Been a bizarre and shitty day as my original photo thread turned into a Bimini Strap vs Pole Thread.

[RiverDave]

Hitting the lake with the family for a few hours before the shit show starts.

Pics coming!

RD

 

[SBMech]

Ohh no! Did you try China Buffet again!?!!?

 

[BUSTI]

you'd better hurry, I'm sure a lot of the shit show is there already.

 

[RiverDave]

you'd better hurry, I'm sure a lot of the shit show is there already.

Not too crowded yet?

 

[rivermobster]

I can hardly believe you of all people have those cheese ball straps on your bimini. I know damn well you know better.

Get rid of those before someone gets hurt!!!



Oh and have fun tonight. One of the best things in life is watching the sun set out on the water. I'm jealous!

 

[RiverDave]

I can hardly believe you of all people have those cheese ball straps on your bimini. I know damn well you know better.

Get rid of those before someone gets hurt!!!



Oh and have fun tonight. One of the best things in life is watching the sun set out on the water. I'm jealous!

Cheese ball straps?

It’s the normal Bimini straps that most boats have? Or are you suggesting switching everything out to stainless poles? (Pros and cons to each)



Anyone remember this Shockwave?

 

[hallett21]

I can hardly believe you of all people have those cheese ball straps on your bimini. I know damn well you know better.

Get rid of those before someone gets hurt!!!



Oh and have fun tonight. One of the best things in life is watching the sun set out on the water. I'm jealous!

Has anyone actually experienced the straps failing? Looking for first hand experience


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[RiverDave]

My phone is apparently having internet issues.. lol. So I’ll take some pics and upload them tonight when I get home.

 

[steamin rice]

Are you trying to find the owner of that shockwave? Did you notice if it had twins or a single engine?

 

[Racey]

Has anyone actually experienced the straps failing? Looking for first hand experience


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Nope, in all my years all i have ever seen fail is one of the bent wire hooks, you want the cast stainless or brass ones, not the ones that are made of bent wire, they can peel open. Think about how much tension you can put on a 1" tie down.... those straps are strong AF for the job they do. Now if you leave your shit outside rotting in the sun.... well don't go blaming the strap on that.

 

[Bobby V]

I can hardly believe you of all people have those cheese ball straps on your bimini. I know damn well you know better.

Get rid of those before someone gets hurt!!!



Oh and have fun tonight. One of the best things in life is watching the sun set out on the water. I'm jealous!

What’s wrong with the straps. Been using them for 20 years.

 

[ka0tyk]

Has anyone actually experienced the straps failing? Looking for first hand experience


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the straps? no. the clips? Yup had a few of those little guys break.

 

[guest hs]

Been sitting at the pool at the nautical all day

 

[Dirtbag]

Cheese ball straps?

It’s the normal Bimini straps that bonobos have? Or are you suggesting switching everything out to stainless poles? (Pros and cons to each)



Anyone remember this Shockwave?

View attachment 678615 View attachment 678622

its owned by the wayne family now who are flat out awesome people!

 

[Dmangus]

Never had an issue with my straps.
What is with the shockwave?

 

[5oclocksomewhere]

Has anyone actually experienced the straps failing? Looking for first hand experience


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About 5 years ago my buddies ex wife was sitting in the back of a boat hauling ass the straps broke, Bimini came down and broke both her arms.
A couple weeks ago a buddy at the river took his new ultra 21 deck boat out really fast new Bimini strap broke and fucked his new boat all up. When my Bimini is up & family in the boat I go no faster than 40mph.

 

[Dirtbag]

Are you trying to find the owner of that shockwave? Did you notice if it had twins or a single engine?

it has twins

 

[guest hs]

Broken Bimini strap cost me 300K last year

 

[Ouderkirk]

Cheese ball straps?

It’s the normal Bimini straps that bonobos have? Or are you suggesting switching everything out to stainless poles? (Pros and cons to each)



Anyone remember this Shockwave?

View attachment 678615 View attachment 678622

Like that gel scheme and I'm not a yellow guy.

 

[236eagledave]

Has anyone actually experienced the straps failing? Looking for first hand experience


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I have. At about 50 mph front straps failed. Fortunately the Bimini cleared the head of the backseat passenger. The mounts held and it slammed into the engine hatch. I am much more attentive to strap condition and maintenance now.


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[steamin rice]

it has twins

Yes - I was pretty sure that they only did this gel on one boat, which would be the Wayne's with twins... Looking forward to seeing everyone next weekend!!

 

[COCA COLA COWBOY]

I had a bimini strap break last weekend. Thanks for reminding me...

 

[ONE-A-DAY]

the straps? no. the clips? Yup had a few of those little guys break.

I use the straps but didnt have hooks installed, I just slip the loops at then ends over my cleats, saves another bunch of holes in the boat, and those little hooks always scratch up the gel over time.

 

[thedan]

Seen them break twice. Scary. I went to Sport Chalet (before they buckled) and made my own out of mountain climbing straps. They are flattened tubes of fiber (black) and were rated at 2000 lbs. or something ridiculous like that. Felt safe with them afterwards. I’m sure REI has the materials.

