with older software/updates than this forum. None of them ever change the orientation of the pics I post there…