Bimini top Accident

[Juancjv]

This weekend I took my boat out on the lake for the fist time. Everything was nice once the rain stopped. I had a great time and I’m supper happy with my boat. Unfortunately for me I had a “blond moment†:smt089 on Sunday when I was putting the boat back in my garage. I completely spaced out and forgot that my Bimini top was up :smt021. I broke one of the bars on it (the longest one) needles to say I was very angry at myself for being so stupid :smt013 . I was trying to find peace by thinking it was a rookie’s mistake :huh:

Can you tell me if it would be possible to buy just the bar to fix it? :smt100 I don’t want to buy the entire thing because everything else is like new.

 

[STIHLBOLTS]

Won't exactly say it's a rookie mistake, but it's one that has been accomplished by a few of our finest boaters out there. :lol: It does fall in the the catagory of "What was I thinking". :wink:

Did you break the screws out of the Gel Coat? If you did, that will need to be redone before you can get new screws in there. The top was done by http://www.greatlakesboattops.com/ e-mail or call them and see if you can purchase a replacement.

 

[mikestein]

Juan, I may have one that you can have for free if it fits. Measure yours and i'll check mine tonight. I doesn't have the ends on it or anything, but you can just pick that stuff up at West marine. I've got a 1998 185 which I think has the same beam as yours so it might work!

 

[First Born]

You will want to check around the windshield seam as well. The poles attach to the windshield on the 185 and if you pulled on the pole I bet you pulled on the windshield.

Just a extra thought!!!

Wesley

 

[darimont]

I broke one a few years back from it getting bent and then bending it back, it finally broke. What I did is slide a peice of 1/2 electrical conduit inside of it and put some pop rivets in and its like new now.

 

[sebagoman007]

If it's any consolation, Juan, these kind of incidents aren't restricted to biminis. I did a similar thing a few years ago to an antique spindle bed in a trailer that I was rushing to get into the garage out of the rain..........OUCH. :smt013 :smt013

Bill

 

[Juancjv]

Fortunately nothing happened to the fiberglass or the windshield. At the moment there is only one side that broke and is due to my efforts on trying to striating it. The other side is bended but not yet broken. I will post pictures today. Mike thanks a lot :thumbsup: . I will send the measurements today. I will try the electrical conduct and see what happens :smt017 .

 

[jrcinnh]

A good boat canvas shop will usually have the raw tubing on hand and a tubing bender. If you bring them the boat, or at least the bimini, they should be able to cut and bend a new one for short money.

 

[cr0ck1]

I broke one a few years back from it getting bent and then bending it back, it finally broke. What I did is slide a peice of 1/2 electrical conduit inside of it and put some pop rivets in and its like new now.

now thats "gangsta" but i guess if it did the job. :thumbsup:

 

[GJarrett]

I did the exact same thing.

I bought a length of aluminum tubing that matched what I broke from a local metal supply, then I got a cheapo tubing bender from a hardware store. I simply used the tubing bender on the aluminum length I bought to duplicate the tube that I destroyed, and then used a pop riveter to reinstall the end pieces and attachments.

Good as new and it cost me about 1/10th what I would have spent at a boat shop to repair it.

 

[Dave S]

It was briefly mentioned earlier in this thread but if you want to make a new one yourself, you can get the stainless tubing at places like West Marine or Boater's World. It is called "rail tubing"................here is the link to West Marine.
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...e&storeNum=null&subdeptNum=null&classNum=null

 

[chuck1]

Welcome to boating :lol: Does not sound like a blond moment to me, just part of the joy of boating. What is it they say ("B"reak "O"ut "A"nother "T"housand)
Seriously we've all done things like it. Just some of us will not admit it.
Sounds like you've already got some good info on how to solve your problem. :thumbsup:

 

[mikestein]

Juan, the other ideas are probably going to be a cheaper alternative to shipping. I'll still be glad to do it, but let me know what you find out.

Mike

 

[kev88]

Did the same thing with my 176, fortunately no damage.

Saw my neighbor do it with his bike one time....much damage!

Kevin

 

[Juancjv]

Thank ya'll for your help. I will try some of these and see how it comes out. I will keep you posted with the results. I will also post some pictures.

Mike,

Thank you very much for your offer, but you are right some of these alternative may be less expensive. I will let you know if anything. Thanks again.