 

[RiverDave]

For those stuck on the bimini strap thing.. don’t drive fast with the Bimini up. Problem solved? Lol

I don’t go over 35 with it up.. never had a problem. I’m also conscious of what’s going on when driving.. if you drive into a 30 mph head wind now the Bimini is doing 65.. so either slow down or take it down kinda deal.

Poles have their place but I wouldn’t want them on this setup.. it would be a pain in the ass.

 

[rivermobster]

So need I say more about those POS straps?? lol

Replace em with stainless poles and you can drive however you want. Yes I've seen em break, that's why I'll never use em. My family and friends are far more important to me than a couple of dollar bills.

 

[throttle]

can we get back to the "shitty day" part.... and maybe some pics!

 

[Uncle Dave]

Has anyone actually experienced the straps failing? Looking for first hand experience


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Yup several times on others boats and once on my own.
Each time dodged a bullet when they failed.
In a full boat someone would have been hit- and hurt.

Sometime its isnt excessive speed but a vibration harmonic that buzzes the strap and in doing so - opens up the end.

I went full struts- yeah kind of a pain, but solid.

UD

 

[Ziggy]

Having poles is more work to put up but certainly makes you feel more confident.

 

[Ziggy]

Yup several times on others boats and once on my own.
Each time dodged a bullet when they failed.
In a full boat someone would have been hit- and hurt.

Sometime its isnt excessive speed but a vibration harmonic that buzzes the strap and in doing so - opens up the end.

I went full struts- yeah kind of a pain, but solid.

UD

Always, always put at least a half twist in the straps. It stops the buzzing for one and engineering wise it helps to keep it more straight.

 

[Go-Fly]

Did I miss the pictures of the shit show?

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Has anyone actually experienced the straps failing? Looking for first hand experience


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I had one fail. No one was injured. It was a crappy strap and hook.

Replaced all 4 straps and hooks.

If you use forged hooks and eyes, and make sure they are tight, it is pretty low risk on a boat that goes less than 65-70. As long as the hook holds, if the strap breaks at worst you’d have a minor cut. Sunglasses would protect your eyes.

Most poles can fail just as easily.. rivets break, set screws loosen.

All that stuff, especially the straps are wear items and should be inspected and replaced occasionally.

 

[2Driver]

Having poles is more work to put up but certainly makes you feel more confident.

Unless every fitting is spot welded its no better IMO.

 

[2Driver]

Did I miss the pictures of the shit show?

Nope, it turned into a strap vs pole thread.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Unless every fitting is spot welded its no better IMO.

Someone with sanity. Even then the spot welds can break eventually.

 

[Ziggy]

Unless every fitting is spot welded its no better IMO.

Is there another way? All mine are welded.

 

[steak&lobster]

I had one fail. No one was injured. It was a crappy strap and hook.

Replaced all 4 straps and hooks.

If you use forged hooks and eyes, and make sure they are tight, it is pretty low risk on a boat that goes less than 65-70. As long as the hook holds, if the strap breaks at worst you’d have a minor cut. Sunglasses would protect your eyes.

Most poles can fail just as easily.. rivets break, set screws loosen.

All that stuff, especially the straps are wear items and should be inspected and replaced occasionally.

I have a brand new bimini with straps by Seam Dreams, and I have run 75 with the bimini up. No issues.

 

[Go-Fly]

Nope, it turned into a strap vs pole thread.

Well, no one gives a shit, so there's the show.

 

[mjc]

I had straps inbbthe front poles in the back, problem solved

 

[Headless hula]

So you jokers are all hung up some stupid strap bullshit...


How's about this?


We've had a fuckton of rain lately and the smaller lakes have been deemed slow no wake until further notice.


This dude has to take off at 65....

 

[redone76]

Unless every fitting is spot welded its no better IMO.

No shit. Mine are crimped and I had one come apart going up river in Parker. Hit a gust of wind and boom stainless tube comes swinging at my wife. Thank god she was on her game. Caught that sumbitch and put the Bimini away


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[DRYHEAT]

What are you all doing hauling ass with your Bimini Tops up?

 

[lbhsbz]

Ditch the bimini...get some hats.

 

[redone76]

What are you all doing hauling ass with your Bimini Tops up?

I was going about 30. Just a bad crimp on a new Bimini


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[Hullbilly]

View attachment 678605 View attachment 678606

Not too crowded yet?

I really dig that boat!!

 

[4Waters]

What are you all doing hauling ass with your Bimini Tops up?

Drive it like you stole it

 

[SBMech]

Apparently I am the only one here who NEVER runs the bimini over 30MPH?

I usually only put it up when stopped and floating. Then I take it down, because I am always running, you never know when it's time to punch it!

I usually leave it at home lol.

 

[nrbr]

Fuck straps. Tig welded poles on the spectra I like to boat hard with the bimini up

 

[Bigbore500r]

Holy thread jack!

Have fun RD

 

[DRYHEAT]

Apparently I am the only one here who NEVER runs the bimini over 30MPH?

I usually only put it up when stopped and floating. Then I take it down, because I am always running, you never know when it's time to punch it!

I usually leave it at home lol.

As a general rule I don’t run with the Bimini up either, but you know how it is “I’m just going to put over this other Cove” And the next thing you know you’re hauling ass with the Bimini top up. Fortunately for me my boat is slow And most of the time I take the pontoon out anyway.