My Bimini needs to install on the metal railing that holds my windshield.

This does not please me, but I have seen others this way and I really can't
figure any other place to put it.

My question is- How do I get the hardware to screw tightly to the rail
without going so deep as to hit the edge of the glass?

Is there a trick to this? Or do I just have to use common sense on this
one?

"Franko" wrote in message
. com...


My Bimini needs to install on the metal railing that holds my windshield.

When you say "metal railing", are you talking about the windshield frame?

My question is- How do I get the hardware to screw tightly to the rail
without going so deep as to hit the edge of the glass?

Some windshields are built with this in mind. They typically have enough
material at the top so that you can sink a sheet metal screw and not bother
anything (i.e., not hit the glass). They may also be strong enough so that
the upward forces generated when the wind catches the bimini won't pull the
windshield apart.

Other windshields were NOT made this way. They may not have any room for
screw, and attempting to put one in may end up cracking the glass/plastic
panels. They may also not have any structural strength to keep them from
being pulled apart.

If it is at all possible, I would recommend fastening the bimini to the deck
rather than the windshield. The forces on the bimini while it is sitting on
the trailer in the driveway are minimal. When you are running at 40 MPH
into a 20 MPH wind with gusts to 30 MPH the forces are much higher. If you
catch a big spray of water across the bimini it can have tremendous loads on
it. People will use the bimini poles as handles. Some one will eventually
tie a fender or a dock line to the bimini poles.

It is one thing to have your bimini ripped off and destroyed. That can be
replaced fairly easily. It is another thing to have your windshield
destroyed. Having replaced a couple of them, I can tell you that they can
be rather expensive just for the parts and involve a LOT of labor!

Rod McInnis

Subject: Bimini hardware help
From: "Franko"

This does not please me, but I have seen others this way and I really can't
figure any other place to put it.

My question is- How do I get the hardware to screw tightly to the rail
without going so deep as to hit the edge of the glass?

Is there a trick to this? Or do I just have to use common sense on this
one?

Pop rivets, drill and tap the holes for short screws and/or common sense. :-)

Capt. Bill

Rod, fix your clock, your posting in yesterday.

-W

"Rod McInnis" wrote in message
...

"Franko" wrote in message
. com...


My Bimini needs to install on the metal railing that holds my windshield.

When you say "metal railing", are you talking about the windshield frame?

My question is- How do I get the hardware to screw tightly to the rail
without going so deep as to hit the edge of the glass?

Some windshields are built with this in mind. They typically have
enough
material at the top so that you can sink a sheet metal screw and not
bother
anything (i.e., not hit the glass). They may also be strong enough so
that
the upward forces generated when the wind catches the bimini won't pull
the
windshield apart.

Other windshields were NOT made this way. They may not have any room for
screw, and attempting to put one in may end up cracking the glass/plastic
panels. They may also not have any structural strength to keep them from
being pulled apart.

If it is at all possible, I would recommend fastening the bimini to the
deck
rather than the windshield. The forces on the bimini while it is sitting
on
the trailer in the driveway are minimal. When you are running at 40 MPH
into a 20 MPH wind with gusts to 30 MPH the forces are much higher. If
you
catch a big spray of water across the bimini it can have tremendous loads
on
it. People will use the bimini poles as handles. Some one will
eventually
tie a fender or a dock line to the bimini poles.

It is one thing to have your bimini ripped off and destroyed. That can be
replaced fairly easily. It is another thing to have your windshield
destroyed. Having replaced a couple of them, I can tell you that they can
be rather expensive just for the parts and involve a LOT of labor!

Rod McInnis

"Clams Canino" wrote in message
news:RdtZb.354234$I06.3754655@attbi_s01...
Rod, fix your clock, your posting in yesterday.


Clock is right, I did post it yesterday!

Don't know why it didn't show up till today. A few other posts I made have
never appeared, so I don't know what is going on.

Rod