[kevo]

I'm a newbie here... I bought a 96 Shabah 180 2 weeks ago and need help with my bimini top. The former boat owner boat an aftermarket 4 bow bimini top that doesn't quite fit without a little hard work and when that happens one side pushed on the window and rubs really bad. Couple of questions.
1. Should it fold up and lay across the back when I put it down? Because it doesn't..
2. How do I determine the correct size I should have and is Overlands the best place to look.

Thanks for any help you have.

[Mariah_in_636]

My experience is that the correct bimini top will lay flat and wrap up nicely for you. As for the correct hieght/width/length that is somewhat up to you. You can have a custom bimini made for your boat for about the same cost as an equavilent top from a large retailer. But that is just my experience so far. It should also be relatively easy to put up and take down too.

Good luck to ya and enjoy your boat.

[WetWilly]

Hi kevo,

Mariah_in_636 is right, size is a personal choice and a Bimini should work with you, not against. It maybe bent or adjusted wrong or something like that, but without some pictures, it's difficult to guess whats wrong with it.

Put the Bimini up and snap some pictures from the front, each side and the rear and any areas where the top is causing problems then put it down and take some more pictures and get them up on your next post and we'll try to help you from there. So let's give this a try before running out for another top, because even Overland is going to cost you.

If you need any help with posting the pictures, just PM me.

Good luck,
WetWilly

[kevo]

Thanks guys. After the holiday weekend i'll post some pics and get your feed back from there. Have a great weekend.

[bpfirrman]

I have a Shabah 180 and my Bimini does not lay flat against the back either. I am assuming that you have yours mounted on the sides of the boat and not on the window frame. I would suggest getting the rear support poles so that you can store it in the upright position, that is what I did. I like the way that looks anyways. When I garage my boat I remove the rear poles and lay the top forward over the bow, it rest perfectly there and does not rub against the window.

[kevo]

Thanks bpfirrman. I really like the look of storing it in the upright position. I'm assuming I'll have to have someone install some support structure for the poles to go into. My bimini structure must be bent because it goes in but really puts pressure on the side windows. And yes, my connections or on the inside of the boat not the window. Where can I find the support poles?

[bpfirrman]

http://www.boatbandit.com/taylor-adj...oles-6461.aspx

Here is the kind that I used, you can pick them up at West Marine or Wholesale Marine as well. You can put them in yourself, the deck mounts replace your rear strap connections and the holes for the screws will be the same. You may also want to splurge on the stainless deck hinges as well, you can get them for $5 a piece from wholesale marine. You can take a look at my bimini stored against the bow in my user gallery.

[WetWilly]

Here are a few places that carry Bimini support poles, just click on the names:

1 - boatCoversdirect.com
2 - West Marine
3 - Cabela's
4 - Barts

Except for boatCoversdirect.com, all the rest carry poles with plastic hardware (ends, clamps, etc...), for the longest lasting service, invest in the metal hardware.

WetWilly

[kevo]

GREAT!! Thanks for your help. I can't wait to take on that project. It looks really good like that. I don't have the nice little cover that goes over the bimini top when in the folded-upright position. Can I just search on the website you guys listed and get that?

[bpfirrman]

They sell the bimini boots all over the place, usually for about $30