ptwb
Jet Boat Junkie
- Messages
- 148
- Reaction score
- 99
- Points
- 127
- Boat Make
- Yamaha
- Year
- 2007
- Boat Model
- AR
- Boat Length
- 23
I'm having second thoughts about the new e series bimini. At first I really liked it, but now I don't think so, not at least until Yamaha posts more info. It looks like one big welded piece and it seems like the only way to get it is with all that extra framing just to hold up those two solar panels that I have absolutely no interest in. It's only offered on the E-series.
The other more primary issue is that while it's huge, it's also very very high, to clear the ski rope, that we don't really use that often. When it's that high up, if the sun is not directly overhead, it may not actually be providing as much shade as a lower smaller bimini. Maybe if it was adjustable so that when not doing watersports it could be lowered or angled to provide more shade when the sun is not directly overhead?
Another post mentions it's removable but no other info and it doesn't look like it will be light or easy to handle.
FL sun can be brutal and there are times one has to sit on the opposite side to get full shade and not end up with a burned shoulder. In those situations, this new e bimini seems like it will just make things worse. I'd like to see a bimini design with flaps or wings or something that can be swung out or attached to the sides to provide that much more shade.
I like the design though. But so many questions. Makes me want to go buy some tubing and make my own!
I really want to see what it looks like to trailer an e with the bimini down, uh, and I guess that means tower also, and if a cover will even ever be available for trailering with both down. At best, I have a feeling the tower itself lowers just within and below the windshield top edge and the bimini pivots and sits on the windshield edge. Now put a cover on, but how will a cover fit over those panels and that top light without getting worn out and ripped? And then what about wakeboard racks? And then there's garage storage. Assuming it can even do any of the prior, once stowed in a garage, it won't be easy to move around the inside of the boat anymore.
I have a bad feeling, I hope I'm wrong, that while the tower may be able to be lowered (on an AR240), Yamaha doesn't really intend it to be lowered for trailering or storage(on an E) because of the solar panels and typical trailering covers will just fit around the tower base like they do now. If so, I don't like the idea of trailering and storing with the bimini always out. I hope this is not the case, but Yamaha may be expecting those panels to always be out in the sun. If that bimini is always out for storage and trailering, in FL, that bimini will get ruined and worn out from bugs, sun, etc in no time.
I hope Yamaha will upload more pics soon showing that there is a way to have the best of everything with this new bimini design.
The other more primary issue is that while it's huge, it's also very very high, to clear the ski rope, that we don't really use that often. When it's that high up, if the sun is not directly overhead, it may not actually be providing as much shade as a lower smaller bimini. Maybe if it was adjustable so that when not doing watersports it could be lowered or angled to provide more shade when the sun is not directly overhead?
Another post mentions it's removable but no other info and it doesn't look like it will be light or easy to handle.
FL sun can be brutal and there are times one has to sit on the opposite side to get full shade and not end up with a burned shoulder. In those situations, this new e bimini seems like it will just make things worse. I'd like to see a bimini design with flaps or wings or something that can be swung out or attached to the sides to provide that much more shade.
I like the design though. But so many questions. Makes me want to go buy some tubing and make my own!
I really want to see what it looks like to trailer an e with the bimini down, uh, and I guess that means tower also, and if a cover will even ever be available for trailering with both down. At best, I have a feeling the tower itself lowers just within and below the windshield top edge and the bimini pivots and sits on the windshield edge. Now put a cover on, but how will a cover fit over those panels and that top light without getting worn out and ripped? And then what about wakeboard racks? And then there's garage storage. Assuming it can even do any of the prior, once stowed in a garage, it won't be easy to move around the inside of the boat anymore.
I have a bad feeling, I hope I'm wrong, that while the tower may be able to be lowered (on an AR240), Yamaha doesn't really intend it to be lowered for trailering or storage(on an E) because of the solar panels and typical trailering covers will just fit around the tower base like they do now. If so, I don't like the idea of trailering and storing with the bimini always out. I hope this is not the case, but Yamaha may be expecting those panels to always be out in the sun. If that bimini is always out for storage and trailering, in FL, that bimini will get ruined and worn out from bugs, sun, etc in no time.
I hope Yamaha will upload more pics soon showing that there is a way to have the best of everything with this new bimini design.
Then they could have jacked the price up to $82,000. I'm sorry, I don't mean to be a wise ass, but it's non functional, impractical and ugly. Was it built around the solar panel idea or the other way around? I can't imagine who thought it was a good idea. Has anyone mentioned the covering issue? Is it only meant to be kept in dry storage? Bow and cockpit covers included? Mooring cover? Trailering cover?
