New Bimini Top

[SD17]

Hello,

I have a 2006 outback v and 'Im looking to get a new bimini top for it. I have looked around the forum and have seen that TowerBiminis.com is a good place to get one, is that still true? I want to get a bigger one then i have now and possibly one that goes on top of the tower. I'm unable to find many pictures of what a bimini top on top of the tower would look like so I was wondering if anyone have one (with the same style tower as the 06 outback v) that they would like to share a picture of? Also any other suggestions on bimini tops that are longer then oem?

Thanks
Trey

[soonerbilly]

bigairtowers ,akes some pretty good ones too.

[SD17]

I was under the impression that the bigairtower bimini's were only for their towers. Ill look into them thanks.

[trayson]

I like my Monster Cargo bimini because I can carry surfboards on top.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iiKsRGHMGeg/VEVgWLxeynI/AAAAAAAAUtc/ke_EwmW5ax8/s800-Ic42/GOPR1287.JPG

[wolfeman131]

that's a fantastic way to ruin a custom surfboard.

at the very least, get that thing in a sleeve.

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but it would be better to have it in a day bag.

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[trayson]

that's a fantastic way to ruin a custom surfboard.

at the very least, get that thing in a sleeve.

23324

but it would be better to have it in a day bag.

23325

It's an old pic. Yes Brock didn't like the bare board up there. My board most definitely lives in a sleeve when it's up there. When it's going to/from the water, it's in a locker.

Yep, pretty much right after that pic I gave the board some UV protection. :-)

[bergermaister]

We don't have the blistering heat and UV up here in the PNW like you southern boys though... Except that one week out of the year we like to call "summer"

[AkBurk]

I like my Monster Cargo bimini because I can carry surfboards on top.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iiKsRGHMGeg/VEVgWLxeynI/AAAAAAAAUtc/ke_EwmW5ax8/s800-Ic42/GOPR1287.JPG

Hi Trayson. What brand of tower is that in your pic? Thx! I'm hoping it's an xtremetowers (XTP). That's what I have and am looking for a Bimini top.

[trayson]

Hi Trayson. What brand of tower is that in your pic? Thx! I'm hoping it's an xtremetowers (XTP). That's what I have and am looking for a Bimini top.

It's a Rad-a-cage tower that came on my 2008 XLV. it's got 2 3/8" tubing.
http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u492/traysonh/Moomba%20XLV/20160407_133604_zpsjawws3dq.jpg

[gravity]

Great Idea. Nice looking boat.

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[mmandley]

Hi Trayson. What brand of tower is that in your pic? Thx! I'm hoping it's an xtremetowers (XTP). That's what I have and am looking for a Bimini top.

If I recall they are XTP towers.

[zd215]

Trayson, is it below or in front of your tower speakers? Do you recall if its the Medium size?

[Boonejeepin]

I have the same tower. Medium sized cargo Bimini and my cargo Bimini is mounted under my XM9s.


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[Boonejeepin]

Best pic I can find quickly.http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160606/42716f4751b74f20fdb0d22624b10fb7.jpg


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[chester]

Looks like they don't roll up into a boot. Either of you have to lower your tower every time for storage? Is it a pain to remove all the time?

[Boonejeepin]

I remove the fabric only when towing.

The entire unit can be removed in about a minute with the fittings provided.


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[trayson]

If I recall they are XTP towers.

You're right. I saw a XTP sticker on my tower that I hadn't noticed before.


Trayson, is it below or in front of your tower speakers? Do you recall if its the Medium size?

Both. However, the hang height of pretty much any of the typical tower speakers would place them above the trailing edge of the cargo bimini. the frame sits lower than the bows that the boards rest on.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uKxOWa1InYg/VTW61UMnznI/AAAAAAAAYp0/LnKJcQFMdUwz7nJfCEfIRy62QPyctxobQCCo/s800/20150420_192757.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oFxB5xRozjM/VUeMQ1h0IyI/AAAAAAAAYzM/Ze6-TlTdxzYbFPW5EkSFgQikJWqMxw5ugCCo/s800/11163883_10205217167041958_8270856622645747400_o.j pg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Rf1W8033oOw/VU-kt_ulC5I/AAAAAAAAY2s/y6RXMFrlg1Q5V41R2xwd_na7IdoG08qTQCCo/s800/upload_-1

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EyBpN7BLgz8/VWn9r_3t7MI/AAAAAAAAZBU/Trmf9jCmGs8uN0owDEyynbu4u4bnNJtBACCo/s800/GOPR0552.JPG


Looks like they don't roll up into a boot. Either of you have to lower your tower every time for storage? Is it a pain to remove all the time?

