Questions about Bimini Top for 2018 G23

[jharris]

I have never had a bimini on a boat, but after my wife dealing with askin cancer, it's time to add and I have a few questions I hope this group can ask.

I'm planning to order a factory option through my dealer. Was there only on bimini option available for 2018? From what I can remember there was only one with available with surf pockets.

Does the entire bimini just clamp to the tower or is there and prep work required for the tower? I would prefer to install myself instead of paying and waiting for the dealer but I would not be excited about drill holes or anything of that sort into the tower.

Mainly the boat sits on a lift in the lake in my back yard. I leave the tower up all of the time on the lift. However, I do need to lower the tower to back in my garage and I have to store it with the down since the ceiling in my garage is not tall enough. Can you easily fold down the tower with the bimini attached? Can it be easily stored this way or will I need to remove the bimini for storage?

I do tow the boat a few times a year to different lakes and events. I know the bimini can be folded up into boot. Can it be trailed in the boot at highway speeds (70 mph) or does it need to come off. As crazy expensive as these are, I would hate to destroy on the first trip down the highway.

Thanks for the insight.

[JRW160]

Here are the install instructions for the older G series bimini. I believe it is the same for 2018. Looks like you have to drill 4 holes. http://www.planetnautique.com/Correc...toryBimini.pdf

The tower folds down pretty easily with the bimini installed. You just need to remove the hand knobs. The gas shocks keep it off the windshield.

I've been dealing with bimini issues on my 2016. The bimini frame bent while towing on a long interstate trip. I'm not sure what the exact failure mechanism was. I think either the cover came off and caused it to catch more air than it could handle, or we were just driving too fast, maybe both. After the fact, I figured out that the bimini fabric is surprisingly easy to remove. I think if I had to tow long distance again, I would remove the fabric or the entire bimini before towing a long distance.