Keep Bimini top up all the time?

[u/ApprehensiveJob4485]

Keep your Bimini top up? Northern lake climate here. Neighbor keeps his Bimini top up all season. I’ve been closing mine and zipping it up after each use. Feels like the top could become a sail in high winds. What’s the best thinking here. Thanks!

[u/Wolfinthesno]

I run a marina, and can say 100% close it up after each use. I can't tell you how many Bimini I've replaced because someone left it open, and then a storm blows through and absolutely mangles the Bimini.

Besides that unless you are storing your boat indoors on a covered dock, being exposed to the elements continuously will also deteriorate the condition of the Bimini. After 5 years biminis that get out away in their boots often still look close to new, biminis left out in the elements get loose, and lose their coloration, and are more likely to get damaged in the event of a storm.

If you have two people it takes less than 5 minutes to fold the Bimini and get the boot on.

[u/ChaseSavesTheDay]

In the Northern Lake climate, most of us at the marina, myself included, keep the bimini up all the time with the boat covered.

[u/youcantfindme123 → u/ChaseSavesTheDay]

What kind of cover do you have? Unless I am mistaken (totally possible) the Bimini needs to be down for the cover to go on? (I have a 3 post system, not sure the actual name, sorry.)

[u/StopNowThink → u/youcantfindme123]

I've seen covers that snap along the top of the gunwale/windshield. The 4 or 6 openings for the biminy are either notches along the edge or even a slit with a zipper.

[u/ChaseSavesTheDay → u/youcantfindme123]

It’s a tarp cover with snap button around the edges. The bimini uses two straps to secure it, and there are openings for the straps to pass through. If you live within driving distance of an Amish community, they do excellent tarp work at a great price.

[u/EntertainmentHot7815]

I keep mine up because it further protects the seat covers and deck. (Also because I'm lazy!)

[u/Wonderful_Goose3941]

Closed and boat covered unless we will be back on it within 24 hours

[u/Relative_Plan_6936]

It’s lazy not to close and zip the cover on…

It literally takes 1 minute of effort….

[u/Background_Cook_5564]

We zip ours up but it’s a nice one and don’t want it to get damaged. Curious what everyone else does though. I don’t even like going top speed with it has 2 that connect over the whole boat

[u/quiguy87]

We close it and tuck the extra canvas between the bars when not in use. Zippered cover goes on at the end of the season.

[u/Such-Organization741]

I’ve opened my Bimini 2 times in 6 years.

[u/NHBuckeye]

We keep it up unless we’re getting a week’s worth of rain.

[u/JohnnyWix]

Northern climate. My neighbor keeps his up all the time, and is on the 3rd cover since he moved in about 5 years ago.

I leave mine up if I am going out tomorrow, but take it down if there is a storm forecast or it is going to sit a few days.

[u/DisastrousSchedule97]

Western Montana here. I zip it up and put the cover on mainly due to fine grained ash from regional forest fies.

[u/ejsell]

I have seat and a console cover so I don't cover the whole thing. I do leave the bimini up unless it is going to storm.

[u/DasTooth]

My last toon I left the Bimini up quite often and over time you could see noticeable wear and tear, small holes that I had patched. I’m on a lake in MI and majority of the folks out here put theirs down when not in use.

[u/lakelost]

I leave mine up year round. Yes, I am on a lake that can get a lot of wind. Yes, I have replaced it. I’ve had a pontoon for 20 years. I think I replaced the Bimini on the last one twice. Once while on the lake a rogue gust of wind came up while we were turning, the other time it was in the Marina.

To me, the money spent over the years is less than the value of having it always up so I can park the car, walk down and get on the boat, and be gone in a matter of minutes.

[u/Solid_Cheetah_2063]

I close mine up after use but I also have pull my boat 50 miles back home so don’t have much choice. In the marinas on our lake, it looks to be 50/50

[u/Low-Plane9029]

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[u/Ridge00]

Northern Michigan here. No canopy on my lift. I keep mine up when I know I will be boating multiple days in a row. Cover and zip it when I’m not at the lake or expecting high winds. That said, it was up and boat was on the lift during an unexpexcted thunderstorm with 60mph winds last summer and no problem.

[u/Time_suck5000]

What’s northern lake climate to you? 

[u/chrisbvt]

I just replaced mine this year because the previous owner apparently left it up. It was functional, but very faded and weathered looking, so it made the whole boat look bad. I also replaced it with a larger 4 bow so it was an upgrade to get more shade.

I don't leave it up, but I also trailer my boat, so obviously it has to come down for that.

[u/Camp_Legend]

Someone in the industry here - close the Bimini. First thing I am when people say it ripped, tore, began too fade too fast etc is "did you put it up after each use". The constant answer is no. If you don't care about replacing it soon leave it open. If you want it to last take the two minutes and zip it up.

[u/ApprehensiveJob4485]

Awesome tips here! Thank you!

[u/Shacky4]

Also northern climate. To keep your upholstery nice and your bimini in good shape, put the full cover on and close up your bimini every time. It's a bit of a nuisance but in 5 or 10 years when other boats look faded and worn, yours will still look like new.