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my $40 bimini top...
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STANG KILLA SS
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PostPosted: Jun 30, 2009 6:12 am    Post subject: my $40 bimini top... Reply with quote

well for the last couple of weeks the average highs have been 102-104 Shocked , and with us riding 20-25 hours a week the 50 spf just wasnt cutting it anymore it was miserably hot and we had to do something, we were just getting roasted.
monster tower wanted like $500 for a bimini, that was crazy money and wouldnt really work well on my little boat.
so we set out to make our own.

2x: 10' x 1/2" galvanized conduit $1.97 each
4x: 1/2" 90* elbows $2.50 each
2x: white hobby lobby canvas $6.99 yard
1x: misc gromets and zipties $10?

i got the frame measured, cut, and made. test fited it and then took it and the canvas over to pops' house and had him sew up the canvas and install the groments. then back to my place and installed it.
wow what a difference. its SO much cooler and enjoyable on the boat now. night and day. we tryed it out saterday and sunday and it worked great. really glad we did it. just thought id share.






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bjeremi
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PostPosted: Jun 30, 2009 6:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Damn good job!
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get_sum
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PostPosted: Jun 30, 2009 6:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Idea stolen... I'm gonna do that next week when I'm off. I just need to find a sewing machine. Did he just fold it around to double it up and sew it, then pop the grommets through the double up?

Did they have any other colors? I might cut my stock bimini fabric to make it. How does it hold up in the wind? Have you trailered it or do you just put new zip ties on it each time?

Damn.. I'm in awe... nice job...

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browneye253
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PostPosted: Jun 30, 2009 7:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I agree... that's a slick looking top for only $40 bucks. Great job man.
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STANG KILLA SS
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PostPosted: Jun 30, 2009 7:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

yeah on the leading edge we just folded it over createing a sleeve for the front bar to slide into. on the other three sides we just folded the edge over for thickness and did the gromets.
yes they had other colors.
holds up great in the wind, we left some gap in the fabric on the 3 gromet sides so i could tighten it over time
im sure some would gripe about the zip ties, but i just didnt want to drill that beautiful tower Cool
i tow it at 65 mph with it on. drive is about 25 minute i would guess.

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turbohoje
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PostPosted: Jun 30, 2009 9:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

great job!
can you stand up in your boat? i installed my tower scrunched a little so that i wouldnt hit my head on the crossbar (not the towing one). i presume that the floor/edges of your boat are setup differently than mine.

would this give enough shade in your opinion?

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STANG KILLA SS
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PostPosted: Jun 30, 2009 10:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

yeah im 5'-10" and can stand in the driver seat even with the top.
when directly under the top i can stand up by just tilting my head a tad.
it also prevents everyone from banging there heads on the speakers now. haha

cool idea. it had crossed my mind. but with such a small top (the pics are decieving becuase my boat is so tiny) the lower position works MUCH better in giving actual shade. your taller and narrower position looses most of the shade any other time than noon.
to give you an idea the top is actually only 60" x 30". like i said the boat is small, 6' wide Shocked
i put alot of thought into it and threw around different ideas before going with this. we love it!

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NKCrider
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PostPosted: Jun 30, 2009 11:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

STANG KILLA SS, how much does that sack in the back of your boat sink it down? i have a 1980 SN and was wondering cuz i only have like a 18 inches of freeboard...
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STANG KILLA SS
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PostPosted: Jun 30, 2009 12:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

its two 250 pound sacks. 500 total. i set them right next to the dog house, i never really paid much attention but id say it sinks the swim platform 3" or so?
definatly a noticable difference in the wake for sure.
thats the advantage to a small light boat. smaller weights make a much bigger impact on the wake size.
im getting ready to upgrade to a pair of 440 lb sacks. well see how well it pulls that off.

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get_sum
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PostPosted: Jun 30, 2009 1:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Okay.. I'm making one tomorrow. I'm thinking of a layout like this though...



Bimini top.jpg

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STANG KILLA SS
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PostPosted: Jun 30, 2009 1:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

sweet! cant wait to see all the tops ive inspired!
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NKCrider
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PostPosted: Jun 30, 2009 1:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

STANG KILLA SS wrote:
sweet! cant wait to see all the tops ive inspired!


i was thinking of making a similar one on my SN lol

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get_sum
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PostPosted: Jun 30, 2009 2:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

STANG KILLA SS, I might try these once I get the top all dialed in and put together. It looks like it bolts to your tower then the bimini is drilled and the wing nut secures it to the clamp. http://www.diywake.com/shop/shopexd.asp?id=567
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Okie Boarder
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PostPosted: Jun 30, 2009 2:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Looks good man! Good job for the price...real nice.
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STANG KILLA SS
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PostPosted: Jun 30, 2009 4:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

get_sum: those look nice! would have cost me $80 just for clamps but damn nice!
who knows maybe down the road ill upgrade to those.

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Wakeboarder3780
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PostPosted: Jun 30, 2009 4:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

looks good guys, can't beat 40 bucks anyway you cut it. If only my ladies 100 dollar walmart sewing machine didn't break after 30 mins of use...
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bishab
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PostPosted: Jul 01, 2009 2:00 am    Post subject: top Reply with quote

Here is the top I had made for my old outback. It was made so I would not have to remove it to tow the boat to and from teh lake and was also on top of the tower for plenty of head room.





