Northstar Products Inc

Keeping Water Off Your Boat Cover

2012-02-02T06:43:00.000-08:00

Putting your cover on your boat can be one of the most painful things you do for your boat on a regular basis. The covers are bulky and hard to handle. You have to generally twist your body into a position it was not meant for in order to snap it. It can get pretty rough. Than you have to worry about it raining once you leave because no matter what you do it ALWAYS seems to hold water. It wouldn't be so bad to put it on if you knew when you came back you wouldn't have to bail water out of it in order to go through the process of uncovering it.Generally the main reason it holds water is the cover is too loose. You seem to have your adjustable poles extended as tightly as possible yet the cover still holds water. Chances are though, you don't have the poles extended as far as they could be. Try this...button your cover up and extend your poles as far as possible and tighten it up. Than without adjusting the pole disconnect it from your cover. Now adjust it up another 1-2". Reconnect it to your cover and push the bottom back into place so it is straight up and down. You will be surprised at how much tighter you will get your cover with those extra couple of inches and how much more water will be shed by doing so.Of course If your cover has been holding water in places for awhile you may find those areas are still sagging. Especially if the fabric is not the best quality. The only thing to really correct that will be to add another pole. There are a lot of products out there that will allow you to add another adjustable pole. The best I've found is a vent cap with a cam locking pole. Most websites that sell marine products will have them listed under accessories or full cover accessories. Invest a small amount of money to fix problems like that first instead of having an entire new cover custom made for your boat. It may come to having a new cover made but lets try the easy fix first. By the way, none of this will make actually putting the cover on any easier, but you will be able to rest easier knowing the cover shouldn't hold water anymore.Happy Boating!

Re-usable Grocery Bags, Duffle Bags and More!

2012-01-19T07:41:00.001-08:00

Northstar Products is so much more than just the bimini tops that we are becoming more and more famous for. We can produce just about anything made of canvas or heavy duty fabric. All of the products that we make are made right here in the USA. We have been making canvas grocery style bags for years. These aren’t anything like the 1.00 bags you can buy in the store at the checkout line. These are going to last you for years and years and years. They are machine washable and the most durable re-usable grocery bag available. We make re-usable lunch bags as well. Over the past few months we have really started looking at other products that we can do better than most, for a great price, made in the USA.

Over the years we have made many duffle bags as they have become necessary for one of our employees or family members. They are large and made with some of the most durable fabrics available. These aren’t nylon bags, these are heavy duty bags yet lightweight. We began selling them on ebay just to see what others thought and sure enough they love them as much as we do. We don’t cut corners on anything we do and our customers know it. That is another reason why they love these duffle…high quality materials that we use to put them together. Heavy duty YKK #10 zippers with metal sliders, treated UV protected thread holds the entire bag together. Add a spacious front zippered pocket for extra storage.

We are getting ready to also come out with patio umbrellas made with among other materials…sunbrella.

Sunbrella® brand fabrics hold the “Seal of
Recommendation” by The Skin Cancer
Foundation, an international organization
dedicated to the prevention of skin cancer.
The Seal signifies that Sunbrella fabrics have
passed the Foundation’s rigorous testing
criteria and offer significant levels of sun
protection.

Be on the lookout for not only sunbrella patio umbrellas but outdoor cushions and patio sails.

There is a lot on the horizon Northstar Products. Leading the way in quality and service.

Sailboat Bimini Tops

2012-01-18T12:46:00.000-08:00

When we first began Northstar Products we specialized in Pontoon Bimini Tops. We wanted to test the waters a bit to see how we would fair amidst so much competition. We didn't want to offer too much too soon and find ourselves in the position a lot of companies end up in...going out of business by growing too fast. We have been doing this quite awhile now and attempted to slowly grow the business into other avenues. We began with making bimini tops 10' wide to accomodate houseboats and boats with a wider beam. That went really well too. Over this winter we decided to make all of our bimini tops for pontoons and houseboats with a 1.25" square frame option. So now instead of a 1" square frame you can get the more popular 1.25" frame. That decision was driven by our customers and potential customers. There was enough interest that we felt good about bringing it to life. We are grateful we listened to our customers! The frames are going over very well. This brings us to the sailboat bimini tops. Those of you with a sailboat do not want square tubing for the framework. Stainless steel round is the metal of choice for sailboats. We have been workin wtih stainless as American Canvas for over 35 years. The trick has always been to knock the frame down for shipping and have it reassembled with close to the same strength and integrity. We figured out an amazingly simple way of doing that. You can read more about how we do it in a previous blog. Sailboat bimini tops are special in that most require a pass through for the backstay. We along with the help of one of our customers came up with a great way to do that as well.

Practical and easy. Looks great and is extremely user friendly. All we need to know is the length, width, and heigh of the bimini you want. There is no need to spend an outragous amount of money on a bimini top made at a custom canvas shop. We can help you out and provide the much needed shade and function you so desire. Check us out.

High Quality Bimini Tops At A Low Price

2012-01-09T17:39:00.001-08:00

We have been making bimini tops for the boating industry for over 35 years. From the way we manufacture our bimini tops to the way we run our business we are not your typical manufacturer.

For many years now we have been supplying boat manufacturers with the very best bimini tops available. We are not the largest out there but we are by far the best. When the economy took a dive in 2008 we knew we had to get creative to stay afloat. We have known for years that the choices out there for a boat owner to buy a new bimini top was limited. The ones that were out there were very similar to each other in price and quality. High price sub par to poor quality. But they could get away with it because no one else was making them on a large scale…in essence there was no real competition. There was no real reason to improve on price or quality. There is a reason now. That reason is Northstar Bimini Tops.

