How to Make a 3-Bow Bimini Top for a Pontoon

X-HT-300189

Create a comfortable, shaded space on your pontoon boat with a custom-made bimini top. With all-inclusive kits from Sailrite®, you can get a fully custom fit for your boat for less than going to a canvas shop. Our bimini kits come in two parts: the frame and the skin. We already made the frame for our pontoon bimini, and in this how-to video, we'll show you how to pattern, sew and install the fabric top.

Video Chapters:

Pre-Tensioning & Securing Frame – 1:01 min.
Applying Basting Tape to Bows – 6:52 min.
Establishing Skirt Height – 8:47 min.
Patterning Forward Panel – 10:42 min.
Patterning Aft Panel – 15:42 min.
Adding Seam Allowance to Patterns – 21:48 min.
Transferring Patterns to Fabric – 24:05 min.
Cutting Panels – 27:56 min.
Cutting Aft Bow Pocket – 29:00 min.
Cutting Forward Bow Pocket – 31:59 min.
Cutting Center Bow Pocket – 33:55 min.
Cutting Hang Down Tail Pieces – 36:12 min.
Cutting Facing for Sides – 37:32 min.
Binding Sleeve Pockets – 38:07 min.
Sewing Zipper to Center Pocket – 41:26 min.
Sewing Zippers to Forward & Aft Pocket – 45:53 min.
Joining Main Panels – 50:52 min.
Sewing Main Panels – 55:20 min.
Preparing Tails – 1:04:38 min.
Sewing Aft Tail & Sleeve – 1:06:05 min.
Sewing Forward Tail & Sleeve – 1:14:17 min.
Sewing Center Pocket – 1:15:54 min.
Sewing Facing on Sides – 1:20:19 min.
Attaching Forward & Aft Pocket Zippers – 1:24:01 min.
Trimming Tails – 1:34:47 min.
Binding Bimini Perimeter – 1:36:48 min.
Installing Strap Eye for Webbing Straps – 1:41:04 min.
Installing Bimini – 1:44:07 min.
Materials List – 1:46:29 min.

Materials List:

Bimini Skin Kit for 3-Bow Frame – Sunbrella^®Premium Color #121333 or Sunbrella^® Standard Color #121334
Strap Eye Stainless Steel – #28221*
Rivet Stainless Steel 5/32" (for Marine Fittings) – #121165*

*These components are included in Sailrite's Bimini Frame Kits

Tools List:

Gingher^® Scissors Right Handed – #19104
Sailrite^® Canvas Patterning Ruler – #107040
Soapstone Fabric Marking Pencil White – #102766
Sailrite^® Edge Hotknife Package – #103800
Tape Measure 120" – #102986
Sailrite^® Ultrafeed^® LSZ Walking Foot Sewing Machine – #311602
Deluxe 5-1/2" Magnetic Sewing Guide – #103597
Sailrite^®Clear Acrylic Ruler 6" x 24" – #102400
Sailrite^® 1" Swing‑Away Binder – #100103
Drill Steady Tubing Tool – #100967
Professional Rivet Tool – #103520
Tape Measure, Permanent Marker, Straightedge, Needle-Nose Pliers, Drill & Drill Bits

How to Make a 3 Bow Bimini Top for a Pontoon 2

Our bimini skin kits come standard with Sattler® or Sunbrella® fabric, but we chose to use Top Notch® 9 fabric for this project. Top Notch 9 is a durable, solution-dyed polyester fabric with excellent dimensional stability, making it a great choice for tops — especially here in the Midwest, where the sun is not as hot as in the tropics. If you'd like to use Top Notch 9 or any other marine fabric for your bimini top, just give us a call and we'd be happy to customize a kit for you.

In this video, you'll learn how to use Dura-Skrim® Patterning Material to pattern your bimini top, how to pattern and cut the fabric panels, and how to sew it all together.

There are more pontoon-related how-tos in our Marine Projects category. There you'll find tutorials on how to sew boat covers, awnings, upholstery, and even how to sew and install a full boat enclosure. With materials and tools from Sailrite — plus our expert educational content and videos — there's no limit to your DIY potential. Let's make something great together!