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What's the best option for shade on a job boat? A bimini top, individual umbrellas? Other options? I have looked at the versa brella shown below and for $20 I might try it. It looks like it would mount to the top bar of a milinium seat. Anyone used one? Attachment 304830
I doesn't look very wide. Unless the sun is right over head, it may not shade you.
I have several plus the chair with one. They work great if you have a place to clamp it down to tight. I've used it on my boat for the grandkids and dog. Since it is articulated, it can be moved in any direction to shade you from the sun.
thanks for the input! have you had any issue with them staying in place?Quote:
Originally Posted by Chance
Not really. We didn't go very fast in the old boat. Just make sure you put it on something that you can really crank the clamp down on. I put one in the new boat even though it has a Bimini top. Just in case the dog can't find enough shade.
Thanks for the help, i may try one for $20. might be nice in the rain too!Quote:
Originally Posted by Chance
I used one of those a while ago. I mounted a couple of cheap stainless hand rails to a couple of spots, and mounted the umbrella to it. They work pretty good! But you have to take them down when you move with the gas motor, as they do catch the wind like umbrellas do.
In the end, I bought a $99 aluminum bimini top on Ebay, and have been extremely happy with that choice.
Make sure to get the 54" height, for headroom, and you may want to order the top with the smaller width number a little wider than your boat, as these bimini tops narrow in quite a bit at the top.
So if your boat is 72" wide, order the 74-78" top instead of the 68-72". That way, when you mount the top, the profile will be almost "square" rather than narrow with the legs flared out. That way, when you lay the top down in the mornings and evenings, it will lay right on top of the outer rails when stored, and be out of the way, if that makes any sense.
Depending on your layout, you may want to order more than one pair of the plastic bases that you screw into the boat. Mount one pair in the best place for shade and the other pair for the best storage spot. That way, it will be as out of the way as possible.
Of course, you can order a bimini with support poles that keep the bimini up and out of the way when stored. A friend of mine just did that, and I thought I would hate it, but it actually works in his layout. He added an 11-rod rocket launcher addition to his, and that thing is surprisingly nice, too. It looks like this:
Attachment 305175
He loves it, and actually uses it when pulling baits.
Just some thoughts. I hope you find a great solution for your boat.
-Tony