As the manufacturer we save our customers hundreds of dollars on a bimini top. We are not a distributor. We do not buy our bimini tops and then resell them. We design them in house. We manufacture them in house. Our customers get the highest level of quality and service available. We have been slowly growing and are beginning to make ourselves known.

The toughest obstacle we have to overcome is being noticed online when someone does a web search for bimini tops. So often when you search online for anything you typically stop after the first page or two of search results. I did the same thing. I don’t anymore. I search out the best deal. Not just the lowest price. In this world of online purchasing there is no relationship anymore between the buyer and seller. We try to create one online. We are available for questions at any time. We want to make sure you are comfortable with your purchase. We want you to feel confident what you are buying will fit your boat. We work one on one with you when what you need is not just a stock bimini off the shelf. When you need an alternative way to mount it, or a different height or width. Perhaps you want to install your bimini on a sailboat and have the backstay pass through the bimini top. We can help. We will work with you to make it happen. No extra charge on most special requests.

We are growing our business the old fashioned way…by providing an outstanding product at an outstanding price. We want to grow because of word of mouth not because we paid a bunch of money to get on the first page or two of an internet search. We not only want to earn your business we want you to be so happy you will tell your boating neighbors and friends about us.

We are here for you. We are ready to help.

Northstar Bimini tops…Leading the way in quality and service.

Stainless Steel Frames–Knockdown Style

2011-10-01T11:29:00.001-07:00

The market is flooded with bimini tops for your fiberglass runabout boat. There are seemingly hundreds of sites online to buy a replacement bimini top and frame. I’ve noticed that virtually all of the framework for those bimini tops are made with 7/8” round aluminum. I’ve seen plenty that reinforce the main bow with 3/4” tubing to keep it strong. They are decked out in stainless steel hardware as well. The frames are cut down and then put into a box for you to reassemble when you get it. Putting the frame back together is pretty easy and though it is not very sturdy you realize it will do the job. It may not be exactly what you want but it will work. You may have had the option to get the frame in stainless steel but realize that there is no way the frame will be strong enough or simple enough to put back together. After all, once you cut stainless…forget it…the strength and integrity of the frame is shot. If only there was a way to knock the stainless frame down and have it strong once it is reassembled. I think you know where this is going…Our stainless frame does just that.

We cut our frames down in a much different place than where others do. We make sure that the entire crown of the frame is in one piece. The crown is the part of the frame that spans the width of the boat. Most frames are cut down in the crown. Ours are not. We make sure the crown is intact which is what gives the frame its strength. We cut it down in such a way you will barely notice where it is cut after it is put back together. I know what you are thinking…this thing must be a pain to put together…nothing could be further from the truth. Actually the only tools you will need are your fingers. No tools required. We have developed this system for our frames so that they are easy assembled and you will not have to worry about screws coming loose.

There is no wobble to our frames. They are strong and they are rigid. We have the answer for all of you that want a stainless steel frame for your boat but don’t want to pay hundreds in shipping. If you are not completely satisfied with this frame or bimini top we will not only refund your money we will pick up the freight charges to ship it back to us. We work hard to make sure you are satisfied before and after the sale. Check us out at www.northstarproductsinc.com

Give Customers What They Want!

2011-09-14T19:19:00.000-07:00

I am a business owner, you are a boat owner. I also own a boat. You may also own a business. Even if you don't we all have one thing in common, more or less. We want a good product at a great price. I however want one more thing...piece of mind that if something doesn't work someone will help me out. I want to be able to call and talk to an actual person with knowledge about the product I bought from them. I want to speak with someone who treats me as if I am their only customer. I've taken the things I demand as a customer and put them in place as a business owner. I run my business the way I want to be treated as a customer. Wouldn't it be nice if all businesses ran that way? Northstar Products IS run that way. I demand it. I treat all of our customers the way I want to be treated. Kind of like the golden rule I suppose. We ensure that the products you buy from us are going to perform the way you expect them to. At Northstar we service our customers before, during, and after the sale. Here is an example that just happened:Customer A bought a bimini top from us - 8x10 bimini top and frame made in sunbrella fabric. When customer A gets his bimini top he realizes the rails on his pontoon boat drop down 6" in the back where the rear braces are supposed to attach. Now it looks like his bimini top is flying up in the air because the rear braces aren't long enough to accomodate the 6"drop in the back. Customer A realizes his oversight and calls Northstar to find out how much a new pair of rear braces - 6" longer - will cost. Guess how much he was charged? 0.00. Nothing, Not a thing. Free. We even shipped the new pair out at no charge. Why? Because he will be so happy with the level of service he received AFTER the sale he is more likely to tell all of his friends and anyone he over hears talking about getting a new bimini top about us. Now chances are he would anyway because of the quality built in to everything we do and how nice it looks. But now he may even seek people out to tell them about the service he received. And what did it cost me? about 15.00 for the parts and shipping cost. I may get 5 new sales because of it. Not a bad return on investment if you ask me. Here at Northstar we do that sort of thing all the time. We know the benefits of treating our customers right. We stand behind our work and will make sure it gets on your boat the way it was intended. I guarantee it!

1.25" bimini tops coming soon!!

