Thinking about two tops

You know the drill..

Moderators: Redneck_Randy, badmoonrising, lakerunner

Post Reply
Message
Author
riplipper
Posts: 280
Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2018 8:00 am
Location: St Augustine, Florida

Thinking about two tops

#1 Post by riplipper » Mon Mar 11, 2019 6:09 am

Extending your cover to cover front of boat.
Just curious, I have a new Harris with a 12 ft cover, would like to possibly extend to cover the front.
Mine does not have a zipper to combine the two but could probably make it happen.

How many of you guys have two covers and do not attach them and how many do zip them together.
I am the guy at the boat ramp that gives you dirty looks when you are a complete idiot and too stupid to know it.

User avatar
steve1313
Posts: 679
Joined: Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:33 am

Re: Thinking about two tops

#2 Post by steve1313 » Mon Mar 11, 2019 9:55 am

If you invest in a second top, you might just be able to add some snaps to attach it to the existing bimini.

In the last three seasons, I've had the bimini deployed a total of one time! We like the sun and if we get too hot, we just jump overboard or fire up the motor and cruise.
Steve
"Serendipity" - 2017 Sweetwater 2286 WB Tritoon w/ 150HP Yamaha
Slipped at Lake Anna, Virginia
Primary Residence: Richmond, Virgina
Lake House: Lake Anna, Virginia

RcgTexas
Posts: 2656
Joined: Wed Jun 18, 2014 6:37 am
Location: Texas

Re: Thinking about two tops

#3 Post by RcgTexas » Mon Mar 11, 2019 5:10 pm

Also been thinking of a second bimini for the front. Don't hate the sun just like the shade a little more.
1995 beachcomber conversion to tritoon with Honda 135 ,

Link to rebuild [url=http://www.pontoonforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=19016][Knot Normal][/url]

God Bless America

TexasTooner
Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2006 8:46 pm
Location: Texas

Re: Thinking about two tops

#4 Post by TexasTooner » Mon Mar 11, 2019 7:25 pm

I have two biminis on mine - great shade for the Texas sun. There is a zippered canvas the connects the two together
Captain StarLord of the vessel Stargazer
Crest 25’ Tri-toon
Suzuki 175 4-Stroke
F150 Platinum 4x4
Boerne Texas

riplipper
Posts: 280
Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2018 8:00 am
Location: St Augustine, Florida

Re: Thinking about two tops

#5 Post by riplipper » Tue Mar 12, 2019 5:02 am

Florida sun can be brutal so that is why I am considering it, but also, when it gets too hot I really don't even want to be on the boat.
I am the guy at the boat ramp that gives you dirty looks when you are a complete idiot and too stupid to know it.

User avatar
TWB
Posts: 658
Joined: Sun Mar 18, 2018 7:40 am
Location: Navarre, FL

Re: Thinking about two tops

#6 Post by TWB » Tue Mar 12, 2019 6:38 am

I have a double bimini on mine that zips together. The older I get, I can't take the sun like I once could. A bunch of little skin cancers later, I want the shade! Some trips we use only one (for me at the helm); most trips are usually both because we anchor and spend most of the time in the water. The full boat shade is nice when you want to get out for a bite to eat -- and maybe a NAP!

My biggest thing is it's nice to have the choice.

:2cents
Paul & Michele
2003 Landau DX 24' Cruise "Loretta Jane"
2003 Mercury 75hp
My Rebuild: http://pontoonforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=26135

"Don't waste brain cells over something you can do nothing about." --My Wife

User avatar
zoom650
Posts: 659
Joined: Mon Feb 10, 2014 7:14 pm
Location: Macon, Panama City Beach

Never once regretted the double bimini.

#7 Post by zoom650 » Tue Mar 12, 2019 8:57 am

I elected the double bimini option on my Harris. 12 ft rear and either 8 or 10 over bow. It zips together. Front needs to be zipped in order to be taunt and stable at speed. I leave it up year round, except when we go out for firework shows. I'm in a covered slip, but it is great for keeping spider and bird droppings out of the cockpit/playpen. I unzipped the entire bimini, laid it out in the driveway and sprayed it down good with 303 Fabric protectant and it sheds water like a champ.

