bimini top on bass boat

[cottontop]

Does anyone have a bimini top on their bass boat?  How do you like it?  Does it get in your way when it is down?  Can you still put your boat cover on when it is down? Any suggestions on a brand?  Was it hard to install?

[cart7t]

There used to be large umbrella deals ( like 6-8 feet across) on poles that folded out like an umbrella and the pole would fit in a floor pedestal base.  The corners had ropes that you could tie down to railings or cleats.  I've seen those in use and they're pretty practical and stow away nicely.  They're also cheaper than a full fledged bimini top.  Try checking at www.overtons.com

[Jig Man]

A friend of mine has one for his Champion.  He was so proud of it when he got the boat.  He and his wife talked about it for a while.  He has had the boat for at least 10 years and I have never seen it on the boat and he hasn't mentioned it in many years so I guess there was some type of inconvenience.

[bass or bass ?]

Although my boat isn't officially a bass boat, I fish for bass and catfish on my boat, and I put a bimini top on my boat last year ,as I was tired of baking in the sun in our Arizona summers. I love it and would never be without one again. Shade makes all the difference to me.Overtons.com catalog has a wide assortment to choose from with all the info you need to pick out what will work best for you.

[cottontop]

Thanks everyone for the info. Bass or bass I have to ask you what year model is that boat and motor? It looks awesome. It must have been garage kept. I couldn't help but compliment you on that good ole boat. 8-)

[bass or bass ?]

Thanks cottontop. The previous owners did keep it in a carport. I only have a boat cover. However, I have had to do some work on it. The boat is a 1977 Glastron Sportster, motor is a 1967 Evinrude Starflite 80hp.

I bought a boat that looked really nice and was told was in excellent condition before ever getting it in the water I spent $2000 to have the motor completely overhauled. The motor is a 1967 Evinrude Starflite 80. Runs like a champ now . After a few fishing trips on the lakes around here I noticed an ever worsening crunching sound under foot in 2 areas of the deck. The boat is a 1977 Glastron Sportster, 16'. I pulled up the carpet in those areas expecting to replace a little plywood and be done with it. WRONG. The plywood was so rotten I could just rip out chunks with my hands. My mechanic told me to replace the deck and stringers. Never tackled a job anything like this before, but at this point I was committed. I cut out the fiberglass all around the inside perimeter with pnuematic cutting tool and removed all plywood. I left the old stringers in place (1 down the keel, 1 on either side 1/2 way between keel and side of hull) as they weren't totally rotted out. The original stringers were pine, and plywood deck was 1/2" plywood. I bought red oak to make new stringers and 3/4" marine grade plywood for new deck. After cutting and shaping stringers to fit in place I treated all the new wood to waterproof it before installation. Mixed fiberglass resin, then diluted it 50% with acetone to allow it to penetrate into the new wood, and treated the old stringers as well .I applied 4 coats to completely seal and coat wood. Pulled out all the old open cell foam from the hull (it was all waterlogged and weighed a ton ), bought twice as much new foam, closed cell to prevent waterlogging. Installed the foam, and bolted new stringers to old ones, sandwiching the old ones with new on either side, Useing stainless steel bolts. Screwed down new decking with brass screws. Applied new fiberglass cloth and resin to seal down new deck and form it to the hull. Bought new high quality outdoor carpeting and glued it to the new deck, using a roller to get it smooth and even. Then installed new high end pedestal seats from Cabela's to replace the original back to back lounge seats. Since then I have also added a new bimini top, Minkota Edge 50# thrust trolling motor, marine band radio, Sirius satellite radio, Eagle 320c depth/fish finder, compass, submersible fishing lights, dual batteries on a 1/both/off switch, fishing rod storage tubes for 8 rods, motorcycle headlights for night time operation, interior cabin lights on both sides of boat, and a solar battery charger to keep batteries full charged at all times. I did all the work myself (except the motor overhaul ) over a period of about 5 months last winter. I love the end result . I get constant compliments on the boat , it looks brand new , and runs like it too. Total expenses are about  $6500 . That might seem like a lot, but try to buy something in the condition that this boat is in now for that amount. It was a lot of work, but for me it was well worth it.       Happy fishing.