2011-09-09T07:15:00.001-07:00

We have had an overwhelming amount of requests for frame work made with 1.25" square tubing. We hear you and are very close to launching them. Very soon, everything we offer will have the ability to be made with 1.25" square tubing. The frames will come standard with metal fittings and deck mounts. The parts we use aren't like what is out there right now being used by most of the other guys. The parts we are using are heavy duty and look even better.

The bigger frame is of course stronger but on top of that it looks nicer. In the late 90's more and more pontoon manufacturers were going to 1.25" tubing for the walls on their boats so they of course began using frames that were also 1.25" to match. The demand for replacement frames and Bimini tops is increasing more every year for 1.25" tubing and so must we keep up with that demand.

Looking around at some very common websites where you can buy these types of frames and tops I noticed one common link between all of them...there is no style. Nothing jumps off the page. Especially when they use a computer generated or enhanced image. What you see with us is what you get. We are redesigning our website to showcase these new frames and the parts that put them together. That, our quality, price, and customer service is what really sets us apart.

We are excited to unveil or new line up of Northstar Bimini tops so stay tuned!

Northstar Bimini Tops–Leading the Way

2011-05-18T17:55:00.001-07:00

Not all bimini tops are created equal. There are many to choose from but few that will give you what a Northstar Bimini Top will give you. A Northstar Bimini Top will give you uncompromising quality and just as importantly uncompromising service before, during and after the sale. We are a company that still believes the American made bimini top is the best out there. We all know how much less expensive chinese imported products can be from shoes, to clothes , to yes, bimini tops. What is not true of these imports is the level of quality or service you can expect from them. The service is below average and the quality of product you are buying from them is far below what you will get from an American made product. The quality of our workforce is the best in the industry. Our design team is constantly looking at new ways to improve an already amazing product. Our team is trained to think about ways to make your bimini top look and perform better than what you would ever expect. You can search the entire internet and find bimini tops that are both more expensive and less expensive but none that can compete with our quality or service. We are the standard by which others will soon try to live up to. The aftermarket bimini top industry has been saturated with overpriced, imported, poorly designed canvas for too long. The “big boys” in the industry have been sitting high on a pile of your money knowing you have no other good choice when it comes to aftermarket products but theirs. They push low quality high priced merchandise and sit comfortably knowing you – the consumer – has no alternative but to buy from them. They don’t believe they have any credible competition. But the tide is changing in the aftermarket bimini top industry. More and more boat owners are finding out about Northstar Bimini Tops. From as far away as the Figi Islands to as close as down the street, we make sure what you are about to buy is going to fit your boat. We ensure you are kept informed of the progress of your order. We work closely with you after the sale should you require any additional information or parts to make your bimini top look as amazing as the boat you are putting it on. Don’t settle for anything but the best. Demand better for yourself and your boat. Demand a Northstar Bimini Top.

Quality Bimini Tops Quality Price

2011-04-06T19:12:00.000-07:00

There are very few companies that have the ability to mass produce bimini tops here in the United States. There is only a handful of manufacturers that supply the majority of all aftermarket bimini top distributors with the bimini tops you, the consumer, can purchase. I've heard many complain about the price. There is a reason for it.

Lets start at the manufacturer. They have to buy supplies, employ a workforce, and mark it up a bit to turn a profit. With that profit the hope is some of the money goes into research and development to continuously improve the product. I can tell you that does not always happen.

The manufacturer sells it to a distributor who will list them on their website. The distributor has to be able to make a little money (or a lot depending on the size of the distributor). Websites aren't cheap and they have a workforce to employ as well. The temptation for many distributors is to buy bimini tops from a foreign country (China) and sell them at what they would sell American made bimini tops for. You end up paying 500-600 dollars for a bimini top that may have been made in chine for about 125.00. There is no doubt imported products can be much cheaper than American made products. I mean cheap in every sense of the word. Poor quality, poor performance. Good luck going back to that website and getting service after the sale.

There are other avenues to go down to get a quality bimini top. You could contact the manufacturer of your boat. That could be expensive as well. You may not be able to deal with the manufacturer directly. Many have to purchase replacement canvas through a boat dealer. They mark it up when they buy it from the boat manufacturer to sell to you. The boat manufacturer marks it up when the buy it from the bimini top manufacturer. This can be much more costly than a distributor...so I guess that is no good either.

You could always go to a local canvas shop. Here you will get a custom built bimini top, maybe even the framework. American labor force and engineering are a bonus. So is the price. The materials that a local canvas shop has to buy come from you guessed it a distributor. That can prettye expensive also.

What to do? Find a company that can mass produce bimini tops but be willing to sell you only one. Find a company that uses an American workforce that uses American products to build the bimini top and frame. Find a company that is willing to listen to your needs before and after the sale. Find a company that will go the extra distance to ensure your complete satisfaction. Find a company that will stand behind it's products. Find Northstar Products Inc. Find them at www.northstarproductsinc.com

House Boat Bimini Tops

2011-03-13T12:20:00.000-07:00

I've had several people over the past few years contact me regarding making them a bimini top and frame that is 10' wide. For the past few years I've simply said no, we do not make them wider than 8'6". With so many people asking we decided to investigate this request and take it much more seriously. What we found out is there really isn't anyone making them. Most houseboats are 10' wide and the canvas options are not so much limited as they are expensive. Perhaps there is some good we can do in the is segment of the industry as well. We have had quite a bit of success in supplying standard pontoon bimini tops in various sizes for hundreds less than our competitors and believe we can do the same for the houseboat market.