Harris uses two half-zippers. One for each side to mate the two together.
Michael and Laura
'12 Ford F150 Lariat SuperCrew Ecoboost
'14 Harris Solstice 220, P3 tritoon, Mercury Verado 150, Enertia 14p.
prior boat: '02 Century 2600CC, twin Yamaha EFI 200's, full instruments.

riplipper
Posts: 280
Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2018 8:00 am
Location: St Augustine, Florida

Re: Never once regretted the double bimini.

#8 Post by riplipper » Wed Mar 13, 2019 3:36 am

zoom650 wrote:
Tue Mar 12, 2019 8:57 am

Harris uses two half-zippers. One for each side to mate the two together.
I don't think my 12 ft has a zipper, I may have to add a zipper if I plan to do this.
I am the guy at the boat ramp that gives you dirty looks when you are a complete idiot and too stupid to know it.

Gonefishing
Posts: 637
Joined: Wed Nov 14, 2012 5:56 pm

Re: Thinking about two tops

#9 Post by Gonefishing » Thu Mar 14, 2019 6:33 pm

Have two on mine no zipper and work fine
Bob Jacksonville, Nc

2013 Excursion X23 RFC
2013 115 Yamaha
Pulled with a Ford King Ranch

User avatar
Cowracer
Posts: 214
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2014 12:45 pm
Location: Imperial, MO (STL)

Re: Thinking about two tops

#10 Post by Cowracer » Sun Mar 24, 2019 8:42 am

I have two tops. The back one is the original Bennington top, the front is from Pontoon Stuff. The fabric is not connected, and that is no problem at all. I had to get creative on the mounts, as the back brace for the front top wanted to set down right on my side gate. I wound up using the back braces to tie the two frames together. Worked out really well, except that I whack my head on the brace at least once a trip.

Opened:
Image

Looking Backwards:
Image

Looking forwards:
Image

Closed up:
Image

Tim
2001 Bennington 2575 RL with a 125 Mercury -"Pussy Control"

2002 Ford Excursion 7.3 PSD (slightly more than 125HP)

2009 Harley-Davidson Street Glide

2014 Rockwood Roo 21SSL Camper

My Project Pages: [url]http://cowracer.blogspot.com/[/url]

User avatar
sunedog
Posts: 356
Joined: Thu Apr 13, 2006 4:48 am

Re: Thinking about two tops

#11 Post by sunedog » Mon Mar 25, 2019 11:24 am

Cowracer -- Very innovative solution. I think I'd be putting a bright pool noodle on that horizontal brace.

riplipper
Posts: 280
Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2018 8:00 am
Location: St Augustine, Florida

Re: Thinking about two tops

#12 Post by riplipper » Tue Mar 26, 2019 11:46 pm

sunedog wrote:
Mon Mar 25, 2019 11:24 am
Cowracer -- Very innovative solution. I think I'd be putting a bright pool noodle on that horizontal brace.
ditto, very clever engineering
I am the guy at the boat ramp that gives you dirty looks when you are a complete idiot and too stupid to know it.

User avatar
Rick McC.
Posts: 419
Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2017 7:12 pm
Location: Weeki Wachee, Fl

Re: Thinking about two tops

#13 Post by Rick McC. » Thu Mar 28, 2019 8:47 pm

I’ve had twin tops both with and without being zipped together.

My first (which I changed over to a second toon) was a second top that I added to a toon that came with just one bimini, and didn’t connect to the other top at all.

I installed the second top so that it (the front top) overlapped the rear top from above. That way, when out in the rain, water didn’t blow back under the rear top. The front top overlaped the front of the rear top a good six inches, and pressed down onto the front of the rear top.

The pics of twin tan tops in a post above is set up the opposite, which would allow a lot of rain to get into the boat when underway.
Rick

Sights are for the unenlightened.

Post Reply