Bimini Top Frustration

[ootyboy]

I have an original Bimini that came with the Epic 21. I think the fabric has shrunk over the years and now it is almost impossible to snap the interior posts of the bimini. I battle with the darn thing for 30 minutes and sometimes I can get the posts to snap and other times it will not work.

Anyone out there know what is causing this? Is there a fix for this? Should I replace the posts etc.

thanks,

[curtis]

ootyboy,
If you can get the fabric off the poles. or not. we have used liquid fabric softener to stretch it out.
We did a tower cover for a 01 S-22 that way. Tower was purchased after TMS closed it doors
in 02, the cover was a little too small. Soak it in the softener for 4 hours, rinse it, then put it up,
then let it dry in the up position.
Give that a try. If there are any other suggestions, please it would be good to hear.
Curtis

[ootyboy]

Curtis,

You are an absolute genius. I soaked the bimini in $20 worth of Costco sized fabric softeners for about 5 hours. Per your instruction I rinsed the bimini and mounted it. The next day I took the entire thing apart and put it back together in no time -- not more tugging and pulling on the posts/fabric.

Thanks again - you saved me a bunch of $$ in having to buy a new bimini!!