bimini

[archimedes]

Anyone know a good place to get a bimini for a CP23. 

I've looked online and everything seems tailored to motor boats.

Any idea what one would cost?

[HeaveToo]

I am not sure of your location, but you should check out a canvass maker.  In my area there are a few source and I would definitely get a quote from a place like the Ship's Tailor. 

If you have a frame, the bimini is pretty easy to design and sew.  If you have an okay sewing machine and some skill, not too much, you can make your own.

You also could check with Compac.  They may have a vendor that they use.

One tip:

Go for a stainless steel frame, is possible, and also make sure that the material is Sunbrella.  I don't care for the other materials at all.

[CaptK]

I bought one for my CP23D from Overtons.com, which is mostly a ski boat place, but they had the best price at the time...

Thoughts: HeaveToo is right, Sunbrella is by far the best, a much superior fabric to coated polyesters and such. And even though I knew that Sunbrella (or "solution dyed acrylic", now that the patent has expired and other mills can copy the fabric), *is* the better fabric, I bought the bimini with the cheaper fabric (Sharkskin maybe?). Why?

For keeping the cost of the initial package low, knowing that I could use the cheapo for a year or three, and then have it to use as a pattern to easily make a new canvas top for the frame using real Sunbrella bought cheap. The price difference (savings) between the two fabrics basically covered what the Sunbrella would cost, so I looked at it as getting a few "free" years for the same cost, plus a little sewing.
Bimini's are pretty easy to sew - I once made one that was 6' fore and aft, but 18' in width. It was for a 36' catamaran.

One thing that has changed since then is that there are other solution dyed acrylic fabrics available that are just as good as the Sunrella brand, and not so pricey.

The other thing that has changed since then is the introduction of Tenara (GoreTex) thread. I doubt that mass manufacturers are using it yet, because it is $$$expensive$$$ - but it will last the life of Sunbrella & beyond (they claim), and it has always been the aging/UV-damage/rotting of the polyester thread that makes biminis, dodgers, and such need restitching after a few years. Another reason to save a little up front, in order to have/make a better product down the road - your homemade bimini can have Tenara stitching.

FWIW - When I sold the CP23 IIRC 2-3 years later (after buying the bimini) the cheap fabric was showing wear (mostly chafe) but still had a couple of seasons usage left in it.

Food for thought.

[Jeff S]

Com-Pac shows "Bimini Top:  Aluminum frame, 9.5 oz acrylic canvas. Selected colors: $603.00" in the price list for a new CP23.  I mention this just as a reference.  I don't know what the price would be less installation plus shipping if you were willing to do the install yourself.