2001 Super Air Tower Mount Bimini Problems

[brit_hunsicker]

Looking for some advice on what to do here with my bimini for my FCT2 Tower. I really like having the tower mount bimini that came on my boat. Used the bimini for the first time this weekend and when I went to fold it back down it practically spontaneously combusted. Literally 3 of the mounts that either mount the bimini to the tower or the different bimini bars to themselves just snapped....all at once....and trust me I'm no body builder ha ha. The mounts are all really cheap anyways and look like they are just made out of pot metal. The thing that kills me is that the bimini is sunbrella material and in good shape, along with the framework, beside the fact all of the mounts are crap. Was hoping someone may have some insight on if I can just buy the framework and not the fabric. And if someone could possibly identify the brand of bimini? I will post up a few pictures. Don't have the best of pictures right now but can get some better ones. Unfortunately I don't think the mounts are replaceable, or not meant to be anyways, some of the ones that broke are riveted to the frame. Let me know your thoughts. If i Have to buy a whole new bimini I would like to stay with one that is identical so I can reuse all of the mounting holes on the tower and not have extra holes in the tower. So even a link to the same bimini would be much appreciated.

[brit_hunsicker]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[NCH2oSki]

Drill out the old rivits and replace the with stainless hardware of the same size and design would be the easiest. west marine, overtons, amazon, lots of places to find the hardware.

[shag]

^^^ What he said. No matter what, years of sun and water and up and down are hard on those pieces. Should be able to get Stainless pieces all around for around $50... Then as NCH says, just drill out the old rivets (not that hard) and replace with new and your good to go for another 10 years

[s_kelley2000]

X3, drill out the rivets and you should be able to find replacement parts at most marine supply places. This looks like the like the eye end that you need:
http://www.wholesalemarine.com/sea-d...eel-34965.html

and here is the slide:
http://www.wholesalemarine.com/sea-d...eel-34967.html

But you might want to get the hinged version of that if you have to take off any other fittings to get to it. This version opens in half and clamps around instead of needing to slide from the bottom of the pole up:

http://www.wholesalemarine.com/sea-d...eel-34967.html

For what it's worth I went with all black plastic fittings and they are holding up perfectly with over a summer of use on them. Here is a link to my DIY article:
http://www.planetnautique.com/vb5/fo...bimini-project