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Old 07-03-2018, 11:25   #16
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Re: Bimini top out of aluminum ?????

Check out Atlantic Towers and Hard To Top for ideas.
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Old 07-03-2018, 11:45   #17
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Re: Bimini top out of aluminum ?????

Noisy is a big factor. So are dents! Thin aluminum will dent badly. If I were building a hard dodger or bimini I would use 1/8 high density polyethylene (AKA Starboard another mentioned.) If you are good with fiberglass, then I would use it over foam core for the light weight. The 1/8" starboard will weight less than your aluminum at .6lb /sq ft. It is extremely durable. One caveat; it expands much more than most materials with increasing temperature. You neet to not constrain it by your mounting. e.g. Tight fastening only on the center line, let the edges slide some. Read about it online. I have built several items (cockpit seat structures, dinghy mounting system, etc.) for my boats with it. Al worked great! You can also "weld" the poly. You can screw it together with screws too.
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Old 07-03-2018, 11:57   #18
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Re: Bimini top out of aluminum ?????

PO had one made for our L380 from 3/16 alloy. We have no heat problem even in the tropics. It does seem very heavy though. We get some condensation underneath. After 10+ years the paint is lifting with corrosion under. Obviously we can walk anywhere on it. It's contoured from sheet & welded tabbed to original frame with extra anchoring on the frame. We live aboard and I always consider ways to make a Bimini from hard solar panels as you can never have too much solar.
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Old 07-03-2018, 12:13   #19
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Re: Bimini top out of aluminum ?????

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Noisy in the rain...
We had an old Land Rover, aluminium roof. It had a 2nd alum'n roof skin screwed to original roof ribs. Air flowed between the two layers and kept things cool(er). This might work with two thin skins and stiffen up the whole thing depending on rib size/spacing.
I was just thinking of the tropical roof on the landrover s3 (anout 1978) they had 2 skins so a aluminium bimini and solar panels would cut the heat down ,, ours did (australian heat no air con ) the noise i dont believe would be any worse as we have 2 x 120watt solar paneles above out canvas bimini and the noise is not that bad ,, my vote would be give it a crack ,,, you may be on to some thing ,,, i think i will try next year when my canvas falls apart for the 25th time ,,

Send some pics , Great post !
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Old 07-03-2018, 12:23   #20
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Re: Bimini top out of aluminum ?????

I think I would opt for 1/8" thick aluminum panels, have them anodized and rivet them together. No paint, add solar panels instead.
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Old 07-03-2018, 12:37   #21
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Re: Bimini top out of aluminum ?????

I replaced the canvas Bimini on my Lagoon 470 with azek type 1/2"
pvc panels. Finished size was 14*9'


20% the cost of starboard
Used existing frame
Can be glued
Available at lumber stores
Easily machined
Reasonably light
Can now walk on Bimini
can be special ordered in long lengths
Basic carpentry and cabinet making skills help as well as a familiarity with McMaster Carr
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Old 07-03-2018, 13:04   #22
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Re: Bimini top out of aluminum ?????

I put a 120 sq ft African Queen style 1/16 inch aluminum top on my 17 ft welded aluminum runabout 12 years ago and my biggest complaint is that it gets condensation under it which becomes rain when underway - I put it on to stay dry so defeats the purpose. Rigid foam insulation would solve the problem but I am not sure how to attach it as I carry lumber and stuff up there causing a fair amount of flexing- not something you would have to worry about. I attached it to 1 1/4 inch al. pipe with pop rivets. Pounding to weather at 25 knots into 20 knots of wind and 2 foot chop the pop rivets pull through the sheet. Now that it is old welding it to the frame is out of the question so have to keep going up in rivet size.
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Old 07-03-2018, 13:26   #23
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Re: Bimini top out of aluminum ?????

I would use polypropylene honeycomb with a layer of chopped strand on the top and bottom. Very light, rigid . You can only bolt though it don’t try and use screws. My friend rebuild his powerboat interior and a swim step out of it and 2 years later the swimstep still can take a couple of persons with no issues. I used it on a rudder rebuild and covered it with the required woven Matt and my rudder is still solid
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Old 07-03-2018, 13:58   #24
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Re: Bimini top out of aluminum ?????

I looked into using interlocking panels of aluminum roofing that had baked on paint finish in various colors. The panels interlocked and were 3 by 12 ft. To do my 9 by 9 bimini would cost about $550. I have a 30ft boat and though the weight would be too top heavy with my solar panel.
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Old 07-03-2018, 14:04   #25
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Re: Bimini top out of aluminum ?????

Quote:
Originally Posted by kcj View Post
I replaced the canvas Bimini on my Lagoon 470 with azek type 1/2"
pvc panels. Finished size was 14*9'


20% the cost of starboard
Used existing frame
Can be glued
Available at lumber stores
Easily machined
Reasonably light
Can now walk on Bimini
can be special ordered in long lengths
Basic carpentry and cabinet making skills help as well as a familiarity with McMaster Carr


PVC trim board is by far the best solution I've seen for this. You'll love your new top.

Matt
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Old 07-03-2018, 14:06   #26
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Re: Bimini top out of aluminum ?????

Year's ago, i owned a 37 ft. Cutter, that i wished to add a dodger, the cost of installing one professionally was prohibitive, i located a set of S.S. bows at a boat consignment store and cut them down to fit, the canvas shop wanted $ 3,000 to cover the bows, so i purchased a 4x8x1/16 sheet of aluminium and riveted it to the bows, the unit was strong enough to stand on, as the top was curved, i then had the canvas shop fabricate the Sunbrella enclosure with Isinglass windows for considerably less money, i didn't paint the top, but did insulate underneath.
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Old 07-03-2018, 16:29   #27
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Re: Bimini top out of aluminum ?????

With properly prepared aluminum (i.e. chemical conversion coating) and using aircraft primer and top coat, it should last a very long time. Our flying club has a 1957 Cessna 182 with original paint.
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Old 07-03-2018, 17:08   #28
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Re: Bimini top out of aluminum ?????

I used starboard but I would like AL. I would powdercoat it instead of paint or anodizing. As previously noted I expect it would be pretty noisy in the rain, but hey a rainy day on the Cat, still better than a dry day at work!
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Old 07-03-2018, 17:52   #29
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Re: Bimini top out of aluminum ?????

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan_K View Post
With properly prepared aluminum (i.e. chemical conversion coating) and using aircraft primer and top coat, it should last a very long time. Our flying club has a 1957 Cessna 182 with original paint.
Yeah, AFAIK airplanes dont ply the saltwater seas. Take a look at the bottom several feet of many boat masts , properly prepared, acid etched, chromate prime, they still often bubble up fast.
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Old 07-03-2018, 19:36   #30
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Re: Bimini top out of aluminum ?????

I was facing the same dilemma with the canvas needing frequent replacements on my Cloud 9 cat.
I replaced the canvas with a aluminium top no insulation and the top does get a bit warm. The new top is strong enough to walk on and hold two solar panels and is a great water catchment also providing a secure hand hold. The whole thing weighs about 100kg and cost about $6000, AUD the canvas was going to cost $4000 so the added cost was made up fairly quickly all and all I have no regrets
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