How to Make a Bimini Boot

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Keep your bimini top looking its best for years to come with a custom bimini boot. A bimini boot is a cover for the bimini top when it is collapsed. Typically made from the same fabric as the bimini top itself, the boot protects the bimini fabric and keeps it from flapping in the wind when not in use. Learn how to pattern and sew your own custom bimini boot with our step-by-step video tutorial.

Video Chapters:

Patterning with Bimini Top – 1:06 min.
Cutting Patterns – 11:40 min.
Sewing Spline – 14:00 min.
Basting Zipper – 18:44 min.
Sewing Binding & Zipper – 22:59 min.
Installing Sailrite Logo – 30:17 min.
Creating Backstay or Anchor Light Slit – 31:30 min.
Materials List – 43:36 min.

Materials List:

Marine Grade Fabric – we used Top Notch^® 9 Burgundy Weave 60" Fabric, #120452
Seamstick 3/8" Basting Tape for Canvas – #129
YKK^® #10 Black Separating Molded Tooth Zipper (Delrin^® Single Pull Slider) – #104830
PremoBond^® Tex 90 White UV Bonded Polyester Thread 4 oz. (1,350 yds.) – #123337
1" Binding Tape – we used Top Notch^® 9 Polyester Bias Binding Tape Black, #120940
Tape Shelter‑Rite^® 18oz Black 3" (Not Adhesive Backed) – #104222 (optional - for obstacle slit only)

Tools List:

Tape Measure 120" – #102986
Soapstone Fabric Marking Pencil White – #102766
Gingher^® 8" Scissors Right Handed – #19104
Sailrite^® Canvas Patterning Ruler – #107040
Sailrite^® Edge Hotknife Package (110V) – #103800
Sailrite^® Ultrafeed^® LSZ Walking Foot Sewing Machine – #311602
Sailrite® Ultrafeed® Industrial Sewing Table – #120934
Deluxe 5-1/2" Magnetic Sewing Guide – #103597
Sailrite^® 1" Swing‑Away Binder – #100103
Sailrite^®Clear Acrylic Ruler 6" x 24" – #102400
Scribe‑All^®Water Soluble White Marking Pencil – #120681
Yardstick

We built this bimini boot to accompany the new bimini top we built for a local summer camp in our area, Camp Whitley. We used the same fabric as the top, Top Notch® 9. Top Notch 9 is a durable solution-dyed polyester fabric with excellent dimensional stability, so it’s a great choice for tops — especially here in the Midwest where the sun is not as hot as in the tropics.

To pattern a bimini boot, it’s best to remove the entire bimini top, including the frame, from the boat and pattern the boot around it. This will ensure a custom fit with all the proper curves accounted for. In the video, we’ll walk you through patterning the cover, sewing the panels together, adding binding trim and installing the zipper.

How to Make a Bimini Boot 3 — Installed bimini boot on the finished pontoon with Camp Whitley campers aboard

The bimini we built this cover for didn’t have obstacles to pattern around. But if your boat has a backstay or anchor light that needs to be accommodated for at the top of the bimini boot, we’ve also included instructions for creating a zippered slit for obstacles such as these at the end of the video.

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!