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shortening factory bimini top.
studdog	#1  Posted on 06/30/08 - 7:41 PM
Member Posts: 8 Comments: 0 Joined: 06/19/08	Has anyone shortened the height of the bimini top. I have an 18 dauntless and feel the 7 foot height of top is too high. Any ideas appreciated. George
Binkie	#2  Posted on 07/01/08 - 12:50 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 2012 Comments: 0 Joined: 12/19/05	I don`t see why it could not be lowered. A little careful planning would be needed. I would take the hardware apart, figure how much you wanted to lower it maybe to 6 feet, then cut the main section to that height, and then lay the end section on the hardware, mark and cut. All you need is a hack saw, and a screwdriver. rich
kamie	#3  Posted on 07/01/08 - 2:46 PM
Member Personal Page Project Albums Posts: 2975 Comments: 3 Joined: 11/04/05	remember if you shorten the height the top will no longer be in the same place at rest. I assume that the top folds forward and rests on the bow near the railing, it will rest inside the boat how ever far you shorten it.
Binkie	#4  Posted on 07/01/08 - 3:34 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 2012 Comments: 0 Joined: 12/19/05	You can mount it on an adjustable track and just move it forward or rearward out of the way when it is folded. rich
kamie	#5  Posted on 07/01/08 - 5:08 PM
Member Personal Page Project Albums Posts: 2975 Comments: 3 Joined: 11/04/05	It is mounted on a track, the track will need to be be swapped for a longer one. Not a huge effort as you can buy the track at west marine or other marine shop. Remember to seal the original holes and redrill for the longer track.
CES	#6  Posted on 07/02/08 - 7:18 AM
Member Personal Page Photo Albums Project Albums Posts: 2681 Comments: 7 Joined: 04/27/07	Shortening the height of the top shouldn't be too difficult of a task. Cliff 1966 13' Sport with a 1993 40hp Yamaha 2 Smoker
studdog	#7  Posted on 07/03/08 - 3:22 AM
Member Posts: 8 Comments: 0 Joined: 06/19/08	Thanks for the input. This factory top does not have an adjustable track. I think if I shorten on bottom it may slightly change the angle of the suoort braces and therefore where it mounts. I store the boat on a lift with a top so the bimini must fold down easily. Thanks again for the ideas. George
CapnJs	#8  Posted on 07/03/08 - 4:30 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 135 Comments: 0 Joined: 04/21/07	There are brief shortening instructions for a Carver bimini top at this link. Page 5 gives directions and warns not to shorten the short or medium bows only the long one. http://www.boatcoversdirect.com/files...ctions.pdf Jack
kamie	#9  Posted on 07/03/08 - 4:39 AM
Member Personal Page Project Albums Posts: 2975 Comments: 3 Joined: 11/04/05	studdog, you can probably move the mounts forward, and get it to rest in the same place. That would also move the entire top forward so the area of deck space shaded by the top would be changed depending on how much you cut off. Do you want to shorten it because you think it's too high? The main complaint I have heard about the classic tops, is that they are too low.