Bimini top issues
Moderators: Redneck_Randy, badmoonrising, lakerunner
Bimini top issues
I am having questions about my bimini top. I have 2017 22 ssx 3/4 sport pontoon. My question is how many other Benning ton owners bimini top doesn't work correctly, her is what mine is doing, when placing the top on the trailering struts the struts do not line up the starboard side of the pontoon has to bend out for the top to be placed in this position. Last year I noticed this issue, Bennington/my dealer ordered a new top and put it on this spring. With the new top this problem is worse. My dealer has been great to deal with, after measuring the rails it seams mine are pushed out and Bennington said to move the rails in. Dealer stated that if we do this the gate wont have enough room to open and close correctly. month and a half later I still don't have an answer on what they are going to do to correct the problem. My question again is has any other Owner have this issue and what did Bennington do to fix this problem, or is this how they are built now my 2009 did have this issue.
I posted this topic on club Bennington's website I want Bennington to see what this issue, just trying to get answers new boat only 37 hours on motor.
I posted this topic on club Bennington's website I want Bennington to see what this issue, just trying to get answers new boat only 37 hours on motor.
2017 Bennington 22ssrx
115 Yamaha
karavan Trailer
2014 Chev tahoe
_________________________
Port Of Bismarck ND
115 Yamaha
karavan Trailer
2014 Chev tahoe
_________________________
Port Of Bismarck ND
Re: Bimini top issues
How far down the side is the struts located?
by gate not working are the talking about the front gate, because sides would close up gap if moved?
Look down outside of boat, can you see side bulging at the strut?
If so maybe they can only move both sides in ONLY at the strut mount area?
Just throwing ideas out, any pictures?
How far is it off?
by gate not working are the talking about the front gate, because sides would close up gap if moved?
Look down outside of boat, can you see side bulging at the strut?
If so maybe they can only move both sides in ONLY at the strut mount area?
Just throwing ideas out, any pictures?
How far is it off?
Check out "Dudes" site www.whereisdude.com
Re: Bimini top issues
I will post pictures soon. The sides look straight. They are talking the front and back gate wouldn't work right.
2017 Bennington 22ssrx
115 Yamaha
karavan Trailer
2014 Chev tahoe
_________________________
Port Of Bismarck ND
115 Yamaha
karavan Trailer
2014 Chev tahoe
_________________________
Port Of Bismarck ND
Re: Bimini top issues
Sorry it took so long also bad pics as cover is kn
- Attachments
-
- 20180626_161806.jpg (1.96 MiB) Viewed 3729 times
-
- 20180626_161716.jpg (1.96 MiB) Viewed 3729 times
2017 Bennington 22ssrx
115 Yamaha
karavan Trailer
2014 Chev tahoe
_________________________
Port Of Bismarck ND
115 Yamaha
karavan Trailer
2014 Chev tahoe
_________________________
Port Of Bismarck ND
Re: Bimini top issues
Other side
- Attachments
-
- 20180626_161942.jpg (1.87 MiB) Viewed 3729 times
2017 Bennington 22ssrx
115 Yamaha
karavan Trailer
2014 Chev tahoe
_________________________
Port Of Bismarck ND
115 Yamaha
karavan Trailer
2014 Chev tahoe
_________________________
Port Of Bismarck ND
Re: Bimini top issues
Dont know what to do
- Attachments
-
- 20180626_161928.jpg (1.81 MiB) Viewed 3729 times
2017 Bennington 22ssrx
115 Yamaha
karavan Trailer
2014 Chev tahoe
_________________________
Port Of Bismarck ND
115 Yamaha
karavan Trailer
2014 Chev tahoe
_________________________
Port Of Bismarck ND
Re: Bimini top issues
Does this boil down to the top frame is wider than your fence width? I've noticed when shopping bimini top frames there's a lot of manufacturers with a "one size fits all" mentality where frames are formed wide enough to fit a 8.5' wide deck and to mount to a 8' deck you just flex the frame & stuff the ends in the brackets. Most ads for pontoon tops say it fits 88-102"--that's quite a range.
You can't tell when it's up but I'm not a fan of how it looks when the hoops are wider than the fence when stowed. On my rather old 'toon one side rests on the fence parallel on one side, with all the overhang on the other side.
I'm sorry if I'm mis-interpreting your post. The pictures look to me to be this issue. In any case it does look to be a very nice frame!
You can't tell when it's up but I'm not a fan of how it looks when the hoops are wider than the fence when stowed. On my rather old 'toon one side rests on the fence parallel on one side, with all the overhang on the other side.
I'm sorry if I'm mis-interpreting your post. The pictures look to me to be this issue. In any case it does look to be a very nice frame!
