Looking for advice on buying/installing bimini on lxi

[Mellow Beast]

I just bought a 2007 LXI without a bimini.

1) For a bimini mounted to boat, not windshield - Suggested width, height, length

2) Best place to get one

3) Any pictures of one installed so I can do it right the first time

[Bobby Light]

I just bought a 2007 LXI without a bimini.

1) For a bimini mounted to boat, not windshield - Suggested width, height, length

2) Best place to get one

3) Any pictures of one installed so I can do it right the first time

Give Paul at Bakesmarine.com a call and he can set you up. They do alot of bimini's.

[arsenuts411]

Is there a tower on the boat?

[Mellow Beast]

Is there a tower on the boat?

No Tower or extended pylon, slalom skiing only

[DONTW8]

Bimini Top is the best mod you can do. It lengthens the time you can be out because you do not have to be out in the sun 100%.

I got my Sunbrella Royal Blue bimini from Overton's. I installed it myself. I am not afraid to drill holes in my boat yet some are. I did through bolt all of the fittings which took more time but it's been on for 8 years and I've run the boat repeatedly at 45 mph with the top up with no worries. Since I put the bimini on I do tend to cruise at a much reduced speed other than when skiing.

I just measured the width of my boat and went with the medium height 3 bow 6 foot long top. I kept the rear straps almost vertical to the top to keep from having too many access problems. It came with a nifty zippered sunbrella cover for stowing neatly in the boat.

There are many kinds of extra cost brackets available for many different kinds of installs. Research them on Overton's to fit your choice. I used the brackets supplied by Overton's.

What I did was buy a top that was just the interior width of my boat. I carry it in my boat folded flat so that the top rests against the back seats and the arms fit tight against the carpeted sides of my boat on the floor.

I did a unique thing that I have not seen on other boats. I put the mounting brackets inside my windshield on the dashboard. This required some trial and error before drilling. My main concern was that I wanted to be able to store my top flat on the floor against the back seat and sidewalls.

I measured 5 times and drilled once.

[ed obermeier]

I recently bought one for my '05 Rlxi from Overton's and installed it myself. Drilling holes is no big deal, just run the bit backwards until you get through the gelcoat. Then countersink the hole a bit at the top running a 2-3 size larger bit backwards so when you put the screws in you don't get gel cracks. No big deal. Front straps go to the front hand rails (no holes there), rear straps go straight down to the bottom rear of the windshield frame. Used the screw holding the back of the windshield frame for one hole, drilled a 2nd hole in the frame to mount the 2nd screw for the strap attachment thingie. Clean install and the straps don't interfere with the ski rope.

I too bought the Sunbrella top. However the top is a poor fit for the frame; frame is fine, the top is tight across the center front to back as it's supposed to be but out from the center both sides it's very loose, as if it wasn't cut and sewed properly to fit the frame. All in all it provides good shade and I gave under $300 total for it but it's not a particularly attractive addition to the boat. I got what I paid for, cheap shade.

Mine was the 79 - 84" wide version, 36" height, 6' long. As I said, cheap shade.

Ed