Bimini Tops For Your Boat

Bimini tops are designed to keep the sun off your head and you out on the water as long as possible. Here are some of our favorites.

Spending a day on the water can become an issue if it is too sunny. But fear not! You can keep the sun’s rays at bay with one of many Bimini tops available on the market. These tops provide shade in a variety of sizes and colors without creating a closed in feeling.

Generally, Bimini tops comes with their own hardware and tie-down straps for quick installation and will also give protection from light rain. However, they are open at the sides so they will not keep off the rain if it is windy.

With a Bimini top everyone can spend as long on the water as they want without having to worry about sunburn – letting everybody enjoy fishing or joy riding all day. Bimini Tops come in all sizes and all prices. They are made with tough material to withstand the hottest sun.

But with Bimini tops, quality really does matter. The boating magazines are always warning about buying Bimini tops with wire hooks or plastic eye straps as these are key stress points and can lead to a disappointing experience.

Another consideration when buying Bimini tops is how quickly and easily they can be installed, assembled and stored. Many models come with their own storage box. Durability and maintenance are other things to take into account.

Most boat builders use digital templates from which suppliers computer-cut canvas to make their Bimini tops. There is also a choice between stainless steel and aluminium tubing, as well as quick release deck fittings that snap into place. Pull pins are regarded as being hard to align.

Shademate Sunbrella 3-Bow Bimini

One of the most highly regarded models in the Shademate Sunbrella 3-Bow Bimini, which has a top curved side profile for less wrinkles. This model comes with deck mounts that swivel for various mounting options, zippered bow pockets for easier installation and a seven-year warranty.

A lot of work has been done on this top to improve its overall performance to give a better fit and appearance. The zippered bow pocket that comes with it has a wider middle pocket so it’s easier to install with no need for extra straps between bows.

The new design also includes a curved side profile for a better looking fit with less wrinkling, while a single seam down the center of the top helps the fit and decreases the chance of seam failure.

Screws used in the assembly of this Bimini top frame do not contact the fabric, so there is less wear and tear. It is made with 9.25-oz acrylic fabric, which is world renowned for prolonged protection against the sun.

Shop for a Shademate Sunbrella 3-Bow Bimini top here

Westland Hurricane 2-Bow Bimini

For smaller fishing boats and dinghies there are more economical Bimini tops. An example is the Westland Hurricane 2-Bow Bimini top, which provides protection from the sun and rain, yet still allows plenty of room to move about the boat.

The frame of this Bimini top is made of sturdy 7/8″ anodized, heavy-wall aluminium tubing with high-density, durable nylon fittings. There are also two top materials to choose from, a silver gray marine canvas or marine vinyl. Both are described by the manufacturer as resistant to ultraviolet deterioration, mildew and rot.

Shop for a Westland Hurricane 2 Bimini top here

Westland 3-Bow 46″ High Bimini

For medium sized boats, one of the most popular Bimini Tops is the Westland 3-Bow 46″ High Bimini Top, which is a standard six feet long, and is designed to provide protection from the sun and the rain. A unique feature of this Bimini Top is that the top folds down and out of the way in seconds.

These are the same Bimini tops as supplied as original equipment on many name-brand boats and the three-bow frame is made of 7/8″ anodized aluminium with double-wall, reinforced main bow. It has nylon fittings, deck mounts included and is described as mildew resistant.

If the color of your boat accessories matters, then this model comes in a wide variety of shades including burgundy, forest green, aquamarine, captain’s navy, blue, gray, white and red.

Shop for a Westland 3-Bow 46” Bimini top here

Oceansouth 2 Bow Bimini

The Oceansouth 2 Bow Bimini top is available in three different sizes. It comes as a two-bow version that is described as a strong, economical Bimini top ideal for smaller boats that are 45 inches high with a canopy length of 63 inches.

This particular Bimini top has a one-inch bright dipped aluminium snap lock frame, double stitched UV resistant heavy duty polyester 9.45 oz. canvas, marine grade nylon fittings and comes with an integrated storage boot.

Boat owners who might be worried about their Bimini Top color fading have been catered for here. According to the manufacturer it is color fast to light grade six to seven so the dyed polyester canvas is regarded as long wearing.

Shop for a Oceansouth 2 Bow Bimini top here

Bimini Top Fabric

If you only need the fabric, perhaps because you want to replace a canvas that has ripped or is old it is possible to buy just the Bimini top material.

SurLast polyester replacement fabric top fits both standard and free standing Shademate Bimini Top frames. This 100% Bimini top fabric is designed for ease of use and flexibility. The fabric has a urethane coating that adds to its stability by making it highly water resistant as well as shrink and stretch resistant. This durable mildew and UV-resistant fabric provides excellent strength against tears and abrasions and comes with a four-year warranty.

Overall, Shademate Bimini tops are built for easier installation, including fabric replacement. The manufacturer has designed zippered bow pockets to securely hold the top to the frame and make it easy to switch colors or replace tops.

These Bimini tops also come with a cut out for a navigation light and the curved side profile has been designed to allow fabric replacement with less wrinkling. Indeed, a single seam down the center helps the fit and decreases the chance of seam failure.

This Bimini top fabric only also includes a free matching, fully zippered storage boot to keep the top clean and neat when not in use. The fabric size is 96 to 102 inches wide and 10 feet long.

Shop for Bimini top fabric here

We are committed to finding, researching, and recommending the best products. We earn commissions from purchases you make using the retail links in our product reviews. Learn more about how this works.