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I know right?!! It looks more like a Cobalt nest than a hibernation space!

I now have Cobalt nest envy Matt

Tucked away.
For those with an R series, or for those looking at options, here's a shot of the EZ Fold Bimini. Takes a second to drop or lift back. Storage issues are no longer a hassle, and the coverage when opened is huge. Retrofitting the standard R series fixed Bimini is as simple as ordering a few parts.

For some reason the first two pics display upside down on our Windows PC, T. I copied and righted them for ya: ..so sleek & sexy in there...especially with that bimini down!

AsLan7 wrote: Wed Oct 25, 2017 12:14 pm so sleek & sexy in there...especially with that bimini down!

What he said.

Thanks for the pic fix A.
I guess the Bimini needs to be in the upright position for traveling. I’m not sure why, other than the support tubes which connect to the slide shoes rides either tight, or a quarter inch above the track.

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When I pulled my 262 up from Arkansas, it did not have the cross support tube installed and the bimini upright tubes bent slightly due to the left and right motion. Lesson learned.

She looks good in that hibernation space, T. I see you got the battery tender extension cords coming out the back?

I noticed your drive is trimmed up.
Around here I was always told to store the drive in the down position. Anybody else hear/put thier drive down for storage ?

AsLan7 wrote: Wed Oct 25, 2017 2:02 pm .
I see you got the battery tender extension cords coming out the back?

Just to add to the cords hanging.. I know it's a well seal building but mice..rodents etc.. climb cords into boats and rv..

I may suggest a hard paper plate or frisbee slliced partaily to slip over the hanging portion of the cord..
Keeps the little guys out..

It's the cheap version of what the big ships use on there ropes.

Bfun220 wrote: Wed Oct 25, 2017 2:13 pm I noticed your drive is trimmed up.
Around here I was always told to store the drive in the down position. Anybody else hear/put thier drive down for storage ?

I've heard this too, to protect the bellows from setting their shape when trimmed in trailer position, then ripping when moving back down later.

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Awesome pic, Matt.

...and yes, I heard to store with the outdrive down to help the bellows from cracking or taking a "bent" position during the cold weather. Plus it deters critters from entering that rubber area.

With that being said, I stored with mine up this year due to the fact that they may need to move my boat in the spring if it is blocking others. If the outdrive were down, when they pull the boat out of the storage area, it would scrape on the slanted (hard to tell from pic) driveway. I figured it was better to risk the drive being stored up vs. someone scraping it on the pavement.

The animals that take refuge in the bellows will be adopted by my daughter.

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FWIW here in AZ I can't ever remember storing boats with the drive down, and all of ours live on the trailer. Looking around my storage facility, nobody does it there either. I also don't remember ever having problems with cracked bellows. I drop the drive occasionally if I remember, but don't really sweat it if I forget.

thunder550 wrote: Wed Oct 25, 2017 2:47 pm FWIW here in AZ I can't ever remember storing boats with the drive down, and all of ours live on the trailer. Looking around my storage facility, nobody does it there either. I also don't remember ever having problems with cracked bellows. I drop the drive occasionally if I remember, but don't really sweat it if I forget.

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I think it's more of a cold weather thing, T5. The rubber contracts and has less tolerance than the heat of AZ.

The impellers can also do the same thing up here in the NE. Some remove them to keep them from taking that "bent" shape during the winter.

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Scary thought having someone move the boat.. eeeeek on that pic!!!!

I also leave mine down stored and while on the hoist. Plus I'm terrified I'll start it with the drives up ..also gives me a chance to check fluid for trim and rest the steering rams.

Up for towing only.. just leave a note to "Raise drives" before moving

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just leave a note to "Raise drives" before moving

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Unfortunately there is no power (batteries removed) on the boat to move the drive.....and they would not know where to hook the power pack up to in order to have power.

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AsLan7 wrote: Wed Oct 25, 2017 2:51 pm
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I think it's more of a cold weather thing, T5. The rubber contracts and has less tolerance than the heat of AZ.

The impellers can also do the same thing up here in the NE. Some remove them to keep them from taking that "bent" shape during the winter.

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Yes, I was always told it was a cold weather thing. Never heard of anyone removing the impeller. Now you got me thinking.