Riding with Canopy up - 195 Sport w/ Tower

Not sure what you're asking... do you mean riding with the bimini set up (as in, providing shade)? If that is what you're asking, then the answer is definitely yes. I think most people ride with it set up... we need every bit of shade we can get in Texas.

You can see it setup in action in the picture below.
 
Scott, you bet they do. Just make sure you have the "tension straps" attached to the front of the bimini if the only thing supporting it is the bimini frame itself.
 
I heard a guy on another forum say he drove down the highway with his boat trailered and his bimini top up cuz he didn't want to put it down..... that is frowned upon :smt009
 
A lot of people do. However I do not anymore. ( wake boarding I do but that's only 18-22 mph). A good friend of mine owns ABC canvas.... He says that most all his business for bimini's comes from people leaving them up while underway with speeds over 35
 
I've been using mine at all speeds for 5 years without issue. I wouldn't leave it up on the highway, but I see no issue using it as it was designed to be used (while the boat is underway).

If I were drag racing for an afternoon I would take it down, but that's only because it slows me down by catching wind. :grin:

Otherwise, we put it up as soon as we launch, and leave it up until we get back on the trailer.

Firerooster - What kind of canvas is your buddy seeing? Is it Great Lakes/Sea Ray biminis? I know that there are quite a few lower quality biminis out there.....
 
there is a tag on the front (inside) of mine and it recomends not to run over 45 mph with the top up......
 
I am sure he sees all kinds of canvas and frames. I know when he custom built my bimini, after I added a tower. He used stainless tubing and sunbrella canvas. But that is when he told me not to run over 35 with it open. He said he rebuilds damaged biminis due to wind damage that way then any other bimini job he does. He also made my custom mooring cover and told me about not double covering ( not to use both mooring cover and cockpit cover)
 
Thanks guys - this is exactly what I was wondering... I have always "put it up when we got to anchor spot, take it down before we drive off, put it up again if we stop, toake it down, put it up, take it down, put it up........" got to the point where i was tired of putting it up!

I will test the waters with it up/out while underway. Good tip about the twist.

Scott
 
The twist makes a big difference...just one twist prior to securing it. No problem traveling on water with top out (it is designed to do it).

Wesley
 
I travel with mine up all the time. From the driveway back to the driveway. I am only about 3 blocks from the lake and no more than 35 mph on the road.

We leave it up all day, wakeboarding or running from one end of the lake to the other. The only time I have ever had a problem was when we rolled it up, put it in the boot and stored it while still out on the lake. Somehow the screws in the tubing rubbed a hole in the top. Luckily it was the first time I ever used it and Overtons exchanged it for a new one. I have since covered the screw heads with tape.

Thanks for the twist tip...Going to give that a try.
 
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