R25 Bimini Knobs

[sdubay]

Hello,

We purchased a lift planning on having a different Bennington pontoon boat. But availability of motor and things deterred that and we ended up with a beautiful R25 Bennington pontoon boat. The problem is that we had already purchased a lift for a smaller pontoon boat. The boat fits under the canopy and all and the weight is ok. The problem is that this is a solid bimini and we have to take off the knobs, bring down the bimini, and glide under the boat lift. The knobs are very heavy and take a bit to unscrew. We are worried about problems in the future with these knobs, but have been assured by the dealer that these can be taken off and placed back on daily. My question is there a different knob system out there that would make things so much simpler or is there a way to keep the knobs from falling into the lake if by chance, they slip out of my hands while I am unscrewing them? Thank you for any advice on this issue.

 

[Vikingstaff]

Beautiful looking boat! Removing the sport arch regularly would not be something I’d be willing to do. No thank you.

I’d do one of two things:

A) Can you just remove the canopy of the lift of the lift itself otherwise meets your needs? You can use the mooring cover for protection. Not as nice as just parking under a canopy, but LOTS easier than always removing and putting back up your sport arch.

Or

B) Sell the lift if it doesn’t fit your boat with the purchase change up. If its a newer lift & canopy, you should be able to recoup the vast majority of your money, and then buy one that works.

We bought a great lift and canopy system for our new boat in 2017. For another reason, it wasn’t fitting our needs and became a problem our first two seasons. Going into our third season (2019) with the boat we switched over to Sea Legs (which solved our issue). I listed our lift & canopy system on Craigslist and FB market place for 85% of what we paid for it. Literally sold it within 6 days. In retrospect I wish I had listed it for a 90-95% of what we paid new.

As for switching out OEM knobs for the sport arch…? I would not recommended it without conversation with Bennington (not your dealership as an intermediary on an issue like this, but rather Bennington directly). I suspect such a change could void warranty on that sport arch. At least I’d be too nervous that it would that I wouldn’t want to risk switching them out, having an issue, and then owning the issue myself. I see staying OEM as a CYA decision…