At this point in time we only use 1" square aluminum which initially made us a bit nervous about how strong such a frame could be. We use a high grade aluminum that is much thicker than what most others use, so we have that going for us. We went to work designing a frame and bimini top that is 10' wide by 8' long. Besides, we have offer a bimini that is 8' wide and 10' long and it is as sturdy as can be. We realize spanning 10' in width will present it's own challenges though. We had to make sure we could bend the "crown" smoothly and evenly to allow for proper water runoff while still maintaining a tight fit. After a few adjustments to our frame bending table and fixtures we accomplished what we set out to do. A strong frame that will provide proper support of the canvas while still looking great. There are a few things we made standard that we have as options on our smaller frames. For starters we only sell the 10' wide frame with all metal fittings. We also went with solid braces on the front and back of the frame to further increase it's rigidity. The entire frame and braces use metal deck mounts with quick release stainless pins as well. Some things we kept the same such as a cutout for a light bracket in both the bimini top and storage boot. We drill holes in the frame to allow a wire to be run through it for the light bracket as well. The overall look of the bimini top is very similar to the rest of our line up.

This truely big top is easy to set up, easy to take down, and looks fantastic. The price also follows the rest of our tops...rock bottom.

Size Matters!

2011-02-16T19:08:00.000-08:00

If you have been searching for a bimini top for your pontoon boat but have an unusual size pontoon boat you are finding out you may be stuck. I'm sure you've been told the legs of the bimini frame can be pushed and pulled into almost any width to fit your boat. Websites tell you that a 96" wide frame can fit into an opening that is between 88" and 102" wide. Wow. Wouldn't it be better to actually get a frame and bimini top made specifically for the width of your boat? We think so. Wouldn't it be better if you weren't charged extra for it? We think so. I have searched the websites over and can't find anyone that has the variety of sizes that Northstar Products Inc. has. They will manufacture a frame and bimini in any width from 6' to 8'6" wide in a variety of lengths as well. All for the same price as a standard size. You will also find that their standard prices are MUCH lower than the others as well. They should be. After all Northstar Products manufactures their own frames and bimini tops. They design them and build them all in house.

All pontoon boats are not the same. They all can have different beams. You should be able to buy a bimini top and frame that will fit your boat exactly without pushing or pulling the frame out of shape. Your boat is an investment both financially and recreationally. Northstar knows how much your boat means to you and that being able to buy a better aftermarket bimini and frame than even your original should be easy. They make it easy. Check out all the sizes at www.northstarproductsinc.com. Need something they don't list? Call them...they can probably do it.

Sunbrella Bimini Tops Versus The Rest.

2011-01-30T17:50:00.001-08:00

Sunbrella is a name in the marine industry synonymous with quality. You want the best? You go with Sunbrella. In fact many believe it IS a type of material. Actually Sunbrella is the NAME of a type of fabric called solution dyed acrylic. There are many different types of fabrics in the marine industry. Some of the more popular are of course solution dyed acrylics but there are also polyesters and solution dyed polyesters. The price ranges are all over the map as well. By nature solution dyed polyesters are actually initially stronger than solution dyed polyesters such as Sunbrella.

For instance some solution dyed polyesters are stronger than solution dyed acrylics in the first few years of its life. After that though you will begin to see the suns damaging effects faster on all other materials except for solution dyed acrylics - Sunbrella leading the way in UV resistance. Over the long haul Sunbrella will keep its color and strength longer than the rest. There are quite a few brand names in solution dyed acrylics but none warrant their product the way Glen Raven Mills warrants Sunbrella.

There is a lot of information out there and a lot of materials out there claiming to be better than Sunbrella. Of all of the materials available Sunbrella is the only one that offers a 10 year warranty. Like I stated earlier there are indeed materials that may be stronger than Sunbrella initially, but over time Sunbrella is the real winner and so will you be if you choose it for your bimini top. There is a slight downside to Sunbrella and if you are at all familiar with the material you already know what it is. The price. Sunbrella is a pretty expensive material and it is not for everyone because of that reason. There are a lot of materials out there to choose from at different price points and you should always check out all of your options before making a purchase or choosing a material.

I'll tell you one thing though, it is great piece of mind knowing that for the next 10 years you don't have to worry about your fabric fading or deteriorating. If it does you have Glen Raven Mills standing behind their product. Sometimes that is enough to convince people Sunbrella is worth the extra money.

We manufacture bimini tops for boats and have been doing it for over 35 years. We have used a lot of materials in those years. One has been constant...you guessed it...Sunbrella. A lot of materials have come and gone from our line up but there is one that has never faded away...Sunbrella. We offer Sunbrella and a few other materials we are proud to offer as well. Check us out for the best prices around.

Replacement Bimini Tops for Spring!

2011-01-12T08:09:00.001-08:00

Well the holidays and college football games are behind us now. That means we have time on Saturdays to start thinking about getting the boat ready for the water. Even as I look out my window and watch the snow fall I can’t help but to get excited thinking about the approaching boating season. It is the only thing that really keeps me going on wintery days. There is a lot to do to get ready and if you are like me there are a few things that need updating on the boat. A new bimini top will help make your boat look like brand new and at the same time keep you from spending anytime in the ER with second degree sunburns from those hot summer days. If you have already searched around for a good price on a good bimini you’ve seen they can be a bit more expensive than you anticipated, especially if you need the framework to go with it. They all seem to be the same more or less. However, there is one place that makes them different and makes them to last. Northstar Products Inc. You can buy right online and if after you read through the information on their website at www.northstarproductsinc.com and still want some reassurance they are not too good to be true, give Andy a call directly. He will explain why they can sell them so cheap and guarantee your satisfaction. Before you know it you will be telling your friends about Northstar Products Inc. So bring on spring and a new bimini top for your boat!

