Securing Bimini Question ??

[roscoe]

I added a bimini to my fishing boat this summer. No previous experience with them.

Then I cross a wake or make a quick course correction, the bimini gets to swaying from side to side.
Quite a bit more than I'm comfortable with.

It is an 8' long, 4 bow, anchored by support poles on one end, and straps on the other.

How much swaying is normal?
What can be done to prevent or reduce it?

Perhaps mount a stabilizing pole from port gunnel to top of main bow on the starboard side?

Any other ideas?

 

[bruceb58]

My old bimini did this. That is why my present one has heavier gauge stainless poles instead of aluminum. I have mine secured exactly like yours.

Not much you can do for side to side.

 

[Grub54891]

To stop the sway, you must add poles on both sides. Seen a few up here on the big lake, Didn't last to long without extra braces, Straps don't work under way. I think that style was designers for use while at anchor.

 

[Texasmark]

I mounted my bimini to the inside vertical part of the gunwale cap and put the stays on the top outboard part of the gunwale and kept the stays tight. This forced the bracing (stays) to have a reverse angle vs no angle. Never had a problem.

On SS vs Alum, I thought I'd go with SS once on a custom top. After the fact it was a mistake. Way too heavy and in after thought I never tore up an alum. To each his own.

 

[Scott Danforth]

My bimini has diagonal straps originating from the center down to each gunwale. This prevents the side-side sway

 

[Frank Acampora]

My Bimini has the support poles mounted at the transom of my 21 foot cuddy. To prevent sway. I added a diagonal from the top of one pole to the edge of the splashwell forming a narrow triangle. Works like a charm. If you have the Bimini mounted more forward, a diagonal from the gunwale will get it the way but perhaps you can run one from the top of the rear bow down about halfway to the other side.

 

[bruceb58]

On SS vs Alum, I thought I'd go with SS once on a custom top. After the fact it was a mistake. Way too heavy and in after thought I never tore up an alum. To each his own.

I never tore up an aluminum either. Just liked that the SS is way stronger and doesn't have the sway issues.

 

[jrttoday]

To stop the sway, you must add poles on both sides. Seen a few up here on the big lake, Didn't last to long without extra braces, Straps don't work under way. I think that style was designers for use while at anchor.

what's an anchor?

 

[Brian 26]

heavier gauge stainless poles instead of aluminum.

I was going to mention this too.

To the question of modifying the one you have, I had a Ebbtide deck boat that had a side bar from the factory, about 1/3 of the way across the back and connected to the bimini, that thing was very solid.

 

[Starcraft5834]

I installed a Carver 2 years ago, no sway or problems.. I'd concur its all in support construction materials...you get what u pay for generally

 

[caceman]

The bimini on my grandfather's boat used to have two cords which ran from near the outside of the top and clipped onto the center console. He liked to run with the top up and this reduced the movement of the top.

 

[MRS]

If you have the plastic base mounts I would switch to metal mounts made a difference on my boat. Plus make sure front straps are tight with a twist in them will stop the wind noise. One more thing if you have plastic clips on your front straps they will and do slip I did have them and bought straps with metal clips no more slipping and straps stay tight...

 

[roscoe]

Thanks guys, good info, and support for my idea.

Its a Starcraft center console, poles are in the front of the bimini, straps in the rear.
There are 2 sets of mounts for the poles, one for use, and one further aft for when not in use, so the thing is stored out of the way for the person fishing up front.
There just is no place to lay it down when using the boat.
Bimini is dropped down flat when on the trailer.

I will have to do some measuring to see where I have the best angle, and head room clearance for either 2 guy-lines, or a brace.

I usually have one side of the console blocked up with cooler, minnow bucket, and landing net, so all is accessible from both front and aft.
The other side needs to be kept clear for foot traffic.
2 guy-lines may work, or one pole fom top of bow to the side of the center console.

 

[64osby]

There just is no place to lay it down when using the boat.

This is what slide tracks are for. I have 3' tracks for the bimini, slides back to store on the splash well ledge.

The dodger has 1' slides to let it slide forward on the bow for storage.

 

[roscoe]

I've got 3' tracks as well, but I have an '81 Mariner, and the splash well is only 11" front to back.
If I slid the bimini back to the well, I wouldn't be able to tilt the main motor, or use the kicker motor at all.
I have 2 sets of mounting bases for the poles, with quick release pins.

I use the slide mount for storage position, to slide it back 2'.
This places the bimini over the center console when stored.

The small splash well gives me lots more floor space, and is great for trolling/backtrolling, but no storage underneath it.

 

[Texasmark]

I noticed just now that iboats has a sale on them. 5% isn't much but is what it is!

 

[muskyfins]

The bimini on my grandfather's boat used to have two cords which ran from near the outside of the top and clipped onto the center console. He liked to run with the top up and this reduced the movement of the top.

Strong first post for a member that joined 2 years ago!

 

[Texasmark]

On storing, if you can't do like Mr. Osby did, I have seen them stored at about a 30 degree angle aft from vertical, stowed with the mooring cover. Was out of the way and looked good too......worked on the highway too if you stayed under 13' elevation.

The custom unit I had made had slides also and I stowed mine right where he stowed his. Worked just fine. Mine was 6' long, tall enough for me to stoop and walk under, and fit between the fore and aft bass boat pedestal seats when up. Worked out real good. Was just heavier than I had planned on which was a minor inconvenience.