These custom bimini tops are rugged and waterproof and fit many rigid, inflatable or pontoon boats and can be used on many types of boats. They made of PU coated polyester and it is a perfect solution for enjoying days out on your boat on lake or ocean while staying protected from weather conditions such as harmful sun rays, rain, and hail. Complete with instructions and hardware - straps and rear support poles, theses toppers let you worry free as they remain sturdy through wind gusts. A double-walled aluminum frame spreads a heavy-duty, UV-resistant 600D canvas cover over any boat. For some models storage bag for easy transportation and safe storage included. And folding aluminum tubing is great for easy storage. You can pack up and store your bimini top till the next trip on the inflatable and non-inflatable boat. They can be installed in minutes. Please check the measurements carefully to ensure these covers fit your particular boat!
Criteria Used for Evaluation. Bimini Tops/Canopies for Bass Boat, Inflatable Boat, Pontoon Boat, Rib Boat, Ski Boat Pros and Cons
Overall, there are the most important things to consider when purchasing best custom bimini tops (canopies) for pontoon boat, rigid or inflatable boat. Pay attention to the following unique features:
product's quality;
price;
etc.
What to Look for in and How to Choose a Bimini Top
Now, any new boat buyers should know how to look for signs of quality in a bimini. So, let's see what to look for.
Here's the first thing to do: Grab the bimini and give it a little shake. Virtually all biminis are gonna rock side to side to some degree. In fact, I'd call the movement this one shows about average. And this is a 21-foot Chaparral runabout, so you have to expect some movement in a bimini like this. What you don't want is excessive movement. When you shake it, you don't want it coming way out here. That's something you want to check on.
Construction materials are obviously something you'll need to look at. You know, in this case, we see aluminum pipework. That's what the vast majority of tops are made with. That's just fine. It's light, its strong. In some cases on much larger boats that can handle heavier rigs, you will see stainless steel there, but what's really key is that the high-stress areas where you have hardware attachment points, that these are stainless steel.
Naturally, the material of the fabric itself is also very important. You really want to look for a high quality acrylic marine canvas, like on this top you'll see Sunbrella. That's considered really about the best in the industry and you really like to see that kind of material. Now, you also want to check it closely and look at the seams in the stress areas. Make sure that they're double stitched. Double-stitched seams will last for much longer. And, here's a little tip, you might not love the darker colors of some biminis; you might want a bright color. The truth of the matter is the pigment in those threads that turns it black or dark actually also helps fight against UV damage. So as a general rule of thumb, a dark-colored bimini will tend to last a little bit longer than a light-colored bimini.
Obviously this top does not have any clear canvas, but if the boat you're looking at does have clear canvas, a couple tips. One thing, you want to make sure that there are no points where the Isinglass itself rubs up against the supports. That will lead to damage in the long term. Another item is, particularly up forward, near the windscreen, remember the track systems and zippers as a general rule of thumb are better than snaps. They tend to be a little more water-resistant. They don't allow quite as much spray to get through and get to you.
A key design feature I also really like to see is a quick-release system. On this top you can see you just pull a pin in order to make it possible to remove this strut. In some cases, there will actually be a screw running through here, and you need a screwdriver in order to release this.
The adjustment points in the top are another spot where you can look to see how well the top itself has been designed. You want really easy adjustment, right? These straps and, for example, this thumb screw, can both be operated just with your hands. You don't need any special tools to adjust this top. Here's a nice upgrade. Instead of a strap up front, you've got a strut. Finally, you certainly want to have a top that's easy to put up and take down, right? So be sure to give it a try. Test it. See just how easy is it to put up and take down the particular top that you're looking at
How to Raise and Lower a Boat Bimini Top
Play along with me for a moment and picture the scene: It's a beautiful sunny day. You're out with your family on your bow rider. You're having a great time when suddenly the clouds roll in. It starts to pour down rain. Quick! Put up the bimini top. But you fumble with this, you fumble with that. You can't get it up and everyone gets soaked, right? Wrong! Because in about one minute, you're gonna know exactly how to assemble a bimini top.
Step number one - grab the top, lift it up and get your aft support ready to roll. In this case you just pop it out of that little clamp there and then insert the ball joint into the base. Then you need to add a pin here. You put that through to secure it. That side's good. On to the other side.
Step number 2: Release the straps. In some cases, your top might have a boot that zippers over this and contains the cloth inside. And in this case it's simply unwrap the straps, grab the front support, and swing it forward.
Now with the bimini top in this position, we can affix the forward straps. These give you the forward support. You need to pull down at the front to get some slack into that strap and clip it in place. We'll do the same to the other side. You're all set right? Wait a minute. You might need to adjust the straps a little bit to get the right tension. But in any case now you can get the family. You'll stay nice and dry, and you can continue your day of fun boating.
The rain's gone away, the clouds have broken up, now it's a nice sunny day again. As you might expect, stowing the top is just the reverse process. First grab the top, pull down a little bit to put some slack in the line, and remove your clips. And push the front support back. Use the straps to wrap back around the canvas. Again, if yours has a boot with a zipper, now you'll place it over top to secure the top. Then go back to those lower supports. Pull the pin. Right about now you might be asking yourself why am I banging on these to get them out? These little balls here go into an insert. It's quite tight. Yeah, that makes it a little bit of a pain in the butt to get them out, but on the flip side, it secures them really well so as you run your boat, you don't hear any rattling or or any clanking coming from that joint. It's really quite nice.
