Aftermarket hardtop Bimini on R27?

[DDean]

It feels like it should be easy for someone to design and mold a hardtop bimini that clips onto the existing frame for an R27OB? This feels like it would be a big upgrade as well.

Has anyone approached a maker to see what this would take? I bet that many R27 owners would like it. Has FM considered this as a factory option?

Inquiring minds want to know!

 

[80Ramey]

I often imagine a full solar “hard top” in place of the canvas. It doesn’t seem it’d be that difficult. I’ve seen an ad for a RV awning that has roll out panel as well.

 

[Dr Cube]

I often imagine a full solar “hard top” in place of the canvas. It doesn’t seem it’d be that difficult. I’ve seen an ad for a RV awning that has roll out panel as well.

Boy have I wondered the same thing. I've also wondered about a hybrid canvas and solar. Neither hard or canvas is the issue though, it's the total PITA of increasing the solar wattage beyond what the boat's MPPT and charge controller can handle inherently. I think when Submariner did his solar upgrades he upgraded the MPPT but then opted to only have solar charge the house batteries because the dual output charge controller was unobtainium (not sure). This made sense to me because if your engine battery is low you can always bridge it to the house.

 

[freedomvango]

something like this?
DSCF3236 by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

i didnt want fiberglass because of weight.

Fully loaded two people can easily manipulate the one I designed. solar panels only weigh 60lbs total.

 

[venajeff]

Boy have I wondered the same thing. I've also wondered about a hybrid canvas and solar. Neither hard or canvas is the issue though, it's the total PITA of increasing the solar wattage beyond what the boat's MPPT and charge controller can handle inherently. I think when Submariner did his solar upgrades he upgraded the MPPT but then opted to only have solar charge the house batteries because the dual output charge controller was unobtainium (not sure). This made sense to me because if your engine battery is low you can always bridge it to the house.

When I upgraded to a lifepo battery and a bigger solar system I went with a single bank solar charger. In order to make this work I had to rewire some of the circuits. I removed everything, I mean everything, from the engine battery except the engine itself. I brought the parasitic load down to zero while the engine switch is off. I also replaced the shore power charger with two units. One lifepo charger and a tiny trickle charger for the engine battery.

 

[freedomvango]

When I upgraded to a lifepo battery and a bigger solar system I went with a single bank solar charger. In order to make this work I had to rewire some of the circuits. I removed everything, I mean everything, from the engine battery except the engine itself. I brought the parasitic load down to zero while the engine switch is off. I also replaced the shore power charger with two units. One lifepo charger and a tiny trickle charger for the engine battery.

What inverter did you use?
We find using a victron multiplus and using the trickle charge function works great for engine battery, then we just need one separate for the thruster

 

[venajeff]

What inverter did you use?
We find using a victron multiplus and using the trickle charge function works great for engine battery, then we just need one separate for the thruster

I am using the lifepo to power the bow thruster. It is rated at 200 amps continuous and 400 amps for 5 seconds. That seams more than enough to handle the startup current. I also run the windless off the lifepo. The only downfall is I can't run everything at once.
I used the victron solar charger and victron DC to DC charger from the engine, the LiTime waterproof 10 amp charger for the house, and the NOCO 2 amp for the engine.
The system seems to be working great. With 500 watts of solar I generally don't even bother hooking up shore power. We only do it when we want to run an electric heater.

 

[Ataman]

something like this?
DSCF3236 by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

i didnt want fiberglass because of weight.

Fully loaded two people can easily manipulate the one I designed. solar panels only weigh 60lbs total.

Have admired this in your other posts! How did you make the frame for the solar panels?

 

[freedomvango]

Have admired this in your other posts! How did you make the frame for the solar panels?

we manufacture it 🙂

 

[johnbenj]

we manufacture it 🙂

Can you point me to the hardware you are using for mounting the bike?

 

[freedomvango]

Sure

It's our diy clamps we have manufactured for us (we use the same size tube that we use for the sprinter roof racks we make)

Roof Rack DIY Clamp Mounts by FreedomVanGo

These USA made and machined Aluminum clamps are made specifically for our FreedoVanGo Roof racks with a 1.33" tube diameter fitting. They are designed and engineered for a solid, tight fit to hold anything from tools, to solar panels and more! Expand your FVG Roof Rack with anything you can...

vanpartswarehouse.com

That is used to mount a freedom coast designs adjustable mount

Adjustable Fork Mount

This is our premium fork mount, built to fill the needs of the van builder or for any space that requires maximum adjustability (camper shells, short truck beds, etc). If you want to mount bikes close to each other, this is your go to mount! It features tool-less attachment to L track, as well...

freedomcoast.net

I use this mount in a few vans and the boat and swap it around. Can mount to L track or has holes for mounting

And on the bottom side used some generic Amazon 1" clamps bolted to a 6" piece of l track to hold the wheel. I bungee the bike down using the l track as tie down point