Mark
1996 Sweetwater 180EX + Johnson 40
Rush Lake, Atlanta, MI
1996 Sweetwater 180EX + Johnson 40
Rush Lake, Atlanta, MI
Re: Bimini top issues
It appears to me that someone screwed up when measuring and drilling the railing for the bemini top. Instead of being straight across from one another one side is drilled a bit forward or backward from where it should of been. I'd loosen one of the side rail mounts and adjust it to where the bemini lays and looks right and mark and re-drill for the mounting bracket and hopefully the bracket will cover up the bad one.
Respect Our Recreational Resources
Leaving Only "The Footprints of Your Passing"
Boating the Muskingum River
1972 35' Crest Pontoon Houseboat
2007 90 hp. Yamaha
Leaving Only "The Footprints of Your Passing"
Boating the Muskingum River
1972 35' Crest Pontoon Houseboat
2007 90 hp. Yamaha
Re: Bimini top issues
Bennington wants to move the fence and furniture in. I agree something was manufactured incorrectly. This is the second frame the company put on. I told them I dont want more holes in the fence. I am also worried about the gates not closing if they move the fence in.
2017 Bennington 22ssrx
115 Yamaha
karavan Trailer
2014 Chev tahoe
_________________________
Port Of Bismarck ND
115 Yamaha
karavan Trailer
2014 Chev tahoe
_________________________
Port Of Bismarck ND
Re: Bimini top issues
Okay dealer called me with some options Bennington is going to send them the build schematics. There is a brace they can put in. Better be hidden. Also they are going to look at gaps and see if the rail needs to be moved. If the dealer cannot fix it the boat will go back to benningtons plant to be fixed. This is progress at.least we finally have options. Plus the owner of the dealership contacted me personally. That impressed me. Bennington standing behind its boat is awesome also the reason why I chose them.
2017 Bennington 22ssrx
115 Yamaha
karavan Trailer
2014 Chev tahoe
_________________________
Port Of Bismarck ND
115 Yamaha
karavan Trailer
2014 Chev tahoe
_________________________
Port Of Bismarck ND
Re: Bimini top issues
From what you say about pushing the struts out for the top to fit in the brackets and the pictures show, it looks like a top could be made a few inches wider a lot easier than moving the fencing.
2020 Bennington 23 SSRXP Mercury 250 Pro XS
www.mtboats.com - Links to all types of powerboat resources
www.mtboats.com - Links to all types of powerboat resources
Re: Bimini top issues
Interesting, i am glad you have progress moving forward with this, you would think factory would have thier vendors dialed in better and QC would be on top of this
Check out "Dudes" site www.whereisdude.com
Re: Bimini top issues
Rbtnt that is what I was requesting make a top to fit my toon. I was told no. And quality control look at my older post about build quality. Everything has been fixed just had issues
2017 Bennington 22ssrx
115 Yamaha
karavan Trailer
2014 Chev tahoe
_________________________
Port Of Bismarck ND
115 Yamaha
karavan Trailer
2014 Chev tahoe
_________________________
Port Of Bismarck ND
Re: Bimini top issues
if possible, I would take several measurements yourself of the railings and the top for width. Then I would go to the dealer and find a similar boat where the top and railing match up and measure them to see where the difference may be.
On my last fiberglass boat I had the bimini top made so the cross members would slide on a channel to shorten up the width by 6" for storage. When I would put up the top up I would slide the uprights apart for full width. The channel had buttons to lock in place on full width and for storage (narrow width) the tubing on the channels butted up against each other. It sounds complicated, but it was really simple.
On my last fiberglass boat I had the bimini top made so the cross members would slide on a channel to shorten up the width by 6" for storage. When I would put up the top up I would slide the uprights apart for full width. The channel had buttons to lock in place on full width and for storage (narrow width) the tubing on the channels butted up against each other. It sounds complicated, but it was really simple.
2020 Bennington 23 SSRXP Mercury 250 Pro XS
www.mtboats.com - Links to all types of powerboat resources
www.mtboats.com - Links to all types of powerboat resources
Re: Bimini top issues
I did measure the rails that's how bennington knew the fence was to wide. I sit at 101 wear most were at 100 inches that is. Dealership just tried to bend the frame if the bimini top to make it work better. It still wasnt right I had a tape measure on me and just started checking myself. Scott my salesman walked with me and we found several others that has the same issue. But not at bad.
2017 Bennington 22ssrx
115 Yamaha
karavan Trailer
2014 Chev tahoe
_________________________
Port Of Bismarck ND
115 Yamaha
karavan Trailer
2014 Chev tahoe
_________________________
Port Of Bismarck ND