We kept finding ourselves wishing we had some shade when out on the boat. Granted we don't spend the entire day on the boat like a lot of people, we will spend one to two hours at a time and is generally during the peak of the day.
I recalled a post @TFreeman had done a couple years ago and struck out on my own to re-create it.
Materials:
2 - 10' pieces of 1/2" EMT Conduit
4 - 1/2" EMT corners
2 - 3/4" PVC Tee
Grommets
Para-cord
Double sided tape
Tarp or similar material (I had a piece of heavy vinyl tarp from a round top that I chose to use.
Start with cutting the EMT to appropriate length. I cut mine to fit between the uprights of tower so it would install underneath. Remember that each corner adds about an inch in length. I was shooting for 63" wide so cut my EMT cross pieces to 61". I used what was left from the 10' pipe for the fore/aft.
Before putting the corners on and the cross pieces, I slid the 3/4" pvc tee onto the fore/aft pieces. I cut the 3/4" pvc pipe to about 62", just longer than the inside width of the frame. Goal here is to get a bit of bow out of the pvc so it is arched.
Next I laid out my material and began cutting it to be slightly smaller than my inside dimensions, making sure to leave about 3" all the way around that would ultimately be folded over.
Once material was cut, I started to fold over the edges and double side taped on the underside of the top.
The piece I was using had a factory pocket on one edge for nylon strapping and I intended to run the front cross piece through this pocket (think hanging a curtain), I had to re-open the pocket corners after folding the sides under.
Next step after folding the material and creating a reinforced area all the way around was to install grommets. Grommets got installed about every 8" down the sides and every 6" across the back. I don't have any good reason for the 8" other than every 4" looked like it was too much and I had already marked it out for every 4", so 8" was easy. the every 6" was done because it was about 60" wide and the math was easy.
Once grommets were in, it was time to lay it on the frame.
I used zip ties to hold the corners in place while I ran the paracord through the grommets and around the frame.
Once cover was tied tight, it was time to install the top on the boat.
I sourced these aluminum light clamps from Amazon for to act as mounts for the top. They were fairly inexpensive ($25 on sale) and seem well made.
Originally I was going to drill a hole through bimini frame and bolt it to the clamps but decided to wait on that and instead it is currently held in place with three zip ties on each clamp. I figured this way if I needed to change mounting I didn't have 10 holes in the frame of the top. So far the current mounting has held up to 38 mph speeds in the boat.
Installed pictures:
So far totally happy with how it turned out and how it looks. I have to duck ever so slightly to go under it but once under, the added bow in the center provides plenty of clearance that I can stand up straight without hitting my head.
This winter I'll likely pull it off and paint the frame black, maybe tack weld or silicone corners just so I'm not relying solely on the set screws and my lacing job to hold the frame together.
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