Aftermarket ~$200 Bimini tops any good?

[guy48065]

I've been looking at 4-bow tops online from Amazon, eBay, etc in the range of $150-$250. Descriptions sound like good stuff--are they? The $600 ones just don't look like they use better materials.
Sure would like to get some first-hand testimonials...

[rockhound]

first hand experience: I never ordered the $200 top, but i did have a cheaper top with the small round supports and nylon connection on the runabout

on my runabout I traded for the pontoon I ordered one of these from overtons:

80348 Shademate Polyester 4-Bow Bimini Top, 8L x 54"H, 79"-84" Wide Blue $359.00

functioned ok, lots of flexing and movement due to the nylon hardware.

On the pontoon I installed this one from the canvasguy2077 on ebay:
Pontoon Bimini Top 8x12 - metal fittings - 5 Year Warranty 1" frame $642.00

I will tell you right now that the canvasguy's top is way better quality, heavier material, better hardware, it looks great , fits great, all stainless hardware, does not move around, the fabric is very nice, looks like i spent serious money on the top

[lakerunner]

Check the ones PontoonStuff.com carries. Top right of forum page

[tntooner]

I bought a 10foot bimini top to replace my 8ft. top from pontoon stuff and was very pleased with it. The frame and pivot point were very worn on the old top, you might want to check that out

[Tlowry]

+1 on canvasguys. Bought a 8x10 replacement for my Monarch for ~$300. good quality and pretty sturdy. One tip: During assembly, pre-drill the joint holes in the square tubing. The SS sheet metal screws supplied are soft and I twisted a couple off.

[guy48065]

Check the ones PontoonStuff.com carries. Top right of forum page

I checked there first. They provide about as much reason to buy theirs as you did.

[lakerunner]

Check the ones PontoonStuff.com carries. Top right of forum page

I checked there first. They provide about as much reason to buy theirs as you did.

Well excuse fuckin me

[curtiscapk]

Check the ones PontoonStuff.com carries. Top right of forum page

I checked there first. They provide about as much reason to buy theirs as you did.

Well excuse fuckin me

[rockhound]

i have been using stuff from PSstuff, love the discount

I did not buy the bimini there just because they did not list anything larger than a 10 footer.

[r&s20]

the cheap one will work, but from experience if you can afford better then do. i bought the cheap one you have to put fully down to travel.lot's of sway due to cheap attaching hardware. the color won't last a full season.cheap round tubing,cheap attaching hardware,loses color fast, will make you wish you had bought better to start with.

[guy48065]

I appreciate the canvasguys tip and have looked at their offerings & added a couple models to my watch list. Problem is I can't see/feel it and in the descriptions they're all rugged, guaranteed and beautiful--so I'm not really educated what's $300 better about the $650 ones.

Another example--so it's been mentioned that nylon hardware is weak & moves a lot. Is that true of all plastic hardware or just the ones from Overtons mentioned? In my experience with other products plastic can be made stronger & tighter than that. I have no problem with glass-filled nylon components not flexing, lasting a long time & can be tighter & quieter than metal on metal. It just depends on the overall quality goal of the mfr. & affects the final cost very little.

[rockhound]

All I can tell you is I bought the 12 footer, not cheap, it is one of the nicest tops I have seen, even my wife commented about how nice it was compared to what we have sen and owned