Awesome work...was actually looking ar a similar Bimini to copy. Plenty of ideas to take home and work on the project. I don't have a trailer so will need to make stuff which will come apart completely.
Great videos, man. Thanks for sharing. I'm stoked to get started on mine for my family. I want something that we can use and enjoy and will be able to take camping with us since I can't tow a camper and boat simultaneously. Great job!
I was just thinking of how I could do this so everything could still be easily removed. If you put D-rings on the ends of the steering rod attached to the motor then used caribeners to attach the cables it would be an easy disconnect. Then extra eye bolts on the box to hook those onto to retain tension so the cable doesn't come unwound or come off the other pulleys. I'm thinking if you take the cable from the port side steering bar to the starboard side of the box, go through the box on that side, lead the line to the front-inside of the box, then to the front center, then do the opposite for the starboard steering cable you could mount the wheel on the front of the box. Then you just figure out how to wind each cable so that turning the wheel to port turns the boat to port and vice-a-versa. When you disconnect the clips from the steering rod you could hook them to eye hooks on the opposite side of the box to retain tension. You'd only need about 3 pulleys for each cable thsi way and the box can just be lifted out and into the back of your truck or SUV. Make your floor in three sections of foldable in half and that becomes easily portable also. Then just toss the battery box, bimini top, and motor in the vehicle and deflate the boat. Boom, still portable. No trailer needed. You can probably tell I've been thinking about this.
That is a damn fine mod. I have the same boat but they changed the oar locks so I don't think your design will work on mine. But I am going to give it a shot.
Thanks for the vid. I am from Uruguay, the price of a canopy here is U$S700, my boat cost U$S1100 (2,90m). LOL. I am going to buil one like yours. You are like a do it yourself hero. Thank you.
I wish you a wonderful good day and greet you from the Ukraine. I plan to build such a canopy - I'm thrilled with your work, how precisely and accurately everything was done. Do you perhaps still have the plans and drawings with the details of all the parts and the great for your wonderful and perfect work? I thank you 1000 times in advance. Many greetings. Gennadiy ......
Yes man yes. Thank u for posting this. If u dont mind, i would like to copy this design. Creating a boat of my dreams. Im buying this boat from amazon and didnt know i could modify it until i went on youtube for reviews of it. I subbed. Great channel.
I'm considering a similar project and really like your setup. My only concern is how the PVC holds up? Is it noisy when you're on the water? What draws me to the PVC is how lightweight and easy to DIY it is.
Thanks for your video's i \'m also making mod on my EX-5 almost done need to mod the same trailer from HB and also attach the motor to my wood box better secure and next The Bimini-Canopy Top....WISH YOU WERE HERE..LOL!!!!!! Peace Bro.
Nice job, this is want to make for my job boat. How did you figure out how long to make the side pipes and where to put the hinges to get it to fold down when not using it? Again great video!!! Any help would be appreciated. 🇺🇸
Hey how do you like that boat in general? We are looking to get it for some snorkeling and other small water trips. I noticed you did the wood floor conversation. Is that a must or just did it to help for fishing etc?
It's surprisingly sturdy once you add the floor. To be honest, I never tried it without the floor, but I did a bunch of research before I bought mine and everyone said the floor is a necessity. I would imagine it's pretty flimsy without it. Generally speaking, I'm super happy with it. However, I did end up buying an aluminum jon boat (I have a video on that conversion) because I fish in some rocky rivers, and I'm in the middle of restoring an 18ft fiberglass bass boat (gotta go faster)
I’m looking forward to see your boat live on water? How Bimini stands on the wind, is it stable enough? Please make the video of your boat with Bimini on water.
The Tee and Elbow that lock the pipe into the oar locks are threaded. He can unscrew either the front or rear one, pop the pipe out of the oar lock, then use the oars. he obviously wouldn't be able to use the awning at the same time as the oars. Actually, thinking about it, if he pulls the rear of the awning support out of the oar lock, it might just sit on the side of the boat while he used the oars. Would have to test that. Regardless, it is easy to remove the rear or front of the awning from the oar lock temporarily.
I love the mods you have done. I am going to be buying an Excursion 5 and will be doing similar mods. Could you measure the lengths of your pvc pieces for your bimini top and share that with me?
I like every thing you did to modify the boat, good job. Now I feel better about myself because most of the time I do not know the names of most of the components that I use when building something. How is it on the water?
These things are stable as can be on the water. I also have a 12 foot jon boat that is not nearly as stable, but it can go faster in the water because of its shape. But for just trolling around, the excursions are great choice
Lookin good.....I notice on alot of inflatable boat vids I don't see registration numbers or reg stickers affixed to the front bow port/starboard......I'm in Calif. and it's a requirement for any motorized vessel over 10 ft.
I'm in Virginia and it has to be registered if it has any type of motor. I have a temporary registration in one of the bench seats, but I've been told Fish and Game is 6 months behind. And the registration is only good for 3 months. smh
But, doesn't Virginia require you to display it on the boat at ALL times.....so, you're saying if F&G is behind by 6 months you get a free ticket to skate for awhile......sorry, I'm confused!!
In Virginia, you have to mail the application and payment to F&G. You can't walk into an office (at least not in my area of VA) with an application and walk out with a registration. The DMV will take your application and fax it to F&G, but that's it. The DMV also gives you the temporary paper registration which has to say in the boat. The permanent license has to be displayed, if you ever receive it.
Yeah, I leave it inflated on the trailer in my driveway with a tarp over it. Too much work to take it apart and put it back together every time I want to put it on the lake
