Factory Bimini question

[GCSuper]

Putting together an order for a new 210 to replace the 2011 210. Currently have the Z5 and love it, but it seems to get harder and harder each year ( I'm getting old ) to put up and take down. Although I don't really love the look of the new factory bimini, it has to be easier to deal with. The Nautique site doesn't show any pictures of how it's taken down or where it stores. Can one person do this? And does it store on the tower ? I'm also trying to decide on a tower up, or tower down cover. If the bimini is easy enough to put away, I like the tower down cover. Any comments or pics of the bimini folded up for storage.

Thanks

[NautiqueJeff]

Here are a couple of shots of my old G23 with the tower down (bimini in stored position) and cover on.

The bimini disconnects at the front of the tower, but stays connected at the back. It sits forward into the bow when the tower goes down and rests on a pole.



Here's how the factory bimini sits when the tower is down.

[NautiqueJeff]

Here's a shot of my 2015 G23 with the tower-down cover. This boat has the Z5, and I remove it and put it over the engine when I use the tower down cover.

Keep in mind that Nautique does NOT recommend towing with the tower down. That being said, I love the added protection from bugs and the fact that it keeps the tower and speakers out of the sun and rain.

[cedarcreek216]

I just went through this process as well. I can tell you it was a trick to learn but once I figured it out, its great. I put the tower up and down every time I take the boat out and the bimini is so easy to work it is amazing. Also only takes about 15 seconds to fully open the bimini on the water, another huge positive. One thing I did differently when I covered mine than Jeff did, is I removed the bimini support pole and rested the bimini on the grab bar in the bow. I thought there was no way it was going to fit over the entire boat with the support pole in place. I will try a little harder next time, but for now it's perfect. I love the coverage and the ease of use of the factory bimini. One thing to make note of is on the new 210's you have to specify which cover you get, tower up or tower down cover. I think the standard is the tower up cover.

[NautiqueJeff]

Yeah, 2013 was the only year the cover worked with tower up or down. I have two separate covers (one for up and one for down) for my boat this year.

The 210 must be a little different than the G. If you don't use the pole in the G, the bimini frame hits the windshield, and you sure don't want that.

[jesutton3]

My 15 G with the factory bimini has the gas shocks. I see no way possible to put a cover on with the tower down. The bimini is held straight out level with the ground (at top of windshield height). You cannot pull the bimini down into the bow at all without the shocks hitting the windshield frame.

So does this mean the 15 factory biminis cannot be used with the tower down covers without completely removing the gas shocks?

[NautiqueJeff]

Interesting question. I am not sure. Maybe I'll take my tower-down cover over to the dealer and see if I can fit it onto a '15 G with the factory bimini. I am curious now.

[cedarcreek216]

The 210's bow is obviously quite a bit smaller than the G's so when you lower the bimini into the bow it actually rests on the grab bars and stops the big metal support pieces about 4" short of the windshield. Now I did not totally trust that set up so I laid a couple of children's life jackets over the top of the windshield in case the bimini slips.

[GCSuper]

Thanks for the info. That makes my decision a lot easier. I love the Z-5 as long as there are at least two people there, but you know how it is when you get home to do all the work to put the boat up and everybody seems to disappear.
Jeff, do you worry about laying the Z on the engine cover ? I was scared it would leave marks so I've never done it that way.

[NautiqueJeff]

I kept some of the foam pads that they wrap around the Z5 frame at the factory, and I put those back on before I store it like that. I also put something under the adjustable mounts on the Z5 where they contact the vinyl over the engine. Doing that has worked well so far.

[jesutton3]

Yeah the only other G I've been around had the tower up or down cover (14 model I think). So I was pumped to cover my 15 with the tower down. I noticed the cover was slightly different but thought it was just a newer design. After lowering the tower the first time I knew my cover would never work that way. The front of the bimini is literally 2' above the seat backs in the bow.

[NautiqueJeff]

Here's a 230 with tower down and factory bimini. The 210 should be very similar.

[GCSuper]

Here's a 230 with tower down and factory bimini. The 210 should be very similar.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]n446034[/ATTACH]

So it's not recommended to transport like this ? I get it though since the tower doesn't have something to land on.

[NautiqueJeff]

Yeah, they are concerned about the front part of the tower mount not being strong enough to support the tower weight when traveling with speakers and other accessories. When the factory ships them, they ship with the towers down though...

[nyryan2001]

If you tow with the tower down.... you gotta have a cover on it...... or some other method to reduce tower bounce. If you try to tow it with the tower down and no cover... the little bit of wiggle in the down lock position is excessive.... and it"ll wiggle, shake and slam up an down on the mechanical stops/lever at the front tower joint. If it doesnt damage anything.... it"ll sure make you uncomfortable watching it. From the factory its all tied down, shimmed and braced. no tower movement. towing with the cover cinched down tight replicates this and limits tower movement.