Winter Covers for Pontoon Boats

2010-11-21T18:06:00.000-08:00

Well the boating season is officially over. If you are one of the many out there that haven't covered your boat up for the winter - hoping there may be one more warm day - I have to tell you...it's over. Sad as it is it is time to cover her up and start the countdown to uncovering her.

Until now there have really only been a handful of options to storing your boat for the winter. The most fortunate of boaters out there have a garage or barn they can store their boat in for the winter. If not you can always store it at a dealership. for a fee they will even shrink wrap it for you. The rest of us have the daunting task of covering her up in the backyard. Time to get out the lumber or PVC and build the framework that you will drape some cheap blue tarp material over for the winter. Keep that duct tape handy because you may need it. Pray it doesn't rip through the winter.

There is a better way. Simple to install, snow won't accumulate, simple to take down. Northstar Products has developed a winter cover system for pontoon boats. But with a little imagination you can cover anything up with this system. It utilizes aluminum poles, heavy duty polypropelene webbing, and stainless steel strap hooks and eyes. Once this webbing and pole skeleton is up you simply drape over the heavy duty material and tie it down tight. What you end up with is a simple, inexpensive way to cover your boat up that will last season after season. If you want more information or have installation instructions emailed to you drop us a note: andrew@northstarproductsinc.com. You can also give us a call at 419-389-5515.

Bimini Tops…Made in the USA.

2010-09-27T16:38:00.001-07:00

We’ve all heard and read and hopefully believe how important it is to buy products that are made in the USA. It supports local economies and helps to keep jobs right here where they belong. It can be tough though in this economy to come up with the extra money to buy those Made In the USA products such as pontoon boat bimini tops. I know more than one of you reading this has had some experience with those imported bimini tops and though you thought you were saving money at the time have found out how truly expensive those tops have become! Those that have not had any experience with imported bimini tops and frames allow me to explain how those low cost tops add up quickly. You first may be surprised at what does not come standard that you have to pay extra for. Those items include storage boots, rear braces, installation hardware, color matched trim, front braces, and the list can go on and on. But for simplicity sake lets say you add all that up and still find the price is somewhat lower than the American made bimini top. You really want to buy the American made bimini top but it is still over 150.00 more. So, reluctantly you purchase the imported bimini top. 5-10 days later it arrives at your door. The first thing you notice when you open the box is how poorly it is packaged. In fact upon inspection you notice the framework has been scratched up quite a bit. But you dismiss it somewhat and think…well I can deal with that if it saved me 150.00. Then you open the actual bimini top package and notice several things wrong. The top you ordered is yellow but they used black thread to sew it up. The edging is also black and not yellow though you paid for the upgrade to color matched edging. You thought you knew what sunbrella material looked and felt like but looking at this material – which you paid extra for- you are pretty sure it is not sunbrella. There is no tag in it that says sunbrella either. You begin assembling the frame and find they shorted you hardware that was necessary for completion. The parts just don’t seem to fit together right either. The instructions – which really aren’t very instructive, are also incomplete. You spend the next 2 hours of your life (you won’t be getting that time back) putting it all together an up on your boat. More bad news, it doesn’t look anything like the picture they advertised online. You are angry at the company you bought the bimini from as well as yourself for not listening to your wife and spending the extra 150.00 for an American made bimini top from Northstar Products Inc. You call the company you bought the top from to complain and ask for your money back but find out they do not take returns once their products has been installed on the boat. Now you are stuck. Once you add up all the time you have spent on researching this subject, purchasing it online, setting it up, and arguing with the customer service rep – whom you believe must be somewhere in India – you realize just how much that inexpensive, cheap top has actually cost you.

Do yourself a favor, pick up the phone or log onto www.northstarproductsinc.com to see why our American Made bimini tops will save you money and make your boat look better than ever. Our workforce takes pride in their job and realize how much a quality product from a high quality company can actually save you money, even if it is a little more expensive out the gate.

Now Is The Time.

2010-09-17T18:39:00.001-07:00

Finding a great company can be difficult. By a great company I mean one that offers a great product or service at a great price. It shouldn’t stop there though. A great company has the industry expertise to back up what it provides. Having a great product is great, and expertise in the industry is better but having true quality customer service is even better.

Being able to call any company anymore to speak with a real live person is becoming more and more difficult. As a society we are beginning to loose our ability to communicate with each other unless we are behind a keyboard. Reading about the attributes of a product or what a company can do from behind a keyboard is one thing but speaking with a person is another entirely. If you speak with someone you can tell how excited he/she is about the product. The enthusiasm you can pick up on through their voice can make you feel much better about your decision.

There are millions of products for sale online. What really separates them? Each claims they are the best. Each claims superb service, try calling the company. See how willing someone is to speak with you. How fast do they return your calls if you do get voicemail? Hell, how fast do they return an email? Back not so many years ago there were sales persons that sold products…not websites. Those sales people are still out there. You can still find them. A great company has both. They have sales people as well as a website to back up their products.

Can you imagine a company that sells the products it makes, made in the USA, at low prices, backed by actual people you can talk to? A company that will take the time to listen to you the customer not just push a product onto you. How about a company that will make a product according to what you want and not charge you an arm and a leg for “custom” work? Think that company doesn’t exist? Think again…think Northstar Products Inc.

Pontoon Bimini Top Frames – make the old new again.

