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Bimini Slider End Cap
lkftmp	#1  Posted on 06/12/13 - 6:15 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 29 Comments: 2 Joined: 09/01/12	I was wondering if anyone knows of any source or person I might contact to purchase an end cap that used to secure the adjustable railing for my Bimini top. I am refurbishing a 1983 Outrage. Below please find a description of the end cap that I sent to the Whaler people during my search to find one. Whaler wrote back and said they were not making them anymore. It is made of metal and I would like to replace with an original part and not a plastic one. I have three but one is missing. It is 1"wide by 1 1/4" Inches long by 1/2 " high. Any help you might give me to find the end cap part would be greatly appreciated. lkftmp attached the following image: [118.82Kb] Edited by Joe Kriz on 06/12/13 - 6:16 PM Larry K Frazier
Joe Kriz	#2  Posted on 06/12/13 - 6:21 PM
Site Owner Personal Page Personal Album Photo Albums Project Albums Posts: 11447 Comments: 452 Joined: 03/18/05	Larry, That does not look like an original end cap from Mills/Boston Whaler. Nor does the slider. http://www.whalercentral.com/photogal...hoto_id=81 The end cap should have a snap on top so the slider itself can snap to it to keep the slider in place. Are you sure you have a Mills Top?
contender250	#3  Posted on 06/12/13 - 6:52 PM
Member Posts: 363 Comments: 0 Joined: 10/09/11	I have not seen a metal one in many moons, I have the same track and found some in black nylon...
Joe Kriz	#4  Posted on 06/12/13 - 6:58 PM
Site Owner Personal Page Personal Album Photo Albums Project Albums Posts: 11447 Comments: 452 Joined: 03/18/05	Larry, Here is a genuine Mills slider track for a Flying Top. The Mills slider track would be longer for the Sun Top. Have you called Mills to see what they have available if you have a Mills Top? Joe Kriz attached the following image: [39.32Kb]
lkftmp	#5  Posted on 06/12/13 - 7:59 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 29 Comments: 2 Joined: 09/01/12	Joe: I contacted Mr Bennett at Boston Whaler Inc. and in his email to me he stated: " If it is an original Mills Canvas (this is the only canvas that Whaler sold through the factory back then)". He indicated I could contact Mills Canvas directly which I did. When I contacted MIlls they indicated that they do not have the part any more, but confirmed it was sold by them. But based upon you documentation the slider you showed is not any thing like the one on my Outrage. So right now I do not know if I have the original unit or not? Or that Mills made two different types or what. Mills indicated that could send me the exact piece for my unit but it would be plastic or nylon. By the way on my Whaler the strap to the top snaps, to the top of the slider unit, but you can not see it very well in the picture. Thanks for your input and help. Larry
Derwd24	#6  Posted on 06/12/13 - 8:07 PM
Member Posts: 1607 Comments: 9 Joined: 05/09/07	End caps look a bit like the ones by this mfr: http://www.savvyboater.com/store/p/12...ystem.aspx Dave - 1983 Outrage 22
Joe Kriz	#7  Posted on 06/12/13 - 8:23 PM
Site Owner Personal Page Personal Album Photo Albums Project Albums Posts: 11447 Comments: 452 Joined: 03/18/05	Larry, Your canvas should have a Mills tag. If it doesn't, then it probably isn't Mills. Do you have any photos of your canvas you can add to your personal page? One thing I don't understand is Mills not having any parts. They still sell the canvas system which includes all parts. Have the changed the part design? If so, maybe it can be updated to the newer part. Edited by Joe Kriz on 06/12/13 - 8:29 PM
kamie	#8  Posted on 06/13/13 - 3:54 AM
Member Personal Page Project Albums Posts: 2975 Comments: 3 Joined: 11/04/05	If Larry specifically requested metal, then Mills is correct, they don't make those anymore. All the end caps they use are plastic. In fact they no longer use the end caps that Joe shows on his boat. If the top is mills, I suggest that you purchase a new parts set, with new tracks, sliders and endcaps.
lkftmp	#9  Posted on 06/13/13 - 9:35 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 29 Comments: 2 Joined: 09/01/12	Thanks for all the help and hints. I now believe I have it figured out. The top is not a Mills but was made by another manufacturer. But the caps were sold by Mills -- so I got off on the wrong foot from the outset. Thanks , Larry
Jay Fitz	#10  Posted on 08/01/13 - 12:26 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 343 Comments: 0 Joined: 09/08/10	Derwd24 wrote: End caps look a bit like the ones by this mfr: http://www.savvyboater.com/store/p/12...ystem.aspx Just picked up a used Mills Sun Top, think this Carver slide kit will work for it??
kamie	#11  Posted on 08/01/13 - 3:04 PM
Member Personal Page Project Albums Posts: 2975 Comments: 3 Joined: 11/04/05	why not purchase a hardware pack from mills?
Jay Fitz	#12  Posted on 08/01/13 - 3:45 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 343 Comments: 0 Joined: 09/08/10	kamie wrote: why not purchase a hardware pack from mills? I still may do that...although it is more than double the price of this one. I ordered this Carver one and I'll see if it works. If not, I'll return it and go Mills. Mills at first, when I called, pointed me to the non-slider hardware kit, so I though that's all they had. I found the slider version on the Mills site after I ordered the Carver.
MG56	#13  Posted on 08/02/13 - 11:35 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 357 Comments: 0 Joined: 05/11/13	What has always bothered me about the bimini slider tracks is that they are aluminum with nylon hardware, not stainless.