Problems with Bimini Top

[JoelP]

Hey everyone,

So we just took our brand new CS23 out on the lake last weekend(holiday weekend in Ontario). I had been watching videos on how to put up the bimini tops on our boat and found several on Youtube. So my wife and I go to put it up and wow.....not the same system and seems super cheap compared to the videos I watched.
Our bimini boot does not velcro around the wake tower and just has one clip strap holding it up in place along the tower(see picture). On top of that, it has this horrible sliding track up the side of both towers to get it into place when you go to put it up and it does not stay in place. I tightened the handles as hard as I could and it still wanted to slide down the track system.
I called our dealer and sent him pictures because he had no idea what I was talking about and after talking to his service manager, all their new Cobalts seem to have this cheap system.

We love our new boat out on the water and it ran great, but we are super disappointed that a boat of this calibre has such a crappy bimini compared to what it used to have.

[Big Block Power]

I wonder if they switched midyear because they couldn't get all the parts and that why it's diff? But I also thought they made those all in house.

The other CS guys will chime it.
Yea that looks like a bad set up for the forces we put on the top.

[XLI]

That doesn't look like my setup.

20210530_200131.jpg

Editing as I just realized it looks like you have the sport interior which I think has a different tower. Does yours have the logo that lights up? Mine does not and I have the notch at the base.

[JoelP]

That doesn't look like my setup.

20210530_200131.jpg

Editing as I just realized it looks like you have the sport interior which I think has a different tower. Does yours have the logo that lights up? Mine does not and I have the notch at the base.

Yours is what we were expecting and what all the videos show online. If ours is what they have gone to.....well, it's terrible.

[XLI]

I'm very sorry to hear that. I would be upset too.

[Big Block Power]

Is almost like it's missing a detent so it won't slide back down. I guess give your dealer a call. Maybe they have a update coming out. I can see how that would always slide back down.

[jma2@fuse.net]

That is a different set-up than mine, and you're right, it appears to be a "cheaper" set-up. I do not like the strap & buckle wrapped around and touching the tower. The chafing and rattling of the buckle will eventually damage the Alwgrip paint on the tower. That paint requires special care to keep it looking new. Read your owner's manual and only use Alwgrip wax for the tower. Anyway, I hope the dealer gets it right for you. When you ordered the boat, did the one you saw on the dealer floor have the "old" version?

[sailor55330]

Sorry to hear that. Unfortunately I think that is the new direction of the brand since Malibu took over. I was told by a source that would know that they are cutting significant costs at the expense of quality. It’s actually sad that if it’s true they are really doing that. Not surprised