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Surf Bimini top for Alpha Z

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    #16
    Originally posted by jbort View Post
    Duncan:

    How bad are the dents and which TWP board? I have a Bazooka and planning to get wakesurf rack from Samson but concerned with board damage. I have 07 22Ve. You have the new tower right?
    TWP F-18. AlphaZ tower.

    Dents are cosmetic only. Most people would probably not notice. But they will only get worse over time.

    I have two Samson racks, one about a year older than the other. The older one is a little wider forked than the newer. The newer Samson rack was almost too snug on TWP board. But the looser fit would bounce a bit in choppy water.

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      #17
      Originally posted by Duncan View Post
      I had a local shop estimate about $680 to modify the current bimini according to the pics. Seems high to me but they were probably being conservative.
      Resurrecting this older thread, as I'm looking seriously at doing this.

      I looked into getting the Sunbrella directly. Seattle Fabrics will ship you enough to do two 24x40 pockets for $35. In other words, the fabric is not a driving factor in the cost.

      I just got off the phone with a local, well regarded upholstery shop that does all of the work for the local Mastercraft dealer. They have added surfboard pockets to bimini covers in the past (as well as nets and "all sorts of other things, just tell us what you want"). Cost to add two pockets using matching Sunbrella fabric (which they stock) is estimated to be $150. At that price I'll have them do everything since I'm certain their stitching and detailing will be better than anything I could do.

      So there it is: A surf bimini upgrade for about $150. Cheaper than a single set of rack forks, and a better solution IMHO. I plan to pursue this next week and I'll keep this thread updated.

      Edit: WRT his comment about netting... that "cargo retention" netting might be an interesting alternative. It would prevent moisture from building up between the two sheets of Sunbrella. I'll talk with them and get more info.
      Last edited by IDBoating; 02-16-2012, 06:44 PM.

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        #18
        Duncan: thx for the info.

        WABoating - share some pics when done. thx thx thx

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          #19
          I will be very interested in how this works out. The net idea really sounds good. What are you doing for the back straps?
          Wake Up or Stay On Shore!

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            #20
            Let us know how this works out. I'm looking at sewing in pockets on mine as well

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              #21
              Originally posted by Wakeman22 View Post
              I will be very interested in how this works out. The net idea really sounds good. What are you doing for the back straps?
              I'm going to brainstorm with the upholstery folks. At the moment I'm considering one of two options. If I go with the Sunbrella fabric, I'm thinking of a gather with shock cord that would make the open end normally smaller than the body of the sac. The board could be pushed past the shock cord, but then the cord would hold the board in the pocket against vibration, etc.

              If I go with the netting, it's been my experience that netting "stretches" a bit. Depending upon the type(s) they have, it may be possible to stitch the open end a bit smaller and get the same effect as the shock cord above. Also, presuming the boards are inserted nose first, it may be able to simply pull the netting over the fins and lock the board in that way.

              We'll see!

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                #22
                Sounds like a few good ideas to me, keeping it simple

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                  #23
                  I just dropped off my Bimini at my local upholstery guy. I have to go on a business trip for several weeks so I won't be able to pick it up until then but I'll share pics when it's done. I'm using a material that is sunbrella but it's vinyl coated on one side to let the board slide in/out easier without shredding the sunbrella. I'm also using a similar rear latching system to the factory surf Bimini. Talking to the upholstery guy he thinks the netting will flap in the wind too much so we shall see how this little project turns out.
                  2009 RZ2, PCM 343, MLA Surf Ballast, Premium Sound.
                  2013 Toyota Sequoia 4WD W/Timbren SES

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                    #24
                    Originally posted by Ewok View Post
                    I'm using a material that is sunbrella but it's vinyl coated on one side... Talking to the upholstery guy he thinks the netting will flap in the wind too much so we shall see how this little project turns out.
                    Interesting. I hadn't thought about the flapping concern. Now that I'm thinking about it, I'd think the solid fabric would be more likely to flap than the netting, since the netting would let the air pass through - particularly if it's the really open "fish net" stuff I'm thinking about.

                    I'm supposed to have a meeting with my upholstery guy this week. Who are you using? I'm talking with Jacobs Upholstery, actually quite near where you live. They're the ones that suggested the netting idea.

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                      #25
                      I am gonna buy these. I really like the design and I don't always use a bimini. I am going to do a quick connect somehow to the tower and a simple hole sewed in my Bimini.
                      Attached Files
                      Build thread: http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/showthread.php?14787-Duffy-s-2005-24v-wakesurfing-mod-thread&highlight=duffys+24v

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                        #26
                        Originally posted by duffymahoney View Post
                        I am gonna buy these. I really like the design and I don't always use a bimini. I am going to do a quick connect somehow to the tower and a simple hole sewed in my Bimini.
                        Will they interfere with a rope coming off your tower's tow point? Seems like if the rope went more than a few degrees off center you'd get involved with the racks, even if there were no boards in them. Especially when swinging around to pick up a fallen boarder (my rope gets involved in my side-mounted board racks already!). Boards in "pockets" would allow the rope to just pass smoothly by, except possibly if you had really tall fins on them.

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                          #27
                          I use a bimini like 2 weeks to 1 month a year. They shouldn't, I will set them forward enough for them to clear all ropes.
                          Build thread: http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/showthread.php?14787-Duffy-s-2005-24v-wakesurfing-mod-thread&highlight=duffys+24v

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                            #28
                            I have two new shred stixx customs being made at the moment so I want them as safe and protected as I can get.
                            Build thread: http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/showthread.php?14787-Duffy-s-2005-24v-wakesurfing-mod-thread&highlight=duffys+24v

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                              #29
                              Originally posted by WABoating View Post
                              Interesting. I hadn't thought about the flapping concern. Now that I'm thinking about it, I'd think the solid fabric would be more likely to flap than the netting, since the netting would let the air pass through - particularly if it's the really open "fish net" stuff I'm thinking about.

                              I'm supposed to have a meeting with my upholstery guy this week. Who are you using? I'm talking with Jacobs Upholstery, actually quite near where you live. They're the ones that suggested the netting idea.
                              WABoating,
                              I'm using Sure Fit Upholstery, they are over on W Broadway. I meet one of their guys at the Spokane Boat Show, they had a booth setup with custom Sunbrella covers so I got to talking and they think it won't be too hard to do. If it comes out OK you can have them copy it onto your cover if you want.

                              Duff,
                              If it wasn't for the kids, I'd hardly use my Bimini up here too. It was a must in TX but not much need for it here, except to keep the sun off they eyes of napping kids.
                              2009 RZ2, PCM 343, MLA Surf Ballast, Premium Sound.
                              2013 Toyota Sequoia 4WD W/Timbren SES

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                                #30
                                Originally posted by Ewok View Post
                                If it comes out OK you can have them copy it onto your cover if you want.
                                Two questions: 1) Quoted price? 2) When do they think it will be finished?

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