If you have seen my boat build thread you may have noticed the silver rails inside the boat, each has a fitting that you thread a bolt into. I thought these were for a top of some sort, but I actually have no idea. No Bimini top that I can find uses these. Anyone have any ideas?
Close up. I also have two of these, I am assuming downrigger mounts?
Yup, Bimini top part
https://www.amazon.com/Bimini-Slide-carver-Covers-Length/dp/B012RQ0IGU
The other part might be for a rod holder https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/bass-pro-shops-360ht-rod-holder?
Oh, so once you fold it down, you can slide it back and out of the way? Would be in the middle of my boat, but OK.
In reply to pinchvalve (Forum Supporter) :
Generally for transport, I think. I don't mess with boats with tops that often.
The rail is a bimini top slider. You thread a thumb nut through the base of a pole so it can pivot up like a convertible. The slider is there on some boats because where you want it to live while it's up is often different from where you want it to live when it's down. My old boat had sliders so that I could fold it down and slide it back to be stored clear back above the transom and not be in the way. My current boat just has a fixed bracket because up/down it can live in the same place.
The other thing is indeed a rod holder base. It has a torx-ish looking keyway inside so you can stick the rod holder itself down in it in any position you choose. A downrigger mount takes something more substantial. I think the drag created by a downrigger would twist that plastic off, but it could be used to hold the rod associated with the downrigger. Here is the rod holder that would likely go in that base. Looks like an Attwood to me:
Most of the freshwater/great lakes/lake trout downrigger mounts I have seen are of the Cannon variety and use a snap-in base or a swivel base with about an 8" square footprint.
I really like those rod holders, FWIW. Not my favorites, but a very good budget option.
Thanks all, I plan to chill and swim, Not fish so I'm probably gonna lose the rod holders. I'll look at the Bimini top though, that would be good in the summer
Look around at Bass Pro Shop or something before you remove the holders. There might be something else that uses the same system you can use. Drink holders or some such.
For bimini tops, they are super simple. They are usually sold in about 3 heights (the length of the biggest pole hoop) and about 4 widths. They also come in 2, 3, or 4 hoop designs which basically is an indicator of their F-R length.
For a boat that is that size, I would do a 3-hoop bimini. Pick your height, pick your width. You'll find that most biminis are either too wide or too narrow for your exact gunwale spacing, but the aluminum is very flexible. I suggest taking a look at the surroundings (windshield pillars, do the gunwales taper as they go to the back, etc) and pick a size that suits. My guess is that since you're down inside the coaming, choosing the width that is slightly less than your width would be the ticket.
I got my last one on Amazon for something like $139 and it is fantastic.
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