A couple final tips. Never forget that in high winds or a lightning storm it can be dangerous to try and put a bimini up. You also want to remember that when you put it down and stow it for the long term, it really should be dry. Let it sun dry if necessary, and that will prevent mold and mildew from growing on the top. Finally, when you're towing down the road, stow your top first. These tops are not designed to take the buffeting of a 60 or 65-70 mile an hour wind. You really should tow with them in the down position.
Bimini Top vs T-top
A question I get quite regularly is whether they should get a boat with a Bimini top or a T-top. Now if you're buying a new boat especially for the first time, this can be a tough call. So let's look at the pluses and minuses of each.
Bimini tops. You're gonna notice right off the bat they're a lot less expensive. You can save an awful lot of money on your boat if you get with a Bimini-top as opposed to a T-top. Another big advantage they have they're collapsible - you can take them on and off of the boat, you can fold them down and get them out of the way, you can enjoy the Sun when you want, you can enjoy the shade when you want.
But there are some downsides and there are some upsides to t-tops. For starters a bimini top has arms that come down on either side of the boat they attach to the gun walls. If you're a fisherman these can really get in the way whereas with a T-top you have 360-degree fishability around the top - you can work a rod right around the sides without a pole getting in your way. Another big advantage of t-top has is the ability to mount things. You can put fishing rod holders, lights, storage bags, in some cases electronics boxes up on those T-tops. With a Bimini you really can't mount anything certainly not permanently.
If you're considering a T-top now you're gonna have to decide you want a canvas T-top or fiberglass hardtop. And this is another thing to remember in comparison with a bimini top - with the canvas tops you're going to have to replace that canvas - you can only expect to get 5 maybe 10 years of life out of that canvas top be it a bimini or a T. On the other hand, if you have a fiberglass hardtop, that's probably going to be good for the lifetime of the boat. But again cost becomes a factor here because a hardtop is going to be that much more expensive again than the t-top was as compared to the bimini top. The same thing with T-top covers.
Which is right for you? For anglers most of the time a t-top is really going to be the better pick, be at a canvas t-top or a hard top. For the rest of the boaters out there - you have to look at each of these pluses and minuses and make a choise.
Best Branded Bimini Tops/Canopies
The market is dominated by some manufacturers.
Bow Bimini Boat Top Cover (4 Straps) for Front and Rear Boat Mounting
Boat Bimini Top Cover with Aluminum Frame for Boat, Inflatable/Pontoon Boat
has 13 different sizes and 10 colors are available. Includes all stainless steel mounting screws. 1-year warranty.
Front and Rear Bow Bimini Top (Boat Cover) with Straps and Hardware
has 10-year warranty against fading. Sunbrella marine fabrics (fade resistant, sun protection).
Bow Boat Extension/Canopy/Cover (Bimini Top) with Free Support Poles and Towel Clips
is made of good water-proof fabric and high density nylon clips. Easy to assemble. Rear support poles and a storage boot.
Custom Bimini Waterproof Top Boat Cover for Rigid/Inflatable/Pontoon Boat
is made of strong water-proof fabric. Storage case included.
Custom Bimini Top (Sunbrella/Canopy) for Pontoon Boat, Rigid or Inflatable Boat
is made of 600D Oxford fabric that exceeds industry standard. Stainless steel hardware (nuts, bolts and screws). 3-year warranty.
Bow Bimini Top (Extension, Canopy) with Rear Support Pole and Storage Boot for Rigid Inflatable Boat contains two rear support pole and one storage boot. 3 different sizes and 2 optional fabric colors are available. Fits 260-270/290-300 inflatable boats, boat width 155cm.
Custom Pontoon Boat Double Bimini Top (Sunbrella) for Boat
is made of strong sunbrella material, storage boots included. Removable zippered connector. Cutout for Stern Light in rear bimini.
Wide Bimini Top (Custom Cover, Sunbrella) for Inflatable Boats, Pontoons [Sea Eagle]
A: A boat top's length runs from the front of the boat to back (bow to stern in boat lingo) and tops come in 5', 5'6", 6', 8' and 9' lengths. The most common length runs six feet long. Note: 8' and 9' lengths are typicially reserved for larger pontoon biminis and 5' are commonly for ski boats like Malibu or CorrectCraft.
Q: What height bimini tops are?
A: All you need is to provide the number of pole, the length of the top (5, 6, 7 or 8 feet) and the height and width of the area the top will cover. Bimini Tops range from 31" to 36" in height are considered low profile tops.
Q: How to clean a bimini top?
A: To keep your canvas looking its best, regularly brush off any loose dirt with a soft brush and rinse with lukewarm water (100° F maximum). To clean, a solution of lukewarm water and mild natural soap or marine cleaner may be used. Rinse thoroughly and allow to air dry.
Q: Can I buy the bimini top without frame?
A: You need somethinkg like replacement. Press "More Bimini Tops" button and search bimini top without frame that you need.
Q: Are Bimini tops universal?
A: This product is really universal. Bimini tops can truly save your day on the water. From avoiding sunburn to just welcoming a bit of shade, this item is a great addition to any boat. With multiple types and styles available, the right boat top can also add to the character and value of your boat.
Q: Bimini Top vs Hardtop - what to choose?
A: Hard bimini tops are limited in size and may not cover the desired area completely. With a soft top, you can extend the fabric over larger areas of the boat. Hard bimini tops can be much more expensive than fabric soutions.
Editor's pick