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turbohoje
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PostPosted: Jul 01, 2009 1:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

wow its beautiful
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get_sum
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PostPosted: Jul 01, 2009 6:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

1/3 done with grommets... my little man had to go to sleep, so no more bangging tonight...



first and worst seam..



last and of course best stitches..



The frame.. sanded, cleaned, primered and painted...



When it's done tomorrow, I'll add a finished pic...

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STANG KILLA SS
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PostPosted: Jul 02, 2009 6:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

sweet! your taking it to the next level with some color. will be nice for sure!
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jixxxer
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PostPosted: Jul 02, 2009 7:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

nice job guy; I may give it a try.
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texguy2124
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PostPosted: Jul 02, 2009 8:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

STANG KILLA SS & GET SUM- Those are really nice looking. Job well done. Heres mine I had the dealer put on before I picked it up. STANG ur right Texas weather is a killer. I couldn't be on the water without mine.



Cover.jpg

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_bruky
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PostPosted: Jul 02, 2009 11:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Stang, I actually like yours more than mine with the web of bracing and brackets on the tower. I would like to make one for my older SAN that extends a little farther back than my existing bimini. I was looking into having one custom made in the longer length for my '09, but unlike the '04, the '09 FCT has very limited mounting area to support a longer bimini. Sad
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HHI Dave
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PostPosted: Jul 04, 2009 9:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Fantastic ideas in here. One question, do any of you fold your towers? I keep my boat in my garage so the Monster stays collapsed when not in use.
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PostPosted: Jul 04, 2009 12:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

yeah.. Just 4 zip ties.. every time you put it in and out. Although, I won't be putting the homemade top each and every time I take mine out.. just on the REALLY hot days that we're out during the midday sun.
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PYTHONLAF
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PostPosted: Aug 20, 2009 8:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

That looks really cool im thinking of making one today and tomorrow to have ready for the weekend. Laughing Laughing
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STANG KILLA SS
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PostPosted: Aug 20, 2009 10:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

HHI, naa boat stores in the backyard so the tower is always up.

im actually starting on version 3 of this bimini lol

V1 (in the pics) after a month or two, the idiot driver(read...me Embarassed ) wasnt watching the rope and when i went to yank audrey up for her pass, the rope snaged on one of the little setscrews in the corner elbows and yanked it out ripping the canvas to shreds and bending the poles. Crying or Very sad

V2. replica of V1, 2nd day driving to lake clamp came loose and the wind wiplashed it enough it finally riped the canvas and bent the rear and side pole.

V3. im working on now. similiar frame. probly 6" longer towards the rear this time. and canvas will be permanatly attached to the front bar as it is now. but for traveling to the lake (65mph) it will be bunched and bungeed to the front bar, then once to the lake pulled out and use quick bungee balls to attach side and rear of canvas to bars. that way the wind while driving to the lake isnt making the top like a big wing trying to rip it to shreds. i also noticed without the top up while traveling to the lake i get better gas milage and easier towing. i guess it was more drag than i had guessed. Cool

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PYTHONLAF
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PostPosted: Aug 20, 2009 4:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

STANG KILLA SS wrote:
HHI, naa boat stores in the backyard so the tower is always up.

im actually starting on version 3 of this bimini lol

V1 (in the pics) after a month or two, the idiot driver(read...me Embarassed ) wasnt watching the rope and when i went to yank audrey up for her pass, the rope snaged on one of the little setscrews in the corner elbows and yanked it out ripping the canvas to shreds and bending the poles. Crying or Very sad

V2. replica of V1, 2nd day driving to lake clamp came loose and the wind wiplashed it enough it finally riped the canvas and bent the rear and side pole.

V3. im working on now. similiar frame. probly 6" longer towards the rear this time. and canvas will be permanatly attached to the front bar as it is now. but for traveling to the lake (65mph) it will be bunched and bungeed to the front bar, then once to the lake pulled out and use quick bungee balls to attach side and rear of canvas to bars. that way the wind while driving to the lake isnt making the top like a big wing trying to rip it to shreds. i also noticed without the top up while traveling to the lake i get better gas milage and easier towing. i guess it was more drag than i had guessed. Cool
I was thinking of putting 2 pipes in the middle where it will attach to the 2 pipes on the top of my tower but i cant find any T's that will fit the conduit any suggestions?
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LS1_SE7EN
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PostPosted: Aug 20, 2009 4:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Looks good!

Wish I would have seen this before I spent $400 on my bimini. lol.
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STANG KILLA SS
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PostPosted: Aug 20, 2009 6:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

LS1_SE7EN wrote:


you the same guy from RCC?

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PostPosted: Aug 20, 2009 6:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I really hate putting mine up and down its a big pain in the ass, I think it would be cool to make a hard plastic one with like a cotter pin setup so it would be a quick detach.
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LS1_SE7EN
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PostPosted: Aug 21, 2009 2:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

STANG KILLA SS wrote:
LS1_SE7EN wrote:


you the same guy from RCC?


Whats RCC? I'm on a few other boards, but don't recall any of them starting with an r. lol
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AbsoluteZero
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PostPosted: Sep 21, 2009 1:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

where's the version 3 pics? I'd like to see the new stuff
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STANG KILLA SS
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PostPosted: Sep 29, 2009 10:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

never finished it. sold the boat. Embarassed
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smitty1258
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PostPosted: Jun 28, 2010 4:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

bump for anymore homemade pics. Looking into doing something similar.
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