Like Russ, I added the ability to disconnect the string that holds on the bimini cover (A knot and loop at each side). this makes it so I can remove the cover without unthreading the whole string. Way easier. I also added the bungee so I can carry boards with the cover off. I use the frame with no cover 95% of the time and trailer with just the frame. (though I could do short distances with the cover on).

No it doesn't "fold up" like a traditional bimini. It does pivot down on the forward mounts so you can get to boards easier. I'm not sure if you could pivot the bimini while folding the tower or if you'd have to take the bimini off completely. But taking it off is pulling 4 pins and popping the 4 supports out. it's a fairly "quick release" setup. Though I'm lucky that where my boat lives I don't have to drop my tower ever.

[trayson]

In this pic, you can see how much the frame of the bimini hangs below the speakers. (I have some of the exile buoy balls on top of my tower, with them strapped to the bimini frame to keep them out of the way).

http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u492/traysonh/Moomba%20XLV/GOPR3046_zpsh2w38ixp.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sexXZBa6ci0/VEVgpELMY8I/AAAAAAAAYLE/F-la6TTMm10Xb6DkSTPX4myUw13XYJn6wCCo/s800/GOPR1309.JPG

In this pic, the end of the boards stop a little before the rear of the center pods.
http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u492/traysonh/Moomba%20XLV/FB_IMG_1463459492742_zpsi43lyce2.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MkcY9UEk5gM/VEVgkXxgizI/AAAAAAAAUtc/U8N3cDwAAnkUFT48JpRJCRU0daigGDx3QCCo/s800/GOPR1304.JPG

So, that's probably MORE than you wanted in pics. hahaha

[zd215]

Never too many pics, thanks for posting them!
I have to fold up my bimini sometimes for highway driving to another ramp, is the canvas pretty quick to install/remove? Sounds like you did some sort of mod to make it easier.

[trayson]

Never too many pics, thanks for posting them!
I have to fold up my bimini sometimes for highway driving to another ramp, is the canvas pretty quick to install/remove? Sounds like you did some sort of mod to make it easier.

What I found (as well as others) is that it's a little bit of a pain to remove the canvas the way that Monster made it. There is a string that runs though a handful of loops in the edge of the canvas. Imagine 10 to 15 loops that are about 2" long all the way around the canvas that the string runs through. On the front and rear of the canvas, there's a rope ratchet to tighten the canvas on the frame. The problem was that the rope ends up going under both of the arms that mount the bimini frame to the tower. so to remove the canvas, you can to remove the rope from enough of the loops that you could get the canvas off the frame without the rope getting stuck on the arms that attach the frame to the tower.

If you saw it, you'd understand instantly.

The solution to this problem is honestly as simple as cutting the rope on each side of the canvas in between the arms that attach the bimini frame to the tower. that way you only have to remove the rope from a couple of the loops and the canvas comes off/on WAY quicker. Honestly it's not the removal that' the big deal but re-threading the rope through the loops is a bit of a hassle that you wouldn't want to do over and over.

Some people have put little keychain lobster clasps for hooking and unhooking the 2 spots where you cut the rope. But I've had great success with just putting a loop on one end of the rope and a knot on the other end. When the rope is loose, it's easy to slip the knot into the loop, and when the rope is tightened, the knot is enough to keep the rope from coming out of the loop and it keeps it taunt like it's an uncut rope.

I hope that all makes sense. it'd be quicker and easier to explain and do in person and probably would have taken less time to do that it took me to write this all out.

[xando]

Both. However, the hang height of pretty much any of the typical tower speakers would place them above the trailing edge of the cargo bimini.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oFxB5xRozjM/VUeMQ1h0IyI/AAAAAAAAYzM/Ze6-TlTdxzYbFPW5EkSFgQikJWqMxw5ugCCo/s800/11163883_10205217167041958_8270856622645747400_o.j pg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Rf1W8033oOw/VU-kt_ulC5I/AAAAAAAAY2s/y6RXMFrlg1Q5V41R2xwd_na7IdoG08qTQCCo/s800/upload_-1

Hi Trayson,
would you mind to share where you purchased the bimini and for how much?
is there a product number? i have a 2007 Mobius LSV.....same tower as yours I believe.

