You drop anchor, put your feet up and are ready to chill, but there's one problem. Your baking in the sun! If this sounds like an average day on the water, then it's time to invest in a boat bimini top. These easily stowable boat canopy tops are a great addition to any boat and make your time on the water more comfortable. With our full selection of bimini tops for boats and years of experience helping our customers find the right one, we’ll walk you through everything you need choose and install one on your boat.
- Why You Need a Bimini Top
- How to Choose the Right Size Bimini Top
- Types of Bimini Tops
- How to Install a Bimini Top On Your Boat
- Adjusting the Bimini Top Hold Down Straps
- Tools You Need to Install a Bimini Top
- Bimini Top Color Options
- Best Material for Long Lasting Bimini Tops
- Bimini Top Maintenance Tips
- Bimini Top Safety Tips
Why You Need a Bimini Top
Bimini tops protect you from sun and rain on the water and makes relaxing on board much better. Sure, we all like to soak up some sun, but it can get tiring fast If you don’t have any shade to take a break from it. Don't just take our word for it, this five star review on a 6' Taylor Made bimini top sums it up perfectly.
"I replaced the ripped up old top I had with this. It really dressed the boat up nicely and functions great. I cant take the sun and this helps tremendously! would recommend to anyone who burns like me or just wants to stay cooler in the heat." - Slayer, Jersey Shore
How Do I Choose the Right Size Bimini Top for My Boat?
To pick the right bimini top you need a few measurements:
Width: Measure the distance between the mounting points on either side of the boat. This will determine the width of the bimini top you need.
Height: While standing in your boat, measure up from your desired mounting point on the side of the boat to how high you want the overhead canopy to sit. Make sure to account for how much head clearance you need to get in and out of the drivers seat while the top is up.
Length: You also need to consider how much coverage you need front to back to make sure all the seats you want to be shaded will be covered with the top up. Measure from the furthest forward part of the boat that you want covered to the farthest back and match the length of your bimini top as close to that measurement as possible.
You can also use Carver’s Boat Cover and Bimini Top Selector to find tops compatible with many makes and models of boats
Types of Bimini Tops
Pontoon boat bimini tops like this one usually feature square tubing to match the fence railing on the boat.
Bimini tops are available in a variety of widths and lengths to fit the needs of your boat. Pontoon boat bimini tops are generally on the longer end to shade as many seats as possible and have square tubes to match the square tube fence railing on pontoon boats. For smaller ski boats, a 6', round tube should give you plenty of shade, but you should always measure to make sure.
How to Install a Bimini Top on Your Boat
Many boat bimini tops come packaged with the hardware you need to install it on your boat. Follow these step-by-instructions to get yours installed right
- Determine the mounting points and position the deck hinges on the gunnel of the boat. Measure to make sure that your deck hinges even on both sides of the boat.
- Clean and mask the mounting area with masking tape
- Use the deck hinge as a guide to mark the mounting location and screw holes
- Drill pilot holes using the appropriate size drill bit for the screws in your kit
- If you’re mounting to fiberglass, make sure to counter sink the pilot hole or hollow it out slightly using a circular motion while drilling
- Apply marine-grade silicone to the pilot holes to prevent leaks before mounting the hinges using the provided screws
- Apply the same steps to mount the eye hooks for the straps
Quick Tip: When mounted properly, the straps and vertical support bars should resemble a wide “M” shape to ensure your top has enough tension on it to be supported properly
Adjusting the Hold Down Straps
The hold down straps need to be as tight as possible to work properly.
- Clip in all hold down straps and tighten them as much as you can
- Unclip each strap one at a time and tighten it another one to two inches
- It should now take a decent amount of force pulling on the strap to get it to reach the eye hook
Quick Tip: You can use your free hand to pull down on one of the vertical bars of the bimini top to give you the leverage you need to clip in the tie down straps
What Tools Do You Need To Install a Bimini Top?
- Drill
- Masking tape
- Tape measure
- Bimini top of your choice
- Mounting hardware if it is not included with your top
Bimini Top Color Options
We carry bimini tops in a variety of colors to complement any paint job. Some carver tops are available in a wide range of Sunbrella® colors including blue, black, gray, green, beige and white. Hot Shot™ fabric used on many Taylor Made tops is also available in a wide range of colors including blue, green, burgundy, gray, black and green
Best Materials for Long Lasting Bimini Tops
Carver and Taylor Made bimini tops are made of durable, marine-grade fabrics designed for extended life in the marine environment. Hot Shot™ fabric, which is used on many of the Taylor Made bimini tops we carry, is an acrylic coated polyester fabric making it an economical choice. Sunbrella® fabric, used on many of the Carver bimini tops we carry, is a premium solution dyed acrylic performance fabric that potentially offers a longer life span. If you use your boat in saltwater, we recommend choosing a top with stainless steel tubes, which offer superior corrosion resistance compated to aluminum.
Bimini Top Maintenance Tips
How Do I Take Care of My Bimini Top?
You should regularly wash your bimini top to remove dust, dirt, salt spray or any other grime that might end up on the top. Always cover your bimini top with a storage boot when you aren’t using it to extend the life of the top and avoid excess fading.
How Do I Clean and Maintain my Bimini Top?
You can clean your bimini top with warm soapy water and a soft brush or sponge. Make sure the top is completely dry before you store it to avoid mildew.
How Often Should I Clean My Bimini Top?
Clean your bimini top monthly or any time it looks grimy, whichever comes first.
What Should I do If My Bimini Top Frame Is Damaged?
Most manufacturers sell replacement bars and hardware so if you bend or snap a piece of your bimini top, don't panic. Contact the manufacturer and see what your options are for replacing the damaged part.
Bimini Top Replacement Parts
Need bimini top replacement parts? We have you covered. We carry a variety of hinges, eye hooks and hold down straps to keep your top in great shape.
Bimini Top Safety Tips
Are Bimini Tops Safe to Use While the Boat is Moving?
Yes, as long as the bimini top is secured properly and you follow speed limitations in the manufacturer’s guidelines
With all this info, you should have everything you need to choose the right top for your boat, install it and make sure it will last for years to come. Next time we see you on the water, we hope you'll be looking shady, in a good way of course.
Need More Help?
West Marine is the perfect place to get your boat ready for anything. With a crew of boaters ready to help, we can help you with any project. Find your store here.
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