Bimini support poles

[SAUZA]

I'm thinking of mounting my Bimini support poles onto my rear railing with some hinged
jaw slides. My question is that my rear railing is about 3" out of alignment with the mounting point of Bimini, will this cause me any trouble?
The 3" will be towards the inside of the boat.

 

[SAUZA]

Re: Bimini support poles

Nobody?
Just want to know if this will cause some binding problems when I try to fold up.
Also I have track slides mounted and will probably drop the support poles and would like to be able to use the rear straps while anchored so that I could move the top to take in more shade as the sun moves. Is this possible?

 

[Silverbullet555]

Re: Bimini support poles

It could very well cause some binding. This was the reason I went with the Taco, ball and and socket fittings. They allow for some misalignment.

 

[blifsey]

Re: Bimini support poles

That slight angle might also keep down some of the side-to-side sway biminis can have. Since you are mounting to a rail, you might be able to rotate the fittings to minimize binding. As silverbullet555 mentioned, the taco fittings might handle the angle better. I actually bought a couple of his left overs last year for my support poles but I used them because of their quick release

 

[SAUZA]

Re: Bimini support poles

It could very well cause some binding. This was the reason I went with the Taco, ball and and socket fittings. They allow for some misalignment.

Do the taco ball and socket fittings come in a hinge so that I could fit over may rail? My railing is welded together. Been doing a search but cannot seem to find a hinge fitting from taco

 

[SAUZA]

Re: Bimini support poles

Oh sorry, see that they do make Concave Deck Hinges. Would have to drill into the railing I suppose.

 

[Silverbullet555]

Re: Bimini support poles

As you found, they don't make hinged jaw slides. For your application and the specific issue you are having, they might work fine. The only way to know is to put it together and see what happens. The 3" may not be too much to cause issues. It might be fine when the bimini is deployed and bind when it is put away.

You might pick a couple up and try it and see if it works. If it doesn't, put them in a drawer for later use. The nylon ones will give more opportunity for the parts to flex, but I don't recommend them. Over time they can break if they are tweaked to make an angle work. Happened to me before I switched to all SS fittings.

 

[blifsey]

Re: Bimini support poles

Doesn't Taco make a fitting with the ball end at an angle (just kind of remembering see them online somewhere)? Maybe 30* or 45*? By rotating it on the end of the support pole, it might line up better for the 3" inset than a straight ball end.