Bimini or camper top?

[Huron Angler]

I didn't make this a poll since they are super annoying...just wanted to get an idea what you folks plan on doing for canvas.

I like bimini for the price and ease of storing...but the full camper top with side curtains sure keeps a boat warm and dry in some weather.

Iboats has a nice tall one for a good price, I need one like CBK's since I'm 6'5".

I like the newer style camper tops like this one, I hope I can find a price cheaper than the $650 I was quoted.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: Bimini or camper top?

does that come with sides and back?????????????

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Bimini or camper top?

does that come with sides and back?????????????

I'm wondering the same thing myself lol.

It could have a zipper on the sides and back to attach the curtains. That's how my dad's old Sea Nymph was from the factory, only it wasn't as tall.

I like the height of this one, it would be perfect with sides.(even though it looks a little goofy it's a very practical item)

What do you have on the 22' Holiday.

 

[GLG fishing]

Re: Bimini or camper top?

My buddies 18' Starcraft has that kind of top. His is 6?4? clearance and that?s 2 inches over our heads. It is a pleasure to fish out his boat. His cost way more than 650. I would be jumping all over that deal.
GLG

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: Bimini or camper top?

My Holiday has a Top-side curtians and a mooring cover. Really not tall enough but keeps the sun off and weather out. I was quoted about $1600 for a new taller set, made locally.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Bimini or camper top?

I am glad you started this thread Huron, I am wondering the same thing??

I got an informal quote of $1000 to $1200 to have one made by a local fella who is awesome.

I figure I'll be sunburned/wet/freezing for a few years before I have the cheddar for that.

 

[fishmonster13]

Re: Bimini or camper top?

made my own on the last boat it was a camper top kinda , used a big waterreppelant tarp from harborfrieght think the total cost for all of it was maybe $50 for tarp and snaps , didn't sew any of it just folded over the edges and use the snaps to hold it together , worked pretty good, probably do same thing on the new boat eventually

 

[oldbadger]

Re: Bimini or camper top?

fishmonster13 - you wouldn't by chance have a few pictures or more info on how you made that top would you ?

Thanks oldbadger

 

[Expidia]

Re: Bimini or camper top?

I like the newer style camper tops like this one, I hope I can find a price cheaper than the $650 I was quoted.

Maybe my vernacular is off, but to me what you pictured is just a bimini that fastens on the top of the windshield.

A camper top (to me) is more like this:

My bimini was $239 at Overtons 3 years ago. The side windows and front was $700 made up for me at a local canvas shop. They had to sew zippers all around the top edges of my stock Sunbrella bimini.

The back panel if attached is called a storm curtain. I had a zipper sewn in for it but never ordered it when I found out you can't run an outboard with the storm curtain down or you can kill yourself from carbon monoxide. I figure if it's bad enough out there for a storm curtain I'm heading back to the dock ASAP. The rain does not come in from the back while you are underway.

So I spent around a $1000 for my setup, but it extends my season to around 8 months in the Northeast! I'm usually on the water from mid April thru early Nov because of the enclosure.

 

[170freedom]

Re: Bimini or camper top?

Hi guys- I am currently looking at one like this monster locally. They make them in house and they run $1300.00- They call this a "camper-enclosure"

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Bimini or camper top?

Maybe my vernacular is off, but to me what you pictured is just a bimini that fastens on the top of the windshield.

I think that top has attachment pieces that zip in like this one, which make it a camper top. This is what I'd like for my rig, along with a snap-on bow cover.

 

[fishmonster13]

Re: Bimini or camper top?

heres a couple of pics of mine

 

[Expidia]

Re: Bimini or camper top?

Hi guys- I am currently looking at one like this monster locally. They make them in house and they run $1300.00- They call this a "camper-enclosure"

See now to me that's a "camper top". That boat pictured is the same style I'm looking to get. I want a cuddy for overnights and with the camper top it opens the deck into another room. With only the cuddy one would get claustrophobic trying to hang out weathering out a storm. I figure some nights we could open an air mattress on the deck under the camper top and be liv'in in style

$1300 is cheap for that whole enclosure. it's the fabric that runs up the cost. I paid $700 just for two side windows and the front window. They re-used my stock bimini and sewed in zippers. Making a custom enclosure is pretty labor intensive to construct because they custom build them from scratch.

The one pictued above in Huron Anglers pic is just a bimini with a rear storm curtain. I'd spring for the extra bow and material so as to come straight back to the end of the boat and then down to turn the deck into a room to be able to stand up and walk around. That's what a camper top to me is!