Is $1000 too high a start point for a custom bimini top?

[scooper77515]

Of course, the guy hasn't seen the boat yet, but he said most likely start at $800-1000, then possibly up to $1500 if it has a lot of bends and poles.

Does that sound reasonable?

Another guy on other side of town started at $1000 and up.

I need 6 or possibly as much as 8' from windshield back, under wakeboard tower. Nothing too fancy. But I want it to fold up and be able to roll up and secure to the wakeboard uprights so I can take the tower down and fold it back for long hauls or for short garages. Sunbrella canvas.

I sent him pictures of the boat with my wife on it for reference. Hopefully his price will come down when he sees how small the boat is.

Will he? Or is this right about the going price?

 

[rwidman]

Re: Is $1000 too high a start point for a custom bimini top?

No, that's not high. Get two bids on the same job. If they are close, they are probably fair.

I paid over $600 for a custom fit, more or less flat cockpit cover. No poles, just canvas, snaps, and their expertise and labor

 

[scooper77515]

Re: Is $1000 too high a start point for a custom bimini top?

That is good to hear.

The only experience we have on bimini tops are a couple of ebay ads for custom fit $350-550 jobs. But I doubt they would fit the way I want them to.

I am willing to pay 3 times that for one that will keep me happy for years to come.

 

[mikeneal]

Re: Is $1000 too high a start point for a custom bimini top?

I had a custom bimini made for under my wakeboard tower and in 2003 paid about 700, a buddy had a similar one made couple weeks ago and paid 1100.

That is good to hear.

The only experience we have on bimini tops are a couple of ebay ads for custom fit $350-550 jobs. But I doubt they would fit the way I want them to.

I am willing to pay 3 times that for one that will keep me happy for years to come.

 

[Chuunthor]

Re: Is $1000 too high a start point for a custom bimini top?

No, that price sounds about right. There's a lot of work involved in a custom top.

 

[scooper77515]

Re: Is $1000 too high a start point for a custom bimini top?

That is kinda how the guy was talking. "The more pipe we need to use, and the more bends I have to make, and the more material we need, the more the price will rise from the base $800."

It just better be nice, tight, and do what I want for that kind of money.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Is $1000 too high a start point for a custom bimini top?

Anything custom is gonna be expensive, I think I paid about 280 or so for the standard Taylor Made one I put on the old boat...If you don't want to spend that much you can always use a standard top and install it like I showed you in the other post..the way I did it the top can lay down on the rear seat, the cockpit cover goes over it just fine, no problem with towing at higher speeds because it's all covered and inside. The slider mounts enable the top to move so you can do this...

there is also a huge difference in price between aluminum tubing and stainless steel....the SS is about 2x as expensive....but stronger and more rigid.

 

[scooper77515]

Re: Is $1000 too high a start point for a custom bimini top?

We looke around and decided that we really want the tubes to swing up and come flush with one or both waketower uprights, then either sock the top or roll it up and strap it. Then when we drop the tower and fold it down, the tubes and bimini are laying flush with it and not getting bent or in the way.

Haven't found one that does that on the market, without going custom. Monster makes one like that, and I will call them today to see if it will work with my BigAir tower, but I am sure I know what the answer will be. Here is the monster one, pretty much what we want ours to do.