Bimini top

[Captainpaul]

Hello All, just purchased a 2019 leftover Yamaha 242X and have a question regarding the Bimini top and trailering the boat. Do I take the top off the tower for trailering? If so is that a big deal? Also, what happens with the solar charger on the top of the material. Believe it of not the dealer had no idea, just another untrained sales person who knew nothing. The good news is I saved 13K, I will pick it up this week. Thanks in advance

 

[jacoviii]

We leave it on IF 50MPH AND UNDER. We are 15min from the lake. I fold it up with the solar intact and put it in the head or helm. Some people have had towers bolts become loose, some have had the white bushing in for the tower pin wear, <(Me) , some have had the nut that adjusts the Bimini's height come loose while towing and it flip back like a big parachute. Better safe then sorry.

 

[Captainpaul]

Thanks for the response. Is it difficult to take off and reinstall?

 

[jacoviii]

No, only in the wind. Start at the front and work your way back

 

[captras]

I think the manual says remove at speeds above 60 mph. If you remove it... take pictures of the straps and the way they route thru the tower. It is a bit of an issue getting the straps routed correctly

 

[Captainpaul]

The dealer mentioned that you can drop the tower, leave the top on and just put the trailering cover over everything and tow it. Any thoughts on that idea.

 

[jacoviii]

The cover does not go over the tower even if it is in the down position.

 

[Plpbecks]

When I first got mine, I left the fabric top on The first few tows, speeds up to 75 mph on the highway. Bimini and towers were fine. A flock of birds flew over the boat while it was sitting in the yard one day and made a real mess. Bird crap is hard to get out of canvas, so I took it off to clean it. The next time I trailered to the lake with the Canvas off, I decided I would never trailer with the Bimini on again because:
1. My mpg was 1-2 mpg better with the canvas off, and the ride was way easier, less buffeting and checking my mirror to see if the Bimini blew off!
2. Once you figure the process out, the top takes no more than a few minutes on and off.
3. Think long term, do you really want that nice black canvas to be baking in the sun all week?Probably won’t be easy to find replacement canvas in 5 years...

 

[ZGhost]

Hello All, just purchased a 2019 leftover Yamaha 242X and have a question regarding the Bimini top and trailering the boat. Do I take the top off the tower for trailering? If so is that a big deal? Also, what happens with the solar charger on the top of the material. Believe it of not the dealer had no idea, just another untrained sales person who knew nothing. The good news is I saved 13K, I will pick it up this week. Thanks in advance

Congratulation, excellent choice and welcome to the group. Is that $13k off the 2020 MSRP price?

 

[Captainpaul]

When I first got mine, I left the fabric top on The first few tows, speeds up to 75 mph on the highway. Bimini and towers were fine. A flock of birds flew over the boat while it was sitting in the yard one day and made a real mess. Bird crap is hard to get out of canvas, so I took it off to clean it. The next time I trailered to the lake with the Canvas off, I decided I would never trailer with the Bimini on again because:
1. My mpg was 1-2 mpg better with the canvas off, and the ride was way easier, less buffeting and checking my mirror to see if the Bimini blew off!
2. Once you figure the process out, the top takes no more than a few minutes on and off.
3. Think long term, do you really want that nice black canvas to be baking in the sun all week?Probably won’t be easy to find replacement canvas in 5 years...

Fantastic points, thank you for this information. I’m really glad I don’t have to re invent the wheel here, thanks again.

 

[captras]

From manual for my 2016 242SE. I think the towers are the same. Do NOT trailer with the tower down.

 

[Captainpaul]

From manual for my 2016 242SE. I think the towers are the same. Do NOT trailer with the tower down.

I’m so glad I found this form. I pick up the new boat tomorrow and it I had listened to the dealer, all hell would have broken out on the freeway on my way home.

 

[jacoviii]

From manual for my 2016 242SE. I think the towers are the same. Do NOT trailer with the tower down.

No the towers are a bit different they use a locking pin and not the large hand bolt. The Bimini is also different.

 

[captras]

Every pic I have seen, the 242X and the 242 limited SE have the same tower and bimini. Mine has locking pins, not bolts also.

 

[Plpbecks]

@captras I agree. At least for 2019 the limited E series and X towers are the same. The x is just painted a fancy color.

The non e-series limited s and the AR without the big Bimini might have a different tower, haven’t really compared them.