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#421815 - 07/14/08 11:26 PM Re: bimini built for speed ? [Re: bperg]
Cobalt24sx "Rough Draft" Vice Admiral Registered: 07/19/06 Posts: 455 Loc: Virginia	Originally Posted By: bperg it's the straps, go with poles up front. I second that. Someone suggested looking at the Cobalt Bimini, They use poles up front and have cross bracing in the rear to keep it from rocking side to side. They are also made of Stainless Steel. A 150lb man could probably do chin-ups on the Cobalt Bimini. Anyone know if Cobalt out sources there Bimini's? _________________________ "Rough Draft" 2006 Cobalt 24sx Volvo 5.7L GiDP F5's Curiosity killed the cat, satisfaction brought him back.
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#421871 - 07/15/08 09:54 AM Re: bimini built for speed ? [Re: Cobalt24sx]
Bowline What's higher than Admiral Registered: 01/14/03 Posts: 4110 Loc: Kansas City, MO	Unsure; Sunbrella makes the canvas. It also depends on the boat as far as the strength of hte bimin frame is concerned. Mine isn't flimsy by any means, but I wouldn't do any gymnastics on it. Mine has straps on the front. Cobalt is now using stainless poles on the front. I'm playing the notion of getting mine retrofitted. _________________________ 2001 Cobalt 206, 280hp V/P DP 2003 Toyota 4-Runner Ltd
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#421884 - 07/15/08 10:35 AM Re: bimini built for speed ? [Re: Cobalt24sx]
deepv Safety Officer Admiral Registered: 03/17/04 Posts: 6109 Loc: SoCal	Originally Posted By: Cobalt24sx Originally Posted By: bperg it's the straps, go with poles up front. I second that. Someone suggested looking at the Cobalt Bimini, They use poles up front and have cross bracing in the rear to keep it from rocking side to side. They are also made of Stainless Steel. A 150lb man could probably do chin-ups on the Cobalt Bimini. Anyone know if Cobalt out sources there Bimini's? I'm considering doing that over the winter. I do like the unrestricted access w/o the cross bracing though. _________________________ 72% of fatal boat accidents are caused by boaters that haven't taken a safe boating course. 2001 Sea Ray Sundeck 190 5.0 EFI Alpha I,Generation 2 2002 4x4 LB Lariat CC F250, 7.3PSD
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#422003 - 07/15/08 06:02 PM Re: bimini built for speed ? [Re: deepv]
Vineyahd246 Lieutenant Registered: 03/09/06 Posts: 61 Loc: massachusetts	I blew the bimini off my Cobalt last week, 45+ into a headwind. It bent the front bow of the stainless frame(!)and tore the center pocket out of the fabric where it meets the middle bow. the repair guy says Cobalt makes their own bimini's and are top notch, just don't expect them to hold up at high speed. Mine had straps in front, but I'm not sure it would have held up anyway, sunlight does weaken the thread over time and this may have contributed to the failure. straps are now junk as the adjustment buckles broke and will need to be replaced. I'm going to look into retrofitting stainless poles, but won't drive fast into a gusty headwind again... _________________________ 2000 Cobalt 246
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#422007 - 07/15/08 06:52 PM Re: bimini built for speed ? [Re: Vineyahd246]
Hockey Family Admiral Registered: 10/23/05 Posts: 2483 Loc: OC - SoCal	Did your fabric flap in the wind? I mean, was it loose on the frame. My feeling is the fit of the fabric may have more to do with it than the frame construction. As I mentioned, I see boats doing well into the 60s + mph with bimini's up. They slice thru the wind rather than catch it. _________________________ HF 2006 Monterey 214FS Volvo/Penta 5.0 GXi SX
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#422398 - 07/17/08 01:46 PM Re: bimini built for speed ? [Re: Vineyahd246]
Bowline What's higher than Admiral Registered: 01/14/03 Posts: 4110 Loc: Kansas City, MO	Originally Posted By: Vineyahd246 I blew the bimini off my Cobalt last week, 45+ into a headwind. It bent the front bow of the stainless frame(!)and tore the center pocket out of the fabric where it meets the middle bow. the repair guy says Cobalt makes their own bimini's and are top notch, just don't expect them to hold up at high speed. Mine had straps in front, but I'm not sure it would have held up anyway, sunlight does weaken the thread over time and this may have contributed to the failure. straps are now junk as the adjustment buckles broke and will need to be replaced. I'm going to look into retrofitting stainless poles, but won't drive fast into a gusty headwind again... I'd been told not to go over 30 with the bimini up. When going into a strng headwind, I usually will back off of that even. No big whoop to me. I usually cruise around 30 anyway. Better on the gas consumption. _________________________ 2001 Cobalt 206, 280hp V/P DP 2003 Toyota 4-Runner Ltd
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#422704 - 07/18/08 07:38 PM Re: bimini built for speed ? [Re: Bowline]
Vineyahd246 Lieutenant Registered: 03/09/06 Posts: 61 Loc: massachusetts	Fabric fit and adjustment was really good, one of the straps may have let go first and that let too much air under, maybe. The front bow bent right at the strap attachment point. My wife and must've looked pretty silly jumping up and down on the bow to straighten it...which we did pretty well! _________________________ 2000 Cobalt 246
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#422727 - 07/18/08 10:39 PM Re: bimini built for speed ? [Re: Vineyahd246]
Knota_Kare Commander Registered: 03/31/08 Posts: 97 Loc: Minnesota	Hmmmm....I have never read anything about not leaving the bimini up at high speeds. I leave mine up all the time at most any speed. Have not noticed any stress or had any issues (I have the poles and cross braces and keep the fabric pretty tight). I may have to rethink that practice, especially in the wind. Thanks for the post(s). _________________________ Knota Kare - 2007 Cobalt 222 - Mercruiser 6.2, B3
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#422803 - 07/19/08 03:30 PM Re: bimini built for speed ? [Re: Knota_Kare]
skregal1 Ensign Registered: 08/24/05 Posts: 34 Loc: Missouri	My Regal bimini handles 40+ MPH no problem, but it also seems to be slung with poles that are less vertical. The straps hook to the windshield and are only 18 inches long. I can't tell in the first picture if your rear poles are the adjustable kind that lock in two positions. But in my case, you have to extend the rear poles to hook the front straps on, then pull like hell to lock the poles back down in the second lower position. It stretches the bimini really tight so it doesn't flap or anything. 8 years old and still working fine.
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