Bimini Installation w/MT2 Monster Tower

[SeaRay]

I ordered a bimini top for my boat that should arrive tomorrow.

My boats has a MT2 Monster Tower on it and due to the swooping legs it really gets narrow at the top compared to the deck width.

I am sure I am going to have to do some modifying to get this to work.

I can play around with the mounting location on the windshield which will change height and base width.

I am just wondering if anyone else ever had to modify a bimini top to get it to fit on their boat.

I may even have to bend the poles to get the correct width.

Any advice before I start will be appreciated.

 

[browneye253]

I think your best bet would have been to purchase the bimini top through monster. I think billandamy purchased his mt2 and bimini from there and had no problems getting it to work. He sold his OEM bimini to help defray some of the costs from the new one. I'm pretty sure monster gets theirs from great lakes as well just like the OEM ones.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Before you start, just something else to think about. IF you're able to cut and re-bend the poles to get it to fit (and don't forget that the bimini get's taller while you're opening it because of the "arc" that it open in) you'll also have to have the actual canvas re-done, too.

 

[SeaRay]

Browneye, I checked with Monster Tower and didn't have much luck.

They told me the only tops they have that will work with the MT2 are their cargo racks. They are $700, you have to drill holes in your tower, they do not fold up while out on the boat and I don't like the looks of them as much as the conventional bimini's. The fact that you can store stuff up there is nice though. They only guaranteed their other bimini's would fit on the MT1 towers and they are non-returnable.

Lazy Daze, I shouldn't have to modify the cover. It should just come down slightly lower over the outside legs. Which is fine, it will just offer a little more shade from the side. I am not going real drastic so there shouldn't be much of a change.

And, I don't follow you on opening the angle on the legs making it taller?? With the angle bigger and the legs further apart, the top will be lower.

I got it on Friday and only had a chance to play with a little bit. I think I can get it to work, my big concern at this point is how to open up the angle on the legs without kinking the tubing.

I will probably not be able to fold it up without disconnecting it from the windshield (it hits the tower). But, I am OK with that. Right now all we have is a convertible top and it is down and stored in the engine compartment until we stop. I hate driving the boat with it up because I can't see over the windshield. So this will be a huge upgrade over that. Plus, once the bimini is up we will probably leave it up so I will only have to disconnect it when we fold the tower down.

Just need to figure out how to bend the poles...

 

[Lazy Daze]

Lazy Daze, I shouldn't have to modify the cover. It should just come down slightly lower over the outside legs. Which is fine, it will just offer a little more shade from the side. I am not going real drastic so there shouldn't be much of a change.

And, I don't follow you on opening the angle on the legs making it taller?? With the angle bigger and the legs further apart, the top will be lower.

Sorry, I wasn't specific enough. By "canvas" I meant the bimini canvas might need to be re-cut and sewn for a tight fit - depending on how much you change the poles.

By "angle", I meant that as you open the bimini, that forward bow opens in an arc. So, as it's opening, it will actually go higher, before it comes back down. Just watch where you place the bimini compared to the tower.

If I understand your last post correctly, you already found this out.