Bimini install question relative to cover snap line

pdxsearay

pdxsearay

Member
Jun 4, 2020
89
Boat Info
2005 Sea Ray 185 Sport
Engines
4.3 merc
Question for anyone who is an expert on Bimini installation. Given that my boat has snaps installed for the snap on cover, should I be sure to mount the Bimini mount outside of the snaps to make sure that the mount doesn’t interfere with the snap on cover (which is nice and snug)?

Picture number one is if I mounted it outside the snaps. Picture number two will be mounting it even with the snaps, which would be more flush, but would interfere with the cover.

Sorry that the Pics are sideways, I tried twice and just can’t seem to figure out how to get pictures the correct way on this site.

upload_2020-8-4_23-8-49.jpeg


upload_2020-8-4_23-10-7.jpeg
 
It looks like it will bind if you put it in the area of picture A. B looks better. It may also work if you move it slightly forward so it's not interfering with the cover.
 
Deck mounts for frame fittings are typically mounted inside the snap line. Most covers have "cutouts" to accommodate for the mount.

Will it mount on the other side of the windshield?
 
I suggest you mount it like B but have your cover modified by a canvas shop so that there are small cutouts to allow for the fittings.
 
Yeah, having an opening for the support would be better. If you put it inside the windshield, the cover will only fit if the bimini is under the cover.
 
Thanks everyone for the quick feedback. this is really helpful. For reference this i an 05 185 sport.

Steve in Minneapolis said:
It looks like it will bind if you put it in the area of picture A. B looks better. It may also work if you move it slightly forward so it's not interfering with the cover.
Click to expand...

What do you mean by this? The bimini is slightly wide than the snap line. The mount also has a pivot/rotate ability but only one direction - should i have it pivot toward the inside of the boat or toward the outside?

Quint4 said:
Deck mounts for frame fittings are typically mounted inside the snap line. Most covers have "cutouts" to accommodate for the mount. Will it mount on the other side of the windshield?
Click to expand...

Good point...there is not enough flat pace on the other side of the windshield to go on the other side of it, but it can go directly behind it a little:

upload_2020-8-5_9-30-25.png


If i did this, the cover would not fit as-is. I could maybe use the snap on cover with the mount if it were closer to the snap line and the bimini poles could go on top of the cover but the cover is too snug to fit over the entire bimini while folded up.
 
So what I mean is that the connector at the bottom of the pole is straight only. If the "receiver" has a pivot, then you can ignore my comment about it binding. In this pic, you can see that they are on a different plane, and if you put the post in at that angle, it won't move smoothly. If it pivots, you'd want it to pivot toward the inside of the boat, so that it's in line with the pole.
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Steve in Minneapolis said:
So what I mean is that the connector at the bottom of the pole is straight only. If the "receiver" has a pivot, then you can ignore my comment about it binding. In this pic, you can see that they are on a different plane, and if you put the post in at that angle, it won't move smoothly. If it pivots, you'd want it to pivot toward the inside of the boat, so that it's in line with the pole.
Click to expand...

Got it. Good point and thank you. Yeah, you can ignore the pole location now, it's just sitting there and not in the exact spot we want it. It seems like the pivot ability of the receiver/mount will allow me to mount it on or outside the snap line unless folks here think it would be a less stable mount?
 
I called the mechanic whom i've had work on my boat in the past and he recommended what a few of you guys are saying, mount it right behind the windshield in the flat area and have the cover modified. it looks like two little u-shaped cutouts will do the trick. He gave me a guy that can do it or i can enlist the powers of my dear old mother and her sewing machine.
 
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