1980 HydroStream Vamp resto-mod

All the bunk u bolts have not been replaced with the correct ones. Trailer still has a few more things to do, but I need to launch the boat to do them.

But, if I launch the boat to do repairs on the trailer... then I am going to want to take out the boat and not do repairs. So, I think the plan is going to be launch the boat, fish for a few hours, then beach the boat and go work on the trailer since it should be dry after sitting in the parking lot for a few hours.

 

Bimini top is here, and its fucking tall as hell.... Its 54 inches tall, but then you stack that onto the sides of the boat and now its sitting a good 8 inches above my head.
So I need to figure out how I can shorten it without messing it up. Most people say you can cut below the lower joint and it wont have any effect on the tops operation, but thats only a few inches dropped. Not nearly enough for it to look good on this boat, So I think I have an idea that will keep everything aligned right and keep the fabric tensioned right.

If I cut 6 inches off the poles where the red lines are on both sides, and move the lower pivot point up it should lower it a bit, then because the two main hoops will need to be at more of a angle to get the fabric tight, it should lower the total height even more while maintaining the correct geometry.

Alternately I can take the front pole out of its spot in the canvas, move it back one spot, remove the 2nd pole completely, and then use snaps to attach the front fabric right to the windshield.

What do you all think? Does this sound like it will work? I cant seem to find many people who make these things shorter, they just deal with them being 7 feet tall.

 

Ok, so I just cut 6 inches off each pole... it does infact work! Cutting 6 inches dropped me down to 48 inches of height. I am going to mock it up on the boat and see if its still too tall, but that height puts it right around head level for me to get up and stand with the top up.

I want to get it down to like 28 inches, but I fear thats way too much to cut off and it wont work right. I might cut another 6 off and see how it sits though.

 

Just cut another 6 inches off, I think it should be at a good level now, but I may cut another 4 inches off the main legs to bring it down a few more inches. But I want to set it up in the yard to make sure it all still works right.