2010-09-11T12:12:00.000-07:00

So here we are ending another boating season. This is the time of the year we begin thinking about pulling the boat out, getting it winterized, and start thinking about the next boating season! It is time to stand back and take a good look at the pontoon boat to see what you want to replace or repair for the next boating season.

The framework for your bimini top can really take a beating over the season. Your passengers use it as a handrail to get in and out of your pontoon at the dock and they hold onto it to keep from falling out of the boat as you decide to jump that 3’ rolling wave! Drinks are spilled and fish are flopped against it. Your pontoon frame has indeed seen better days. You really don’t want to buy an whole new frame though. The only thing you really don’t like about it are the fittings that put it together are all vinyl. You would really like to have the metal fittings. Not necessarily stainless but at least the aluminum kind that match the frame and will give pontoon bimini framework a bit more rigidity.

Replacing your pontoon bimini framework hardware will only take a couple of hours on a rainy (or snowy) winters day. The first thing you need to do is check out www.northstarproductsinc.com to buy the fittings you need. Then, when they come in, take your frame apart and replace the fittings. It may take a little bit of your time to adjust them to get them in the correct location on your frame but the money you will save from not buying a whole new frame will be well worth the time. Not to mention the money you will save by buying the parts at www.northstarproductsinc.com.

So now that the fittings are replaced you want to know what works best to buff out your framework to make the actual metal look like new again. We find that using a stainless steal polish works best even on a satin anodized aluminum. Rubbing compound works as well but you have to put in a bit more effort with it. Once you have replaced your fittings and buffed out your frame with some polish and a terry cloth towel, the only thing left to do is wait for the ice and snow to melt and get your pontoon back in the water where it belongs!

Bimini Tops - Quality and Service

2010-06-30T18:41:00.000-07:00

Something can be said now adays for being able to call a business and speak with a real person and not a machine. When you call Northstar Products you will speak with a person who can answer all of your questions about your bimini top and frame needs. You may not always like the answers you get but you will get answers...from a person!

We take the time to walk you through the process. We make sure you understand what you are buying. We give you a timeline for when your product will be finished and we stick to it. If for some reason we can't make your product by the time we say we can we will contact you to let you know. We will explain what happened and why we are late.

If you are unsure about what happens after the sale should you have a problem you can put that to rest with us as well. We want to make sure your bimini fits your boat perfectly. If you need larger rear braces and didn't expect you would, we will accomodate that for nothing more than the cost to ship it to you. If you get our bimini top and for any reason are not completely satisfied you can always return it, unused for a refund.

I will give you the service that I would want to receive. You will be amazed at how far we will go to make sure you are happy with your purchase. We believe by treating you right you will recommend us to family and friends. If all goes well there will be a northstar bimini top on nearly every pontoon boat in the country! Give us a shot but more importantly give us a call...you won't be disappointed.

Putting the Service in Customer Service

2010-06-28T19:40:00.001-07:00

Business has lost its way. Fast sales, quick witted salesman, quick fixes, fast shipments, low prices, and the assumption if something goes wrong there will be a company to stand behind it. In most cases you are in for real disappointment should you have a problem with something you buy. We are not claiming to be perfect when we build bimini tops and Northstar Products Inc. We make mistakes just like anyone. We believe the real measure of a company goes beyond what low price they can give out. We believe the measure of a company has to include how it performs when it is faced with adversity. Regardless of if the adversity is an economic condition or the way it fixes a problem in the field. The measure of a company must include more than a sales price on an item.

We believe that if there is a problem in the field, especially if it is a mistake we made, to hold nothing back to fix the problem. Not only to make the customer happy with the end result but almost glad the problem existed in the first place because of how successful the outcome was. We supply not only the best looking and highest quality bimini top in the industry, we also supply the best service.

Northstar leads the way in service and quality.

which material works best for a boat bimini top?

2010-05-10T18:24:00.000-07:00

You need a bimini top but are overwhelmed at the number of different materials that are available. There are quite a few differences in how the many materials are made and what they will do for you. First of all it is important to point out that most materials are water resistant and not water proof. Sunbrella included. Sunbrella and others do offer water proof materials but when it comes to a bimini top water resistant is normally good enough.

Water Resistant

This means water will bead up and roll off the material. Thus preventing saturation. Should water be allowed to collect on the material over a period of time or should you be caught in a long terrifying downpour, water will begin to seap through the material. More often than not this is not an issue.

Ounce Weight

A bimini top ideally should be made with a material that is at least an 8 oz weight material. Lighter materials can be used but given how fast most boats travel while underway the heavier materials hold up longer. If you own a boat that you typically do not go over 20 mph or so then a lighter weight material will suffice. Sunbrella, Outdura, and Recassins all offer a 9.25 oz material. Polyesters tend to run in a lighter ounce weight that can range from 4 to 8 oz.

Color fastness

Solution dyed materials will hold their color best. There are solution dyed acrylics such as Sunbrella, Outdura, and Recassins. There are also solution dyed polyesters such as Top Notch and Weathermax. Solution dyed polyesters are typically stronger than solution dyed acrylics. These materials get their color pigment before it is made into the finished product.

Polyester and polyester blends will not hold their color as well. They are produced as Grey Goods first and then the pigment is added to the material after it it woven into fabric. Aqualon, Surlast, Odyssey III and Top Gun are all polyester and polyester blends that perform very well in the market for bimini top material.

Warranty

There really is no typical warranty. They range from 3 years on most polyesters up to 10 years on solution dyed acrylics. Though that warranty is nice, it is important to know that as long as you take care of your canvas, even in expensive polyester blend such as Odyssey III can give you many, many years of shade and protection from the rain.

