Malibu M220 Bimini

[mfcolbrie]

Hello, all!

I also posted this in the general discussion forum, but thought I’d post here as well.

I am a first time boat owner and don’t have much experience towing behind a car. We were moving the boat from one lake to another (short distance and didn’t really get above 40mph) when the bimini locking pin on the port side came out, this caused that side of the bimini to get caught in the wind and fly up. The starboard side pin stayed in but that side of the bimini frame got bent up as it couldn’t withstand the wind force. We pulled over and bent that side back down which resulted in the cracking of the frame right where it goes into the pivot point (photos to follow). It had been working fine until today when the frame broke off completely at the already fractured point. I spoke with the Malibu dealer and they are saying 4-6 weeks to get a new bimini. 
 

A couple of questions....

1) I’ve looked in the Malibu manual about trailering the boat with the bimini down but can’t find any guidance. The dealer said you can’t trailer with the bimini down. Obviously that is the best guidance but I feel like you should at least be able to go the same speed as you can with the boat on the water.  I’m trying to see if I can get this covered under warranty since the pin popped out. 
 

2) 4-6 weeks is a long time to go without a bimini top. Been trying to find third party parts online without any luck since the M220 is so new. . Does anyone know if the G5 towers have the same frame or of a place which sells M220 parts.

Any other thoughts on how to temporarily fix the busted bimini frame? Thought about taking it off and seeing about getting it welded for now.

Thank you very much for any help.

Regards!

Michael 

[mfcolbrie]

I’m having some issues posting the pictures.

[justgary]

2 hours ago, mfcolbrie said:

Thought about taking it off and seeing about getting it welded for now.

Take what you have to a decent welding/fabrication shop.  They can probably just bend new pipe for you and get you going again.

[mfcolbrie]

Good idea, thank you.