How to Make Your Bimini Top Frame Taller

A Bimini top is a lightweight nylon fabric top for pleasure boats that protect the captain and his passengers from the sun. The tops fold back when not in use, and are easy to install and use. If you have a shallow profile boat, the tops can be modified by changing out two pieces of the canopy, and with a bit of custom milling.

Things You'll Need

  • Screwdriver
  • Cordless drills
  • Jig saw with metal cutting blade
  • Measuring caliper
  • 2 pcs aluminum tubing, 6 inches long
  • 2 pcs aluminum tubing
  • 5/8-inch self-drilling sheet metal screws
  • Fine mill metal file
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Instructions

  1. Removing the Existing Top

    • 1

      Remove the Bimini top from the boat by removing the main screw that holds the nylon anchors to the brackets screwed to the boat.

    • 2

      Remove the screws that hold together the two pieces of the main U-shaped support arms. Each leg is constructed from two pieces and held together by the screws in the middle of the support arm. Separate these two pieces after the screws are removed.

    • 3

      Measure the outer diameter of the lower piece of tubing that slides over the fitting, onto the main support arm. Also measure the outer diameter of the main support tubing. To extend the top, you have to replace the lower piece of tubing with one that has the same inner and outer diameters and is longer.

    • 4

      Remove the nylon fitting from the bottom end of the piece of aluminum tubing that you removed from the Bimini top. You may have to drill out the dimples which hold the fitting into the tube to get the fitting out of the tube. If needed, you can cut this piece of aluminum to remove the fitting since you will dispose of this piece of tubing when you are finished.

    • 5

      Take the piece of tubing that you've removed from the top with you to a retailer that sells various sizes of aluminum tubing. You may be able to contact the Bimini top manufacturer, and find the tubing that you need. Purchase two pieces of aluminum tubing that are longer than the one you've removed from the top. If you are not sure how much you want to raise the top, purchase a piece of pipe that is longer than you expect to use and plan on cutting it to length.

    Modifying and Re-installing the Top

    • 6

      Identify how much you want to raise the top. The tubing you are replacing installs at an angle, so the distance you want to raise the top will not be the same as the additional length you add to the cross piece. You can figure that for every inch you want to raise the top, you will have to add 1 1/2 inches to the length of the aluminum tube.

    • 7

      Cut two pieces of tubing using the formula above. Insert the nylon fitting into the lower end and secure it in place with a self-drilling screw.

    • 8

      Using the original pieces of tubing that you removed from the top, transfer the holes to the new tubing. Drill holes into the new tubing in exactly the same locations, so the new tubing will replace the old, and fasten to the main cross piece.

    • 9

      Slip the new pieces of tubing onto the cross piece and fasten them in place with the manufacturer's screws, then reinstall the Bimini top onto the boat. The longer pieces of tubing will raise the height of the top

    • 10

      Adjust the length of the nylon straps to hold the Bimini top in place. These straps should be long enough to secure the top, even after it's raised.