Carver Owners Forum

Ok so I Have a Carver 3207 and i need an aft Bimini. Here people want upwards of 2k to make one for my deck.I was thinking of buying a cheaper one online with all Stainless Hardware however I can get all the specs i need except the width, my rails are 122 inches Apart. Soooooo i was thinking order one and cut the Bow's in the middle and add some Stainless to equal out the width.I have a Friend That has heavy duty Sewing equipment and she said she'd Widen it for me for a low price with matching material. This Bimini Will not be used while underway just to provide some shade in the HOT!!! summer Sun.Has anyone done this before?

I believe if you buy one of the biminis made for runabouts it will be cheaper to start. After all of the work required to adapt it to function properly and look ok on your boat, if you include your and your friends time, you will be over 2k and have a lesser quality product than the custom made heavy duty 2k unit that will be able to be up while underway.
Also, keep in mind, the lower priced unit will need to be taken down, stowed and redeployed between outings. This will cut into your leisure time and most likely be a source of continued foul language and regret.

Bite the bullet and have one made for your boat. Believe me, you will come to enjoy it ALL the time, not just when at anchor or at the dock. Mine never comes down.

When I bought my 3207 I had a Bimini and side curtains made. It really adds a lot of room and can be used for all inclement weather. The only down side is that it is a lot of canvass. If I had the boat again, I would enclose it again because I believe the pros out weighed the cons, for my needs.

A Bimini on its own is a great idea as it will give you the ability to sit on the back and protect you from the sun and rain. Great idea. I agree with buster53, bite the bullet and get one made. If it's not done right it may not look right. I have also seen people use a triangular shaped fabric that could be attached to your flybridge canvass and then to flexible graphite poles on the aft rail. This would be a temporary sun block you would put up only when you need it.

A Bimini would/could be more permanent. Good luck with your decision.

Greg

Sent you a PM/email. I know someone in your area that might be able to make what you need for a decent price. Get in touch with them and see what they can do.

ataylor - stop by a marine store or dealer and pick up a copy of Great Lakes Scuttlebutt magazine, January 2020. Look on page 60 and 64. Couple of pics of bimini applications if you indeed are just looking for shade. Snaps for the forward edge, 2 poles inserted in your Hawes holes in the stern and presto. Shade. er

I've done "universal" biminis in the past and always regretted the nuances/imperfections of a less than perfect setup. Not to mention every time I drove the boat or even sat anchored with the wind picking up, it looked crappy.

No worse feeling than sitting there holding this junk sail and people looking at you like you are an idiot.

Hi Pete - yep, I hear ya & agree. Keep in mind you live in a windy area. Detroit area is not as windy or as wet/foggy as San Fran. By the way, good luck to the 49er's today. Hope they finish 2nd! er

km1125 wrote:Source of the post Great Lakes Scuttlebutt magazine

Thank you i got it

Cooler wrote:Source of the post Hi Pete - yep, I hear ya & agree. Keep in mind you live in a windy area. Detroit area is not as windy or as wet/foggy as San Fran. By the way, good luck to the 49er's today. Hope they finish 2nd! er

The wind came and went when I was on the Delta, which connects to the bay. if its windy here, never fun for boating. When it picked up, that's when I was in idiot mode.

BTW, I covered the spread today.