westtx, yep. There's a velcro'd hatch in the bimini by the tow point so I can reach through and attach the line. The way I determined how high we could go with the rear bow was to pull a kneeboarder with his hands at water level at 60 feet from the tower. So long as I don't try to pull a rider out of the water at a line length much shorter than that, there should never be an instance where the line is under load and pulling down on the bimini.
I use two 'spreader' poles and two stainless lines between the top of the tower and the top of the rear bow so that we don't have any bimini straps in the way when coming and going from the back of the boat. I planned to do the same up front, but it was just too easy to use bimini straps up there.
The big problem I have is that the bimini frame keeps me from being able to mount board racks where they're supposed to go. In the summer, I move my single rack inside the tower, right above the driver seat. This way I can store one skate and one board (usually my son's smaller one) on the tower - better than nothing. With our awesome trunks, it's not such a bummer unless we're ballasted up and all about riding (eight boards and several fat sacks would be a total drag).
I love the shade, big time. All the old guys end up in my boat, and we stay fresh even after a week in the 110F sun. Wouldn't trade it, but the board rack problem is so annoying, I can't even explain :-(
