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Purchase '05 Cobalt 226 last spring. Nice boat! Had many others, but for a production boat its nice. Just came back from a long trip to my favorite late in Washington State - Lake Chelan. I decided to drop the bimini down while under tow. The trouble is it wants to scare up the gelcoat as the brackets are in the way. I lay it down over the motor box area. What all do you do? Also seems that the top is not well designed to be tight. Tried adjusting the straps and connection rods, but loose toward the front section. Love to hear what you all are doing or have modified?

Look forward to your response.

Bill

I have a 2007 212 with factory bimini. For towing I leave the bimini up, but not open -- it is covered by the boot. My factory bimini is rock solid. I have no issues with keeping it up, but lower that sucker and it will do some damage if you don't protect your topsides / windshield.

If you tow a lot you may want to get an extra boot -- one for show, one to tow. The boot catches bugs on the highway. Some folks will cover the boot in plastic wrap, but that strikes me as a PITA.

Hotboat wrote: Tue Aug 08, 2017 6:05 pm Purchase '05 Cobalt 226 last spring. Nice boat! Had many others, but for a production boat its nice. Just came back from a long trip to my favorite late in Washington State - Lake Chelan. I decided to drop the bimini down while under tow. The trouble is it wants to scare up the gelcoat as the brackets are in the way. I lay it down over the motor box area. What all do you do? Also seems that the top is not well designed to be tight. Tried adjusting the straps and connection rods, but loose toward the front section. Love to hear what you all are doing or have modified?

Look forward to your response.

Bill

Hey Bill...welcome to the Cobalt Chat site. So glad you found us!!!!

Great boat you got there. If I can picture your boat, I believe you are talking about a bimini without any type of wake-board arch.

I remember when I towed my 262 from Arkansas to Pennsylvania. You're right, having that bimini all the way down would tear up the gel coat. I kept mine up the whole way. However, boy did it get some bugs on that top Cobalt sheath that covers the top bimini. I kinda wish I could have taken her off completely as I watched it rock side to side in my side mirrors during the long journey but it was awkward and would not fit anywhere securely in the boat or in my SUV.

If I had to do it over, I would consider using those foam pipe wraps from Lowe's or Home depot and "wrap" them over the metal bimini rods. The wraps are like a buck for 3-5 feet. Then secure those with some tape wrapped around the poles. That way they won't bang or dig into your precious gel coat. Then just strap or use bungee cords to keep the bimini from bouncing around.

Maybe others have some ideas for ya'. Anyways, again, welcome aboard the Cobalt Express!

Good idea! Normally I would have thought that, but not thinking? I felt like it should have already been considered. I am not comfortable going down the road with it up, then you have to take it down again to garage it. Thanks! Bill

Hotboat wrote: Tue Aug 08, 2017 6:32 pm Good idea! Normally I would have thought that, but not thinking? I felt like it should have already been considered. I am not comfortable going down the road with it up, then you have to take it down again to garage it. Thanks! Bill

Sure...hope you can post some pics of that beauty, Bill. We love them here.

Btw, did you ever resolve your front seat issue in that 226?

I left my 220 binimi on if I used it.most of the time it was having in the garage. Yes even when not towing if I layed it downi used a cut up foam floaty. My tower one is awesome it's so small and ready to store and put up I just leave it on the tower.

Big Block Power wrote: Tue Aug 08, 2017 7:32 pm I left my 220 binimi on if I used it.most of the time it was having in the garage. Yes even when not towing if I layed it downi used a cut up foam floaty. My tower one is awesome it's so small and ready to store and put up I just leave it on the tower.

Yes, that fold down tower is the bomb BBP.

AsLan7 wrote: Fri Aug 11, 2017 12:24 am

Big Block Power wrote: Tue Aug 08, 2017 7:32 pm I left my 220 binimi on if I used it.most of the time it was having in the garage. Yes even when not towing if I layed it downi used a cut up foam floaty. My tower one is awesome it's so small and ready to store and put up I just leave it on the tower.

Yes, that fold down tower is the bomb BBP.

See how bad my auto correct was on that post. Omg

Well, at least it did not try to auto-correct bimini to booty or Bit@#y

AsLan7 wrote: Fri Aug 11, 2017 9:01 am Well, at least it did not try to auto-correct bimini to booty or Bit@#y

It always puts it to bikini.