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Otto Throttle View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Otto Throttle Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Bimini Top
    Posted: March-14-2018 at 1:01am
I am contemplating a Bimini top for my 1999 closed bow 196.

1) Do most of you use your top or is it a pain in the butt?

2) If How hard is it to install?

3) Where can I get a factory set up?

I hate sunburn and I am of German descent...just trying to squeeze those mid afternoon hours into use during the short Cleveland summers!
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Orlando76 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Orlando76 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March-14-2018 at 7:31am
It’s either on your off. Laying it forward blocks the air intake and scratches windshield frame and gel coat. Leaning it backwards also scratches gel in one tiny place and gets in way of boat path and I’m worried dye will leach into motor box upholstery. But when it’s up it’s not a headache at all. Storing it seems to be biggest headache. Factory tops with the “N” IIRC are $1200.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Timr71 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March-14-2018 at 2:31pm
I had my bimini top made by tower bimini. Their deck mounted one looks very similar to the facory option. We don't go on without it on and up. But, it has quick release tabs and you could easily leave it at home if you wanted to.

http://www.towerbiminis.com/gal3.html
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Nautiquehunter View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Nautiquehunter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March-15-2018 at 10:45am
When we lived in Indiana I didn't have a bimini until 2009. We moved to Georgia and the sun is so hot its a must have here. I ended up wilh a cheap one from Ebay or Iboat. I wanted it to be tall enough to walk under and it stays up all summer.

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Gary S View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Gary S Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March-15-2018 at 11:17am
Don't know what choices you have up north but down here you can get aluminum or stainless frames. Do yourself a favor and stay with aluminum if you have a choice.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote rolleronariver Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March-15-2018 at 12:16pm
We bought a cheap one on eBay last summer to go on our tower and we love it. I wouldn't dare go out in the summer here in Arkansas without it. Especially with kids in the boat! By cheap, I mean it still cost over $400 but it seems very solid. Be careful towing the boat with it up though.
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flyweed View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote flyweed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March-15-2018 at 1:44pm
Im in wisconsin..put one on our SN last spring..didn't use it at all last summer. I won't say never, but have yet to use it.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote gt40KS Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March-15-2018 at 7:14pm
I don't have a bimini for the Nautique yet, but definitely plan on adding one. My previous boats had them and in the heat & humidity here it would be unbearable without one. A short, 2 hours on the lake wouldn't be too bad, but we usually stay out considerably longer.
I bought a tower before Christmas (Black Friday deal was too good to pass up) but didn't opt for the bimini option because I wasn't sure which type I wanted - hard top over the tower or a traditional style under. Both have their advantages, but I didn't have to make that decision for another several months. As such, I'd be interested to read more input as well - might help me decide which way to go.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ajskier Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March-20-2018 at 10:56am
My top for my model year 2001 is made by Tower Bimini's and it is great. It has the quick release attachments on it, so it takes no time to take it off. I am fair skinned and I have it up more than I don't. I am out in Sandusky if you would like to check it out after I get my boat out of storage.
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TRIP View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote TRIP Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March-20-2018 at 8:44pm
I swear by it. I have the same skin as OP probably (am from the Netherlands) and now live in Costa Rica. That's a lot of sun for a white boy like me!
Both on my ex-2001 and my current Super Sport I have one that's tower-mounted. The one on the 2001 I had up or down in a minute. Because the SS is a bit wider it's a little bit harder to do on your own (if it's really windy it sometimes turns into a slapstick where one side comes down when you try to put the screw on the other side in. Then the same on the other side. Then the same again on the first side. Repeat endlessly....:p )
But anyway I put it up and down every time I go out. I'd NEVER choose one that goes over the tower as that'll give you a couple square centimeters of shade, and only around noon. Lower and bigger = better.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Fabcon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March-20-2018 at 11:39pm
we have one on ours and we use it all the time.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote scorban2 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March-28-2018 at 3:10pm
I'm looking to get one from my 97 SN (same basic boat as the OP) this spring as well. Pretty settled on a ANP based off of lots of reading last year, but still need to decide on length. Does 5' seem to be the go to size for these boats?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote philthy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March-30-2018 at 3:23am
I have a question about Biminis, tower Biminis especially. Why are they so much more expensive than a deck mounted Bimini? It seems they are just under twice as much for similar quality tops if they are tower mounted. Is there something I'm missing? Are the mounts more expensive, is there more sewing or is it just the price the market will bear? It seems like they have less metal and less hardware and a little bit more sewing and less material but I don't have one yet so I don't know for sure.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote scorban2 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April-11-2018 at 3:23pm
Otto Throttle

Did you end up making the decision to get a bimini?

Stephen
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SNobsessed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April-11-2018 at 6:15pm
Phil - The tower mounted ones are special made per tower design vs. off the shelf deck bimini made to width x length. It's a production volume thing.
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