So you know a little about what to look for but still need some recommendations. The first list is what I see in my industry by popularity. I always tell people that if they just need a bimini top to keep the rain and sun off their head not to be afraid to go to a more economical road and choose polyester. However, if you want to make sure your bimini top doesn't just function but will look like brand new for as long as possible you must consider solution dyed acrylics and solutions dyed polyesters.

Sunbrella has the best warranty right now that guarantees the fabric for 10 years against fading and deterioration.

1. Sunbrella (solution dyed acrylic)

2. Odyssey III (polyester blend)

3. Outdura (solution dyed acrylic)

4. Aqualon (polyester)

5. Weathermax 80 (solution dyed polyester)

Northstar Products' mission is to provide boat owners with high quality parts and products for their boats. We strive to do this at the lowest possible prices while still retaining a high level of customer service. We will exceed your expectations with our quality, timeliness, and professionalism. We are committed to making sure you are pleased with your purchase now and in the future. Northstar has been designing and building canvas for boats for over 35 years. Let our expertise and experience help guide you in making a good decision. If we can't help you we will point you in the direction of someone who can. Our goal as a fellow boater is to give you the best products at the best prices with the best warranties.

spring is in the air

2010-04-15T16:44:00.000-07:00

Well spring is officially here, more importantly the weather is starting to reflect that as well. It's time to uncover the pontoon and see what old man winter has done to your boat. Time to dust it off and get it ready for the water. Let's get the seats cleaned and treated, dust off the dashboard, and open up that bimini top. With any luck no wild animal has decided to make a home in your bimini top or even worse think it makes a good dinner. More than one bimini top has been on the plate of a squirrel or mouse! The frame is in good shape but it is time for a new bimini fabric.

It is important to consider what is right for you. Perhaps all you need is something to keep the rain and sun off of your head. You aren't too concerened with keeping up with the Jones' next door so the sunbrella bimini may be out of the question. Consider a polyester such as odyssey III or even Weathermax 80 - a solution dyed polyester. These are great alternatives to the Sunbrella and Outdura solution dyed acrylic. Check out our selection or give us a call. All of our products are made right here in the USA. Let us earn your business. www.northstarproductsinc.com

You can have it made in the shade.

2010-03-17T17:40:00.000-07:00

A SATURDAY ON THE BOAT:
The plan: water sports, relaxing, and reading in the sun.

You start out the morning sitting in the sun on your boat, the warm heat relaxing your tense muscles after a work week that was especially stressful and demanding. After a while, with the sun starting its rise in the sky, you and your family depart from the dock in search of the perfect place to have some well-deserved fun. You will escape from your reserved work-self and transform for a day into your true self - the person not pressured by responsibilities and obligations but the person who enjoys life. You are here with your family - the people whom you love and who love you in return. THIS is why you work so hard during the week - THIS makes it all worth it.

You arrive. The sun is really starting to heat up the air making it feel thicker but also like a deep massage at the same time. This is the life! You put on your suntan lotion and enjoy the silky feel of the moisturizer and the distinct scent of coconut on your skin. You make a mental note to reapply soon to your skin and to your family's skin soon and frequently while you're all in the sun.

Lunch time! You reach into the storage unit under your vinyl captain's chair seat cushion and pull out your weaved picnic basket and classic red and white checkered tablecloth. Then you reach under the passenger vinyl seat cushions and pull out the table components and construct the table. With your family, you enjoy a lunch of sandwiches, chips, fruit, and pop. The sun is so hot it's already starting to heat up your nice, cool lunch. You can see everyone start to sweat and get uncomfortable. You have a solution! From the storage units at the back of your boat, you pull out a canvas bimini top you just purchased made by Northstar Products. You easily erect the bimini top as shown to you by your local boat dealer and voila! Shade!

You finish enjoying your lunch, appreciating the coolness of the shade and the brief reprieve from the beating noon sun. You inhale and smell the mixing scents of the sea and the new canvas. Since the day is yours, you decide to relax and read for a while to let your food digest before jumping in the water. You move to the back of the boat out of the shade of the bimini top and into the direct sun. After a short time, the heat of the sun starts to make you sweat. Time to jump in and have some fun! Water skiing, tubing, wake-boarding, and swimming. You're laying on a floating air mattress with the cool water lapping at your sides while the sun again relaxes your muscles. But in the back of your mind, you know that water attracts the sun and this is how skin gets burned - lotion or no lotion. So you swim back to the ladder and re-board your boat, heading straight for the shade of the bimini top. The warm air feels cooler on your wet skin under the shade. You dig into the storage units under the vinyl seats again and pull out a few board games. Nostalgia sets in and you play Yahtzee, Boggle, and Monopoly with your family under the shade of the bimini top to wind down your day. Your thoughts start to drift towards your planned dinner of grilled hamburgers when you get home. This was a perfect day. And you can't help but think of how different it might have been if you had never bought the bimini top to provide the shade you so needed when you needed it. You and your whole family could be going home miserable with burned, red, sore skin instead of going home relaxed and prepared for another week having had a perfect day with the people you love that justifies all of the hard work and pressure of the rest of the working week.

