Re: Open Bimini
 

Take a look at @MikeyT's boat. He has an awesome setup on his. It is like our convertible tops - but his is custom made to sit up higher and has clear vinyl panels that snap to the windshield to allow you to see though it. (Did I get that right Mikey?)

I also agree.. the convertible top works best if you are 5ft tall.. not 6ft or taller lol. I put ours up in the summer for the kids, and I usually just unsnap a section of it and flip it up so I can see forward. I also do this so some air will blow in on me because it'll cook ya.. even though it's creating some shade.

Ideally - I would like to have someone make a panel that zips onto the back of our convertible top to extend it out to shade the rear more. It would also be nice to set it up higher and modify it so that it works like a Bimini or Convertible. I wonder if anyone has had something like this done?

Re: Open Bimini
 

Also forgot... does anyone else have issues taking their top out of it's storage area? Getting ours removed from under the sun deck on the Diablo is harder than solving a Rubiks cube lol. Snapping ours on isn't so bad (but I did buy extra snaps for the windshield.. because I have had a few fly off).

I also bought a snap tool years ago for a bed cover and have put a little bit of oil on my snaps in the past to aid in moving them. You can buy various styles of snap tool and oil on ebay. Mine is similar to this one:

Top Snapper Stainless Canvas Snap Tool Lube for Boat Enclosures Covers Zippers | eBay

It will save you from ripping off finger nails, turning your fingers and thumbs purple, yelling random curse words, or permanently hiding that top.. or burning it out of frustration lol. I suppose it would also be handy if you have a mooring cover or any type of covers that use the snaps.

Re: Open Bimini
 

Mine is a real bear to get out too. Best way I've found is to pick up on one side and keep pushing the other down and in further. I still almost have to bend it to get it out. I'm seriously contemplating enlarging the holes like I've read some others have done.

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Re: Open Bimini
 

I have fitted a piece of webbing strap for just this issue.
that way I can unclip the gas struts and lean the sun pad back further out of the way

Re: Open Bimini
 

I bet your boat is fun lol.. my sundeck isn't as big as your's so it fold completely flat out of the way.. but it's still a chore to get it out. I bought a second battery box and plan on doing a dual battery setup in our boat this summer... but I never thought about how much harder it would be to remove and replace the convertible top... I might have to reconsider my original plan lol.

Re: Open Bimini
 

What you have described is the Convertible-Top-Aft-Curtain, available for many 2003+ Mariahs:

Purchase RNR-Marine.com™ Convertible Aft-Curtain, Factory OEM (p/n: Convertible-Aft-Curtain-OEM-A)

Re: Open Bimini
 

I would like the Aft Curtain - but I meant something that extends straight out and works more like a bimini top.

RNR - do you have an actual image of the different canvas installed on an 18ft or so Mariah?

Re: Open Bimini
 

There are many photos of Mariah boats with various pieces of canvas here: RNR-Marine.com/MARIAH.shtml - just scroll down and see the small pictures, as well as the links for larger photos below each boat model.

For reference, a Bimini Top is free standing with a gap between the top and the windshield:
A front Bimini-Spray-Shield and Bimni-Side-Curtains with clear Eisenglass may be zipped onto the Bimini and snapped to the windshield :
In many cases, we patterned an Aft-Curtain as well.

By comparison, a Convertible Top is lower and snaps directly to the windshield:
It is sleeker looking, but not tall enough to stand under in most cases. It can often have a set of Convertible Side-Curtain (and often a Convertible Aft-Curtain) whichsip tot it and snaps tho the boat at the bottom:

I hope this helps ... :wink_thumbup:

Re: Open Bimini
 

Hey Mikey, if you don't mind me asking what is the height of your Bimini? Is that 46"? I just purchased one from National Bimini tops and purchased a 46". I like how high that sits on yours. I haven't installed it yet so I'm kind of curious before I do.


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Re: Open Bimini
 

To make it fit inside the rails, you would have to get one with a narrower width than usual for that size boat. But it can be done. A good boat cover shop can make one any size and fit you want.

The original Bimini bolted to the top of the cockpit rail on each side and had straps fore and aft. You can use it underway up to about 30 knots without damage or excessive flapping. Some are fitted with metal bars instead of straps at the aft and can be protected with a zippered cover.

Also, to be a nit-picker about it, a real Bimini top provides open views on all four sides and is tall enough to stand under. It was originally developed in Bimini for sport fishing.