[trayson]

Hi Trayson,
would you mind to share where you purchased the bimini and for how much?
is there a product number? i have a 2007 Mobius LSV.....same tower as yours I believe.

I'm pretty sure mine's the medium. it's the Monster Cargo Bimini. it was on my boat when I bought it.
https://www.monstertower.com/cargo-rack-bimini.html

also, I've since upgraded to to wetsounds rev410's and they are working great with the cargo bimini.
http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u492/traysonh/Moomba%20XLV/20160611_132004_zpszjqeug80.jpg

[xando]

dang!
$700. Definitely not cheap, but i like the feature of being able to strap boards on the top .
thanks for your quick reply

[MI-LSV]

Trayson, does the monster Bimini now come with the clamp hardware or did you convert it to clamps? Look at this one in the past, but did not like the need to drill the tower to install.

[Dandy21]

Trayson, does the monster Bimini now come with the clamp hardware or did you convert it to clamps? Look at this one in the past, but did not like the need to drill the tower to install.

This could be a Krypt Cargo Bimini through BulletLines.com. They have a cargo bimini that appears to be the same as Monster and you can select your clamp size when ordering.
http://www.bulletlines.com/wakeboard-over-tower-bimini-p/262.htm

They also offer the option of the storage rack like Trayson has
http://www.bulletlines.com/Cargo-Bimini-Storage-Rack-p/265.htm

I think this may be the option I would go over purchasing from Monster. It's cheaper (even if you add the optional rack), has the clamp mounts so that you do not need to drill into the tower or source clamps elsewhere.

[trayson]

Mine was on there when I got it. That said, great lakes boat top also makes a cargo bimini. they might make them for Monster. it's worth a call to see what kind of hardware is needed for install.

I'd advise against the bulletlines unless you have a taller tower. with my tower, I just JUST stand under the bimini because it's arched up in the center, but the sides where the support rods attach to the bimini frame is lower and a head knocker if you're 5'10 like me. those few extra inches of headroom on the monster with the arched up crossbars is priceless.

[Gqjeff]

I just put on a BigAir Bimini last week.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v467/gqjeff/05DB5C7C-2137-4F5B-880D-8C98021AF08D_zpsyfdaoxun.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/gqjeff/media/05DB5C7C-2137-4F5B-880D-8C98021AF08D_zpsyfdaoxun.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v467/gqjeff/A6473725-51D3-4EF6-8FEF-7802FC41BA83_zpsn7jwp4bb.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/gqjeff/media/A6473725-51D3-4EF6-8FEF-7802FC41BA83_zpsn7jwp4bb.jpg.html)

[liquid_acid]

I also have the big air Bimini. I like it.
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160623/67650498badd0026ffdac0ffc11763ad.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160623/4728721348048e11f67a95e9d3da459d.jpg


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[chester]

Has anyone tried the collapsible Bimini from big air?


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[chester]

Well, after hearing all of the feedback (not), I decided to pull the trigger on the Big Air Collapsible Bimini. I was debating between the normal height bimini offered by many vendors and the over the tower bimini such as the one offered by tower biminis. I personally didn't like the look of the over the tower, it just was too far up for my liking and gave a less aggressive look. I ended up with the Big Air collapsilbe bimini because it offers a 6' long bimini that allows the use of struts to secure the bimini instead of straps to clean up the appearance. Cost was $570 from wake essentials and overall I'm happy with it. Took some effort to finagle it to the right mounting location and some hardware changes so it operates how i want it to. i will get photos of it this weekend since everyone on here loves photos.

[chester]

Here you can see how the bimini fits with the rad a cage tower. This thing is huge, extending from the windshield to the speakers. And since it uses the struts, it doesn't rattle or anything. I'm happy to take more pictures and offer any more info to people, however apparently i suck at uploading them because they turn sideways.
24766

[Darter]

I went with an Indy Bimini (pro 600).

http://wakeboardtowers.com/wake-towers/wakeboard-tower-bimini-top/

Aside from only being available in black, I'm loving it, especially for this price. It's very simple looking, attaches easily, and has very good coverage at 63"w x 75"l. The cargo bars are optional, so I may consider those later.

24908

24909

24910


Each of the 2 rear arms and the front cross bar can be removed from the tower mounts with a single allen bolt.

24911


Each of the 4 attaches with a zipper, and then each corner has one or two velcro flaps to pull it taut. Very simple and quick.

24912