Umbrella versus Bimini

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I have a polarkraft outlander with 4 stroke tiller and I love the boat-love to fish. I am considering a Bimini but want to lay it down flat. That would put the top on the engine unless I install so it is reversed and folds forward. Not apposed to this as trolling rod holders are mostly at the rear so folding forward helps in that regard. If you're running one backwards, is it practical? Pros and cons. Thanks!
 

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Won't it fold either back or forward regardless of which way you install it? I had a Bimini on the previous boat. Seems like I could fold it either way. Maybe someone currently using one can chime in.

Additionally, I don't think I could tell you which was the front or back of a Bimini top. If there is a backwards and you need to install it that way, then go for it. Can't see that it will really matter.
 
Won't it fold either back or forward regardless of which way you install it? I had a Bimini on the previous boat. Seems like I could fold it either way. Maybe someone currently using one can chime in.

Additionally, I don't think I could tell you which was the front or back of a Bimini top. If there is a backwards and you need to install it that way, then go for it. Can't see that it will really matter.
Folding forward is a great strategy. I was thinking a strap at the rear instead of a support strut would be easy to deal with. I suppose removing the rear support would be easy with quick disconnects and then roll the Bimini forward.
 
I'm not sure I'm following what you mean by support strut. Doesn't mean you are wrong -- I'm just not following. My previous bimini top had straps at the rear and straps at the front (see pic below). I folded mine forward. No need to remove anything with quick disconnects. Just unsnap the straps and fold it.

Airshot's mention of a slide track so you can move the hinge points back and forth is worth considering. Google Bimini slide track and you will get a lot of hits.

Bim.jpg
 
Some tops use straps only, some use solid poles only, and some use poles in the back and straps in the front. All have their benefits
 
Rear struts are very common and hold the Bimini in the radar position when the boot is on. Front struts vs straps give better support to handle more speed while deployed. They typically will use push pins and storage clips that attach to the Bimini frame.

I had rear struts on the bowrider Bimini. The pontoon has a powered Bimini. I’ll be adding front struts when the 6’ Bimini extension comes in. The mfg wanted $265 for the struts! I’ll be making my own from 1.25” square tubing and fittings. The adjustable round style struts are reasonably priced.
 
A bimini top is nice but they get in the way when fishing. Sometimes just an umbrella works better.
I used to fish with a guy who had an aluminum 17ft bass boat on which he built a full length hard top or cover that you could walk under. This left the sides wide open but still left a pole in all four corners
All catch the wind though. So staying anchored up correctly can be an issue on breezy days.
 
I really like the bimini when the sun is blazing, I'd be coming in much earlier if I didn't have shade to sit under. I put 18" rails on mine to slide it back out of the way when I don't use it. In your case you would probably slide it forward to clear the motor so it's not sitting on top of it. Or, lay it down in the front of the boat if that works. I have a strut in the rear, straps up front.
 
I would never leave the bimini top or umbrella up under way, its like dragging a parachute. On some boats it may even slow it enough to prevent it from getting on plane.
There's nothing worse than hooking up with a huge fish and having to deal with the bimini top frame or straps as the fish runs around the boat.
 
I would never leave the bimini top or umbrella up under way, its like dragging a parachute. On some boats it may even slow it enough to prevent it from getting on plane.
There's nothing worse than hooking up with a huge fish and having to deal with the bimini top frame or straps as the fish runs around the boat.
I do it all the time up to 30ish mph. It does create more drag and requires a bit more throttle to get there then it does down. Not sure what the breaking point would be with speed on a Amazon 4 bow like I'm running I'd suspect the plastic mounts would give at some point. If anybody would like to donate a Bimini I'll test this one up to my boats limits lol. I wouldn't be surprised if it held though last year on a big lake we had a pop up thunderstorm and we were 12miles from our dock. It was a busy Saturday so there was no just gunning it for home at 50+ and we left the top up as we pulled anchor quickly and head for home. Storm caught us halfway there and the winds got bad. We held about 20mph in what must have been well over 20mph winds in our face the whole way. Between all the waves from the shear amount of traffic worsened by the high winds it was a sporty ride the rest of the way but the bimini is no worse for wear.
 
For bringing in a nice fish, the bikini can be a pain, but for comfort on a hot day, you can't beat one. I run my bimini at 30 mph all the time with never an issue. Drags speed down 2 mph at best. On my Islander we ran about 35 mph with never an issue, did that for 8 years with no damage to the top or
plastic hardware.. If your creating a serious drag, with your top, check your install, something not right. Been running bimini tops for well over 30 years and all were cheap ones, none were custom made. The only drag was docking on a windy day!
 
At one time I had a bimini top for each of my boats but I found I never used them, they're always in the way, either when their up or folded down. On an open aluminum boat they almost always end up folding down blocking off part of the boat unless they're super tall, In both of my side console boats the console and drivers seat is about 2/3rd of the way back from the bow, and a top that's tall enough to stand under would fold down either directly on the outboard or just beyond it in the rear, which can't be while under way, or fold down around the area of the first long bench seat. Meaning that when its down, you have to climb over it to throw out and tie off the anchor. When it was up it caught the wind and made holding position a real pain, if it was up, it made getting on plane with a smaller motor nearly impossible or it increased fuel usage enough to require another tank of gas be put on board to make it home. I sold them all, I carry a folding umbrella on really hot days that slides into a rod holder on the back of each seat and when not in use it fits nicely off the to the side or died closed in the rear rod holder out of the way. It was also free, so if it did ever hamper the operation of the boat I could gladly toss it overboard if need be without losing a dime. I have deployed it as a makeshift sale to assist in drift fishing for fluke too. If I simply feel the need to get out of the sun, I've got a huge straw hat with a chin strap that works great too.
The $150 or so I got for each bimini top went toward gas for fishing and in my truck. Plus it freed up a whole wall in my shed where they sat most of the time.
 
That is the main reason I use a sliding rail for the mounting point of my bimini. When down it lays just in front of the motor in the splash well, easy to bring fish in over it. While I don' t fold it forward, if I choose to the rail allows the top to go forward enough to go almost to the front deck, so it would not be in a bad position. I also added rigid poles in place of rear straps so the top can stand up in the radar arch position and still be closed. This is why they make so many devices for tops so it can be modified to suit your needs. This old boy would not be out on a sunny day without a bimini...but, each person has their own wants and likes. If your top is in the way....look at the sliding rails to make the top more user friendly..
 

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