Stronger Bimini hardware

[BigE]

Hi guys
I have been louging around in the boat cause it has been to windy to go fishing, just doing minor repairs and maintance and I got to thinking - does anyone have some good ideas/ setup for stronger more robust bimini hard ware and anchor points , I always seem to find a broken piece of bimini hardware every time i look from loose pole ends the complete failure of the foot mounts , i would be interested in how others have dealt with this issue and what ideas work well in this area.


BigE

[Noelm]

You can buy almost all those crap plastic fittings in stainless, but you will pay top dollar for them.

[kiwimex]

I assume you currently have stainless steel hardware? if not..... your not going to get a more robust product....! you can buy full sets of stainless hardware off ebay .


Kiwimex

[BigE]

I still have the plastic crap at the moment - If I change over to Stainless what the best way to stop the fitting reacting with the ali poles and boat?

BigE

[Noelm]

Probably any of the anti corrosion stuff you can buy at any boat shop, I think Tefgel is one name, and Duralac is another, the're just a paste that is applied before fitting together.

[Dignity]

I assume you currently have stainless steel hardware? if not..... your not going to get a more robust product....! you can buy full sets of stainless hardware off ebay .


Kiwimex

I know your pain, unless you replace your frames with SS you still have a problem as I found out when I needed to remove my SS fittings after only about 1 year. I used good old vaseline last time I had them apart and has seemed to last at least 12 months so far.
As far as I can figure out BOAT should be spelt BOATT, Bring Out Another (Two, Ten) Thousand.

[BigE]

Thanks Nolem , i went for a shop today ..... dignity is correct it definately is bring another ten thousand.

just need another windy day to do more maintence so the weather should improve this week!!!

BigE

[Dignity]

BigE, more windy days means more time and money to spend on boats and fishing gear, or so it seems at my place.

[BigE]

D
you are so right.

[Shark Poker]

What type of boat and bimini setup do you have?

[AndrewB]

PH grease between ally and stainless

[BigE]

I have the dreaded quintrex with the factory bimini and storm covers I have added a rocket launcher, my main issue is the canopy support poles (the ones that keep the tension on everything) keep pulling the ends out of the poles, have tried rivets which helps but they still pullout after a year or so.

Going changeout for stainless ends in the poles.. any thoughts on securing the stainless ends into the ali poles?

BigE

[stevebris]

Drill a hole through tube and fitting. Use a stainless bolt with a dome nut to secure. That's what I've done.

[Rip it up]

Big e. If the support poles are only short and straight. Why not buy a length of stainless tube to go with stainless end fittings. I recently bought a 4m section of 1" 316ss pipe for $60. Throw on some quality end fittings and walk away never to be touched again.


Damo's dodgy boat building factory.