DO IT YOURSELF - Make your own bimini or dodger with the Sailrite 7/8" Stainless Steel 3-Bow Frame With Fittings. Biminis and dodgers are an easy and affordable way to provide protection from sun and shelter from rain and spray. 3-Bow Frame Kits come with everything you need to complete a 3-bow bimini or dodger frame for your boat including type #304 stainless steel tubing and type #316 stainless steel fittings (no fabric included).
The adjustable 3 bow frame is made from 600 grit mirror finish 7/8" stainlesss steel tubing. All tubing bows are prebent in a custom jig mounted on a wall in our shop. To keep shipping reasonable and to allow for greater customization, the bows are cut just beyond each bend creating three sections — two curved and one crowned. The crown in the center bow increases rigidity and improves the appearance of the finished cover. Once the three pieces are assembled with splines that can be riveted in place, the bow has more strength than the uncut original. Sailrite dodger and bimini frames compare very favorably with custom welded frames but cost 2 to 3 times less! All fittings are stainless steel and secured with set screws. Frame kits include Universal Deck Hinges (#103120) which features a pivoting hinge to compensate for the many different angles of decks, coamings and even vertical surfaces.
To select the appropriate kit, first determine the width and desired height for the bimini top or dodger cover. Width - Decide where the frame will be mounted on the starboard and port sides of the boat. Measure across the boat from one mounting point to the other. Height - Maximum height is limited to the length of the longest bow and dependent upon the angle of the bow when the frame is in place (actual headroom will vary). The length of the dodger or bimini top also varies depending upon the angle of the bows. Frames can be easily reduced in size by cutting the tubing with a hack saw or a tube cutting tool.
3-Bow Frame:
Maximum Width: 106 inches Longest Leg Length: 57 inches (before crown and fittings, add about 5") Nominal Height at maximum Spread: 41 inches (As height increases above nominal height, the maximum spread decreases) Maximum Spread (fore and aft): 100 inches Maximum Distance Between Bows: 40 inches (for dodgers - assumes front sloping panel) 7/8" Stainless Steel 3-Bow Frame With Fittings includes:
Stainless Steel Frame Tubing - .049 wall thickness Eye Ends Jaw Slides Universal Deck Hinges Strap eyes Stainless steel rivets Screws Recommended Items for Frame Assembly:
Riveting Gun (required) Drill Steady Tubing Tool (not required) Tube Cutting Tool or a Hack Saw (required) Webbing or Rigid Support (sold separately):
This frame kit can be used with Webbing Straps or Rigid Support Struts to support the bows. If using webbing straps, the frame can be lowered quickly without removing the fabric.