Allen

~N.A.F.C.~B.A.S.S.~BoatU.S.~N.R.A.~A.M.A.~

[32251]

You have $6500 in repair expense in that old Glastron......?!?

You looked on Craigslist and see what you can get for $6500? That is a cool old boat, but I would never have invested that much money in it at a time when boat prices are at just about give away in most of the country. You can buy a heck of a boat a lot newer for that much money that needs nothing.

[bass or bass ?]

You have $6500 in repair expense in that old Glastron......?!?

You looked on Craigslist and see what you can get for $6500? That is a cool old boat, but I would never have invested that much money in it at a time when boat prices are at just about give away in most of the country. You can buy a heck of a boat a lot newer for that much money that needs nothing.

True, but I bought it 3 years ago . I only had $2000 to spend. I was able to come up with the motor overhaul money 6 months later. I bought all the other repair supplies at Lowe's on my Lowe's business card , except for the flotation foam, and did all the labor myself. It was all a matter of finances. If I had to come up with more than $2000 at any  time during this time period, I'd still be bank fishing , and this boat was by far the best available on Craig's list at that time for the money. Sure, there are great deals now that the economy has been destroyed, but I'm in a worst financial situation now than I was 3 years ago, or even 1 year ago. Who isn't?

[cart7t]

A friend of mine has one for his Champion. He was so proud of it when he got the boat. He and his wife talked about it for a while. He has had the boat for at least 10 years and I have never seen it on the boat and he hasn't mentioned it in many years so I guess there was some type of inconvenience.

A friend had a Mark Twain style ski boat with one.  We used to family camp with them when the kids were younger during the summer.  Despite the fact the top was there, on the boat ready to deploy whenever we wanted, it rarely ever was.  It was something of a pain to put it up and although it got you out of the direct sunlight,  it did get warm under that top unless there was a good breeze blowing.  They're completely impractical for fishing, especially for the person on the back deck.  

[cottontop]

Bass or Bass $6500 is not too much money for that boat.  I have spent much more than that fixing up cars.  Some I got all my money back and some I lost a little.  There are many ways to look at things.  I probably paid more than half that much in taxes and interest on my boat.  

Here in Louisiana we have a wooden boat festival and you wouldn't believe the money put into those old boats.   Personally I love to see old things restored.  If I would have ran across that boat I may have done the same thing.  Its all in what you like and what you can do.  I have a bike right now that I bought new 1-1/2 years ago and I can't get close to enough for what I have put in it.  I've had it for sale for 2 months now.

[bass or bass ?]

A friend of mine has one for his Champion. He was so proud of it when he got the boat. He and his wife talked about it for a while. He has had the boat for at least 10 years and I have never seen it on the boat and he hasn't mentioned it in many years so I guess there was some type of inconvenience.

A friend had a Mark Twain style ski boat with one. We used to family camp with them when the kids were younger during the summer. Despite the fact the top was there, on the boat ready to deploy whenever we wanted, it rarely ever was. It was something of a pain to put it up and although it got you out of the direct sunlight, it did get warm under that top unless there was a good breeze blowing. They're completely impractical for fishing, especially for the person on the back deck.

Mine goes up and down very easily. And with normal daytime temperatures here being 110 to 115 every day from April to October, I'll never be without one again. And even with the top up, during the heat of the day, my partner and I are simply too hot to do any effective fishing until sundown.

[bass or bass ?]

Hey Cottontop, I'm a fan of old and unusual vehicles too. I owned a BSA hardtail chopper for 27 years. Totaled it twice and rebuilt it from the ground up 3 times, including right after I bought it for $450. When I was done this bike was unfailingly reliable, and everyone who knew me knew that  for any bike run or event it would be there. I probably invested a total of $3500 over 27 years. Between rebuilds the only money spent on it  was gas, oil, spark plugs, and tires. Certainly no highway bike, with no high top end, but very quick and reliable, and a lot of fun during those years.     Happy fishing.