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Bimini Conversion from Sunbrella to Stamoid Part 2
Continuing the job I work all the Basting Tape / Seam Sealer Tape into the Flat Felled Seam before unfolding the 2 panels to lay the seam flat for sewing again.
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Now this is the worst of the job, Flat Felled Seams are difficult. Only one seam shows on top and two seams show on the underside.
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Now we need to cutout the Bow Pockets again leaving extra for seam allowance and for adding a Hem to the non-binded inner edge of each pocket. The 3/4in masking tape is a great tool for that. You can clean up your tracing with the tape at the same time.
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After cutting and adding the hem to the inside edge of the Bow Pocket it is time to baste it to the Top proper. Again working from the middle outward the basting is completed then to the sewing machine.
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this next picture you can see the stitch from the top, I back stick each end of the bow pocket well to set the stitch permanently.
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Now the other end of the Top is completed in the same manner.
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Another issue I have with the original top construction was the funky little loop that was sewn in for the Center Bow. It allowed the Bow to move too much for me. Some funky little straps were supplied with the original Top to help stabilize the Center Bow but they didn't really do anything. So in all the Bimini Tops or Dodgers I make I add a well placed Center Pocket to lock the Center Bow in place. Once the pocket is cut I hem the two long sides for looks and to add a little bulk for my stitch knot to be pulled into so the seam sealing basting tape can prevent leaks.
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My Walking Foot machine has a hard time running 3/4 in Binding, I bought some to try to bind the edge of the Top with but once folded the distance from my Binding Attachment edge and the presser foot was too great. I had to switch over to a Sunbrella Black 1in Binding to finish off all the edges. I left 2 places for the straps unsewn just in case they are needed but binded the to openings closed. I can come back with a razor blade to open a slot for the strap to go thru if needed but I doubt I will.
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Assembling the frame inside the Top can be a pain, fishing the straps thru but if you tape the straps to the base of the Bow before beginning it is a walk in the park to thread the Bows thru each pocket.
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Now after screwing the Bows to their respective hardware we are ready to install the new Stamoid Bimini Top on the boat.
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The next time I'm caught in a rain at least my top will not leak. The boat I keep on Ross Barnett has a similar Bimini but it is 2 feet longer. I made a custom Bimini 3 Bow Frame that tucks totally out of the way but once unfolded stretches from behind the Cockpit Seat to the Backrest of my Casting Seat. Also it is white, really cool under it fishing on these hot summer days.
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Houston we Have a Problem.............
Houston we Have a Problem.............The Bimini Top is backwards on the frame. This is a Homer Simpson moment for me. I don't know how I got the top turned around but I did before installing on the frame.
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I was looking at it on the boat knowing something wasn't right then it hit me this morning, the stress of the middle bow was not on the triple layer flat felled seam. It was on the single layer part of the top. You can see in the picture the bow runs opposite the seam, they are supposed to run parallel.
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Of course the first thing is to tape the straps to the bows before removing each bow from the top.
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You can see the stress of the center pocket is in the wrong place.
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Now the stress is in the correct place on the flat felled seam, right in the triple layer part of the seam. That fabric is almost bullet proof where the stitches for the pocket are located in the seam.
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The fit is even a little better. A lot of the wrinkles will slowly disappear over time.
