Charlie Sprigg: Alaskan bimini

M

Matthew R. Snyder

Active member
Charlie, we corresponded last year about your bimini top, which you seem to like. I'm planning a reprise of last year's trip to the Eastern Shore of Va. and probably hit the tidal potomac for a couple days' catfishing and crabbing on the way back. Taking the tin can this year and think a good source of shade is probably an important thing.

Since you have the identical hull to mine (since you've now had two of them in fact...) Can you tell me a little more about what size you have (width and height); where the center mount falls with relation to the console, side lockers, and controls; where the folded top falls with relation to the lockers and splashwells... etc.?

Do you fish from beneath your bimini? Or run the boat from there, and stand forward to fish?

Any other advice?

Feel free to email me or post to the board as you wish. Thx. in advance for the knowledge.

--M
 
Matt,

I think I have the paperwork at home someplace... It'll have the height and width. I want to say it was 66" wide, 48" high, and 6' long, but please don't quote me until I check for the paperwork.

I mounted it on the flat tops of the side lockers, just aft of the remote on starboard, and the same position to port. I have the eyes that the straps fore and aft clip to set up with one just forward of the splashwell and the other on the flat by the square side trunks.

In it's storage position, the top (with zippered cover) sits just at the splashwell, forward enough that it does not interfere with the motor or access to the cleats. The poles are outboard of the lockers so they do not interfere with access.

When it is up the front of the top stops approximately where a windshield would be.

I haven't moved it over to my new boat yet. The fuel fill may interfere with the position I used. Time will tell.

The shade is top notch! Sometimes I wish I'd gone taller so I could stand under it without stooping, but then it'd be pretty high up. I'm only 5'-10" and I have just a hair too little headroom. It works well from a seated position, but I'd go higher if I did it again so I could stand and fish from the stern more easily.

I got it from Overtons and the bimini guy was very helpful. they have three grades, vinyl, sharkskin and sunbrella. I think I got the sharkskin, but I am not 100% sure.

I've thought a sailboat style dodger would be nice in front (for the kids to get out of the sun), with a matching bimini... Big $$$ though since it would be custom canvas work.

Charlie

cs_top.jpg
 
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I think these (or something similar) might go on when I install it on the new boat:

http://www.bimini-butler.com/

Too bad they seem to be made of plastic, not aluminum.

Have the height if you want it (fishing in the rain) and not if you don't driving around in the sun)...

This might be the one I have:
Overton's Bimini
http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Sharkskin_Polyester_3_Bow_Bimini_Top_6_Long_Width_67_72_Height_46_40&r=view&i=29841&aID=14A
 
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Wow, that didn't take long.

I know next to nothing about Bimini tops. But have thought a little about mounting stuff to Lunds. If all you need height-wise is a few inches... Couldn't you just make a 2" or so riser block for the mount, screw that to the deck right next to the "low" mount, and use the pinned quick-release bimini thingies to switch back and forth between the two mounting locations? I bet you could do it without even having to adjust much other than the straps.

Other thoughts: I take it you do NOT have rear support legs, and find that OK; and that you run with the top up, and find that OK as well. Good to know.

But how do you fish out of the stern with the straps in place... can you fish from the console at all (almost certainly not, right?) and if you could modify height or width in any way to facilitate better fishing, what would you do?
 
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Matt,

Yes, the top really interferes with fishing. Fishing out of the bow is the best spot and fishing straight back from the stern is possible.

It is very difficult to cast from the side of the boat (including the console position) except maybe by casting sidearm, and that is not really all that much fun. It interferes with fighting and netting fish to if you fish from the sides. Those straps are always in the way.

I like your idea about the blocks. I'll have to piddle around in the shop some night and see what I can rig up. I think 6" would make all the difference, but I don't want it too look too "agricultural" (as an old friend puts it).

I don't have the rear support legs, I just didn't see a need. I'm okay with that and they are easily added later if I decide to do so.

Yes, I run with the top up. The manufacturer recommends only running with it up to 40 mph. It is stable at that speed.

Charlie
 
Hm.

That would be a problem... we do a lot of jigging/worm dragging with three guys (all casting off the port side of the boat with a second rod in a holder trailing off the starboard side). I could move my mounting point forward of yours, to open up the stern more... but don't know how I'd accomodate a third angler (me!) fishing from the helm, where I can see the electronics, turn the motor to alter our line of drift, etc.

The rear support legs would probably make a difference (b/c you could mount the leg more vertically, and closer to the center hinge/mounting point than the strap) but I can't picture in my head how much of a difference it would be.

And the guy in the stern might have trouble netting fish for the guy in the bow.

I might be able to resolve by installing another seat base, halfway between the capts chair and the stern-most seat.. but that would make things mighty crowded back there for fishing (A seat base there would be nice for hunting though; when I hunt four that's where I seat a gun on a folding chair).

Might be a lot of DA for a little shade, too.

Thoughts?

Walleye opener's in 2 1/2 weeks. Thinking about it is better than working.

On the blocks: Take a look: http://www.go2marine.com/product.do?no=113281F

You could put one set of blocks on the side locker where they are; and a set of these little dudes just above that on the inside of the hull. I think you'd have to spread the bimini frame wider by an inch or two at the bottom when using the upper blocks, but that might not affect its function any.

You could also make your own out of a chunk of Trex 2 x 4, ripped on a bias to accomodate the angle of the inside of the hull, ground to whatever contour you like, and stainless-bolted to the hull. This would stand the bimini mounts off from the side of the hull even further than the commercial part above (e.g. the bottom mounting width would be closer to the same whether using the upper or lower mounts). My blind system's based on something similar and it's hell for stout, and looks nice enough that I leave it on the boat year-round... I use 1/4" machine screws with fender washers and it makes for a very rigid mounting point.

--M
 
Matt,

I can't find the receipt. Overton's should be able to help if you can get the width of your mounting points and preferred height above that. Their customer service is great. Maybe that go2marine place has them too?

The top is a nice solution to the occasional need for shade, but I don't use it all the time, pretty rarely, in fact. It is nice to have if you need it and especially nice for the kids/wife.

I haven't used it fishing with the guys yet, only when out with my kid. I agree that it would get in the way for fishing and netting, no two ways about it. But it does get people out of the sun if they want that.

For the guys, we bring foul weather gear and that is fine for all but downpours. It would provide a place to get out of the heaviest stuff in a pinch. I don't think it is something I'd want to leave up ,and I think those rear supports would be more in the way than anything else.

Charlie
 
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