On Holiday,

I purchased my bimini top (6' top for our 18' boat)from GMI based on the recommendations of others from this board. I could not be happier!! The top is well made and the customer service was excellent. I got the aluminum poles with stainless hardware and quick release clips. While it cost a bit more for the stainless hardware and quick release clips, I still saved quite a bit money (approx. $400 hundred dollars to be exact) vs what the local shop quoted me without the stainless hardware and clips. The quick release clips make it extremely easy to remove the top. Again, I couldn't be happier!

Oh, and no I do not work for GMI, just really happy with there product.

Kinda look like deepv's is a two piece unit... looks like the ticket to me.
I had a small fishin boat with one. It was nice when the sun was overhead or I had the boat in the right direction. The only change I would've made if I had kept it longer would've been to shorten it a little. I wouldn't have minded bending over a little to get out from under it, if it was going to give me more shade. Some days I felt like I wanted to hire someone to go get the trailer for me. I was just way overheated at the end of the day. I wound up spending less time on the water on those really hot days.

"Kinda look like deepv's is a two piece unit"

It is. Front unit zips the the zipper on the factory unit for the cockpit enclosure.

Welcome to the boards too!

Update:
Last night my wife asked when the bimini top was coming. I told her that I haven't ordered it yet. She said why not, spring will be here before we know it. Boy do I love her. I can probably get the SS package and she wouldn't even know.

OH, it won't be long until you will have a little helper telling OHA "Mom, guess what Dad did!"

That is funny

I concur with the advice to get the largest covering you can. It makes boating SO much more enjoyable.

My engineering mindset sometimes complicates things where as my wife's more motherly mindset operates slightly different. Hopefully that will protect me in front of a judge.

Question, I was showing her the quick release bimini connectors that was suggested and she asked why don't we just connect the bimini poles similar to how the convertable top is connected to the windshield. I thought about that and don't see why it can't be done but wanted some other suggestions.

I'll see if I have a picture to show.

This picture shows the convertible top pole connects to the alum frame of the windshield.

Now that I look at it further, maybe it will be too much stress especially when the bimini top is closed and being trailered to the lake and also the premanufactured slots in my cover will not line up.

BTW, the top is still not ordered and I received holy heck last night because I haven't.

My front poles are connected to the side windshield. Then, there's some straps that connect to the front windshield. It's very sturdy, and holds up well at WOT (stowed position or deployed position) as well as when trailering on the highway (in the stowed position). The factory did it that way.

Thanks Bob, I tried printing out the picture but it didn't print.

Here is a picture of the same parking lot and pretty close to where your boat is park in your signature. This was July 4th weekend 2006.

Yep, I remeber that weekend well. My sister was in town and we were going to go out on the boat, but all the local lakes were closed! I didn't want to do the Delaware, as I thought there would be too much debris.

Try these links:
http://image46.webshots.com/46/6/7/7/2959607070086280688KlCbHB_fs.jpg
http://image56.webshots.com/156/6/93/75/2531693750086280688eNGhlX_fs.jpg

I received an email stating my bimini top arrived at 10:33 AM this morning. I was on the road all day and just got back to the office. I called home and my wife said that I have a couple of boxes waiting for me. Tonight I get to see my early birthday present to myself and start opening them up. I'll post pictures in case you may be interested in seeing them.

I asked a friend if I can practice drilling on his boat before I start drilling on my boat. He didn't like the idea.

YEA! Can't wait to see the results. BTW, it's much easier to begin drilling after you've had a beer or two to settle your nerves.