Surf Bimini top for Alpha Z

[talltigeguy]

WA,

Any updates on how it is working out?

I would consider sending my bimini to them, as that I think without the alluminum, it would roll up quite nicely into a box for shipping. I talked today to the guy who does canvas for the local inboard boat dealer...he had never heard of such a concept. After I rolled out my bimini, and explained this idea, I got a bit of an uneasy feeling that he might be great for patching holes, but something that requires some creativity might not be up his alley.

[Duncan]

After I rolled out my bimini, and explained this idea, I got a bit of an uneasy feeling that he might be great for patching holes, but something that requires some creativity might not be up his alley.

That about sums up my experience with the local cover guy.

[skippabcool]

I saw these and wondered if they would work to hold surf boards on the bimini. Thoughts?

http://www.esurfboardracks.com/colle...rf-double-rack

http://www.oregonsurfshop.com/fcs-fi...-w-d-ring.html

[IDBoating]

WA, Any updates on how it is working out?

No, sorry, boat isn't out of storage yet. Water temp was 46F last weekend.

After I rolled out my bimini, and explained this idea, I got a bit of an uneasy feeling that he might be great for patching holes, but something that requires some creativity might not be up his alley.

Agreed, you have to find someone who has experience coming up with new ideas. BTW, it helped a lot to show my guy photos of the factory surf bimini. That got the creative juices flowing. A picture really is worth a thousand words!

[Booms]

After seeing this thread and watching my IS boards get dented on the surf rack I decided to have a local upholstery guy add pockets to my bimini.
I printed off this thread for his viewing pleasure and this is what he came up with. He ordered a matching blue from Sunbrella, then used a black vynal type material that when warm becomes tacky. He left lots of extra material just in case we had to adjust. However, the boards just barely fits now.

The only issue I have is the speaker mounts rub on the foam decking of the board and started to wear it out while I was just tooling around the lake. Easy fix, take boards out when joy riding and/or I put pipe insulation around the mounts to provide extra padding.

The sweet spot fits tightly and does not need any straps.

This project cost me $250.00 and three days without my bimini.

[IDBoating]

All done!

As promised, here is a photo of the finished product installed on the 24Ve:



When the boards are slid into the pockets they are TIGHT. We took the boat out and ran it at WOT, just over 40MPH, and the boards did not move or wiggle one bit. Yet they slip right out of the pockets when desired, just lift the back end to decouple them from the sticky neoprene.

Everything worked out exactly as designed. I'm absolutely delighted and recommend this approach to anyone who is considering a surf bimini. ~$180 finished including materials and labor.

[IDBoating]

Clarification: When I said the boards were tight, I meant they are safe and snug - not that they are stressing the fabric or anything negative. There is plenty of space for an even larger/wider board up there, but even these boards are held safely in place by the netting.

[talltigeguy]

And here is my final product.

I think a pocket of pure material is going to collect dust, dirt and belly lint. So I went with mesh. I could not put them on the rear of the bimini because the bimini barely clears the tower speakers the way it is, so I put them in from the front.

It worked great for a week at Lake Powell. I am pleased. I tailored the size of the pockets for my Hyperlite Broadcast and yellow Loogie. The smaller boards easily fit in the big pocket and still seem to be held in snugly with the strap at the front for good insurance.

[Bruizza]

We had surf pockets done on our Bimini. Local upholstery guy did it for $250 in matching material with bungees. He also made it big enough that I can stick wakeboards up there. Works awesome!

[talltigeguy]

We had surf pockets done on our Bimini. Local upholstery guy did it for $250 in matching material with bungees. He also made it big enough that I can stick wakeboards up there. Works awesome!

My guy was super paranoid about putting wakeboards up there, even with reinforcement because of concern about the fins slicing through. So I trusted him and didn't do any reinforcement. The real test for me with this is how it holds up over time. I will be more excited if this is doing as well in 3 years.

[austx2008]

2010 Tige Z1 Surf Bimini Install

Thank you for the photos. I have ordered the top and it has arrived. It took 4.5 weeks to get it from Tige . I was hoping to install it myself but I question the difficulty.

Has anyone integrated the surf Bimini on the newer model black Z rack?

Thanks for the help!
-Chad

[IDBoating]

My guy was super paranoid about putting wakeboards up there, even with reinforcement because of concern about the fins slicing through.

Update: We've got several weeks of use on our custom setup so far this season and LOVE it. Everyone who sees it thinks it's great.

WRT your comment above about "fins slicing through", the only concern I have so far is that the nose on the boards pushes down on the bimini Sunbrella fabric. I suspect that will cause some wear and stretch over time. Our new Ronix Carbon Thruster has more rocker than our other boards and has made it more noticeable. I'll look at the end of the season and if it's looking like there may be undue wear there, I may have my upholsterer add a reinforcing later up front.

[talltigeguy]

My guy was super paranoid about putting wakeboards up there, even with reinforcement because of concern about the fins slicing through. So I trusted him and didn't do any reinforcement. The real test for me with this is how it holds up over time. I will be more excited if this is doing as well in 3 years.

I cursed myself with that comment.

I was at the lake and it was very windy. We were traveling into the wind cruising 30 MPH, probably winds at 30 MPH as well. The straps that my guy rigged were my biggest concern from the start. He had a single point of attachment and the loop formed by the strap tends to come off of the board. That is what happened exactly on the Hyperlite broadcast. The wind caught the board, flipped it upward, tore almost the entire pocket and blew up over the tower and into the lake. Fortunately, it went over the whole boat and didn't strike anyone in the boat.

It would have been fine if I had the strap anchored on two sides so that I can decently strap the board down. With one anchor point, the loop essentially squeezes itself over the front of the board, as you tighten it more. I also had him move the pockets forward a few inches more. I feel like that is going to be a more doable situation. Again, I will be happiest if in 3 years I still like this.

[scr120]

Has anyone tried putting kneeboards in the surf pockets? Seems like they might be too heavy, but ours are too wide for the surf racks and it would be nice to find a better spot for them than the floor. Thanks.

[IDBoating]

My pockets were stitched with typical surfboard widths in mind. I don't know how kneeboards compare in width. Certainly the fabric would stretch, but I don't know if you could slip it in past the entry's size. I can check next time I'm at the lake (where all our stuff lives).