Glen-L.com

I was thinking about shade solutions for the Zip. I wasn't going to satisfied with a bimini top and I wanted something completely articulating while being simple and elegant.

So, I could combine something like this:


with something like this:


Maybe not these exact items, but similar...

I just lose the tripod and mount a simple tube vise in my motorwell area--probably at a forward angle. I could even mount a second boom arm to the mic stand for even more articulation, and the whole rig comes in at less than $100, and it stows easily.

Penny for your thoughts?

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Andy Garrett

"When all else fails, follow the instructions." -Dad

You are in the same "boat" as me. I bought a 3-bow bimini with Sunbrella fabric and I just don't like the way it looks. I have not mounted it. My wife says she won't go out on the boat w/o a top and honestly, I can't blame her. darthplywood posted photos of his diy bimini and posted links to the parts. If I knew I could sell the one I have, I would look into making one or having one custom made. The problem with mine is it is just too tall and I don't know if it can be shortened...I may get out the hacksaw and go Frankentop.

_________________
2011 MALAHINI - KICKED IN THE HEAD

I wake up with a 16ft woody every morning
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=534DBtp1Cnc
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/2011malahini/

Problem with something like this is how much time will you be just sitting at anchor or at dock with the boat not moving or with no breeze?

I need shade when the boat is moving which is most of the time! (when I DO get it in the water!!! )

_________________
Boat building can best be defined as an endless series of
tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle, followed by a good bottle of beer.

Don't Dream Your Life, Live Your Dream

this might help you out http://www.boatcoversdirect.com/product ... /start.php they will custom build them for you to fit your boat. also if you check my face book page in my signature you will find in notes a progressive suppliers list that is a on going project

_________________
Don't be afraid to attempt anything. You might surprise your self in the attempt.
http://www.facebook.com/Home.Made.Boat.Building
Modified Jubilee-"Wild Flower" 40' house boat
14' Mr John-Wild Flower 2
32' Supper Huck- Wild flower 3

Rod H

That may be the site I used for my top. My top is nice and I got stainless and Sunbrella upgrades. However, it is still not really a custom top. It is a top manufactured by Carver which I believe is in SC. It is a quality top, but it's height looks a little weird and as others have pointed out in other threads, it allows the sun to come in from an angle. I want a top that comes down low at the front all the way to or near the top of the windshield. I realize that in a low freeboard boat like the Malahini and Andy's Zip that passengers must be seated before raising the top. But in our case we won't mind.


EDIT: Hold the phone...I just looked at this site a little closer. If it is the same site, they now have a few more options for the custom builds. You can now get a 72"L x 35"H top. I did not have that option when I bought mine. Maybe, I'll buy one and try to sell mine on Ebay or maybe I can just buy frames and put my Sunbrella fabric.

_________________
2011 MALAHINI - KICKED IN THE HEAD

I wake up with a 16ft woody every morning
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=534DBtp1Cnc
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/2011malahini/

I'm not opposed to a bimini if it is proportioned correctly, but I just don't want it stowed on the deck, and I've never seen one that breaks down.

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Andy Garrett

"When all else fails, follow the instructions." -Dad

I just went out into my garage and opened my bimini. It is about 36" tall. When I had it on the boat a few months ago, it just looked too darn tall. If you find something, please let us know.

_________________
2011 MALAHINI - KICKED IN THE HEAD

I wake up with a 16ft woody every morning
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=534DBtp1Cnc
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/2011malahini/

maybe you can find something in here http://www.vetus.nl/us/index.php

_________________
Don't be afraid to attempt anything. You might surprise your self in the attempt.
http://www.facebook.com/Home.Made.Boat.Building
Modified Jubilee-"Wild Flower" 40' house boat
14' Mr John-Wild Flower 2
32' Supper Huck- Wild flower 3

Rod H

Epiphany? Who can even say words like that?

How about modifying a "Popup Tent" or Hunting blind?
Re-do it to make an almost flat plane. Removable, stowable and the big pole can stay up or be stored.

With a sturdy Pole, and the Modified Tent sitting on top the Pole, similar to the Beach Shade tree, the only thing that might bother you is wind!

And then you can tie the edges down.

here is what you want want it is called a convertible top
http://www.prostitch.net/Boat-Covers.html
I have no idea what they charge but it is what you are looking for
Added note:
I thought I would clear a term up Bimini tops are not the same thing as convertible tops when allot of people search of a nice cover to provide shade they end up with a Bimini top page and can't find the tops that meet the windshield. The convertible tops give a nice classic look to your boat and gives you better shade.
the link is is not a recommendation to the site but used to show you the different type of covers available out there
http://www.prostitch.net/Boat-Covers.html

_________________
Don't be afraid to attempt anything. You might surprise your self in the attempt.
http://www.facebook.com/Home.Made.Boat.Building
Modified Jubilee-"Wild Flower" 40' house boat
14' Mr John-Wild Flower 2
32' Supper Huck- Wild flower 3

Rod H

Vetus didn't show much promise, and some of the Prostitch stuff looks real wierd.

One of those pontoons looks like school bus and another looks like a German artillery piece from WWII.

I'm sure they are infinitely practical, but to my eye, the Zip is something of a sports car on the water. A bimini that honored the lines would be lower than would be useful as it would probably be lower than my head. To get a top to attach to the short windshield I'm planning (like most), would certainly impinge on my head.

I won't be running the boat with the shade up, so I think a 'leaf' type or something similar using the fiberglass rod trick for rigidity is my best best. We spend a lot of time gathered in floatillas or beached for 'Beersbe', 'Slam-Can' and a variety of other games and activities. As people are 'ooing and awing' over my boat (I have a vivid imagination), I don't want the shade to detract from the coolness factor.

Perhaps I'm shallow and juvenile, but aesthetics and approval are very important to me.

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Andy Garrett

"When all else fails, follow the instructions." -Dad

A sports car you say. How about the top on this Eliminator. This is what I have in mind:


If you are only going to use it while at rest, you have lots of choices. There is a thing called a pontoon gazebo that is made by Taylor that you could possibly use. It uses fiberglass rods like a tent that insert into a bracket to hold in place. They are meant for slow speed or while anchored. I've also seen tops that look like umbrellas which are also made by Taylor.

I'm not sure what your boating experience is, but even while underway, the sun becomes a problem pretty quickly. On our other boat, we never leave our dock w/o the top being up. We don't even go out in the middle of the day too much just because it can be so hot.

_________________
2011 MALAHINI - KICKED IN THE HEAD

I wake up with a 16ft woody every morning
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=534DBtp1Cnc
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/2011malahini/

Now that looks well proportioned and NICE!!

Roberta

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Roberta
Built Zip "Oliver IV" and Super Spartan "Jimmy 70"

Another really cool top. This one is a sliding top and the first photo shows it forward and the second aft. I took this off a youtube video so the image is not great:

_________________
2011 MALAHINI - KICKED IN THE HEAD

I wake up with a 16ft woody every morning
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=534DBtp1Cnc
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/2011malahini/

...and another. This one is kinda gangster looking and would look great on a Zip:

_________________
2011 MALAHINI - KICKED IN THE HEAD

I wake up with a 16ft woody every morning
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=534DBtp1Cnc
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/2011malahini/