Why our prices are so low

2010-03-09T17:57:00.000-08:00

We get this question all the time - "how can you sell your tops so cheap? Are they those chinese imported junk tops?" NO!!!! All of our products are made right here in the USA with an American labor force. We pride ourselves on our quality. Our quality is so good because of our people. Besides our amazing people and quality of work they provide we also use the best materials available. 9.25 oz Sunbrella marine grade material, YKK and Lenzip zippers, UV protected anefil thread, and color matched binding. Backing all of that up is 35 years experience in design and manufacturing in the marine industry. We know how to design and build our bimini tops and frames so they go up easily and look great - no wrinkles. You are probably really wondering now how our tops are so inexpensive. It is simple...we buy a lot of Sunbrella, a lot of aluminum, a lot of zippers, and a lot of thread. We buy hundreds upon hundreds upon hundreds of yards of sunbrella every year. by doing so we can buy it pretty inexpensively. The same is true for all of the materials we use. The other really big advantage is we are the manufacturer. There is no middle man. You do not have to buy from a distributor. You can buy from the manufacturer. You can save hundreds. Check us out and you will be glad you did.

A Good Pontoon Bimini Top Can Make Your Old Boat Look New

2010-03-02T15:16:00.000-08:00

We all know the economy has a strangle hold on all of our finances right now. You really want to buy that new boat but the boss (your wife) said no. What to do. Well you may be stuck keeping your existing boat for a year (or more) but there are ways to make yourself and your pocket book feel better. There is one "do it yourself" project for your pontoon boat you can do with ease...installing a new bimini top and frame.

The right bimini top and frame can really make your old boat look new again. Even better they are easier than ever to install. Simply disconnect your old one and connect your new one. More often than not your existing mounting locations don't even need to change! The right bimini top should be sleek, tight, and be of a color that will compliment other colors of your boat. If your boat is mostly grey with a flash or two of yellow in some of the striping, then go with a yellow top, not a grey one. Another thing you could do is get a yellow bimini with a grey stripe down the center. An old worn out bimini and frame will make your boat look, well, old and worn out. A new bimini top will give your boat a new look. If you buy one from Northstar your wallet and more importantly - your wife will be happy also. Win, win, win.

Service, Service, Service

2010-02-08T18:27:00.000-08:00

With all the different places to buy bimini tops, it all comes down to price and service. A slippery slope. If the product is priced too low, one assumes the quality will be poor and service after the sale non existent. We are here to try and change that perception. Buying from the manufacturer, as everyone knows, will save you money. But most assume since one is buying from a manufacturer there will be little to no service as manufacturing firms tend to be very busy. We treat every customer as if they were our only one. We dedicate as much time to the customer who is buying a pontoon storage boot as to the customer who want to buy 70 bimini tops with frames. Each of our customers will be more likely to pass on our name to their family and friends if they are given exceptional service coupled with a great product at a great price. We are flattered every time we get a customer because of a past customer. We will make a believer out of you. If you are not completely satisfied with the product, price, or service return your purchase for a full refund. We will even pay for the freight to get it back to us.

Small business in America

2010-02-04T17:58:00.000-08:00

I hear a lot of small business owners saying things like "the government bailed out the big guys, what about the small guys?" " What about us?" I say let them keep their bailout money in washington. I know I didn't start my small business with the intention of using government money to survive. I've learned that nothing is free. I prefer to rely on my own inginuity to survive this economic downturn. As any business owner knows - it's not easy. Hell if it was easy everyone would own their own business. At times like these you have to be smart about your expenses and revenues. We are very loyal to our suppliers. Because of that they are being very loyal to us right now. They extend credit to us that they may not to others. Why? Because we have stuck by them over the years and not jumped ship to save a nickel on a dollar. Loyalty. A term that seems to be forgotten now a days. Entreprenuership by definition is risk taking. It is not for the faint hearted. Small business owners must be able to be flexible and creative in times like this. I heard Glenn Beck say on his show that this world doesn't want anything that America can produce. That is complete and utter bologna! We are still the most productive and ingenious people in this world. Small businesses make this country what it is. Our blood, sweat and tears is why we will continue. Treating our customers like family is why we will survive. Supplying the best products available is why we will continue. Not a bailout.

Why Buy From Northstar Products Inc?

2010-01-17T18:15:00.000-08:00

Why Choose a Northstar Bimini?

- MADE IN THE USA

- 35 years experience in the marine industry working directly with boat manufacturers

- Unmatched quality and craftsmanship. We sew our bimini’s together with three sew lines.
-One lock stitch is ½” in from edge of material.
-The second is put in with our surging machine to prevent any possibility of the material fraying or falling apart.
-The third lock stitch is when our color matched binding (edging) is sewn on. These three stitches ensures a strong and durable bimni top for years to come.

- Unbeatable warranty -should a zipper break, thread break, binding (edging) come off, or snap come loose we will fix it for you at NO CHARGE. You send the bimini back to us at your cost, we fix it and send it back to you. We even pay to ship it back to you. This also covers your frame. Should any of the parts that hold your frame together break at any point, I will send you replacements at no cost. Should any deck mounts break at any point I’ll send replacements for those as well. No cost to you. We stand behind our work and the products we use to build them. The fabric also has a manufacturer warranty as well. Odyssey III - 3 year warranty. Aqualon - 3 year warranty. Outdura and Sunbrella - 6 year warranty. The fabric warranties are issued by respective fabric manufacturers and are subject to their terms.

- Each bimini is custom built for you. We sew each of these per order so if you have special instructions or options you need we can help right away. We ship in 1-5 days depending on season.

- Strong frames. Our aluminum square tube frames are made with an .062 wall which is the thickest you can get and still be able to bend the aluminum correctly. Many frames are made with an .047 wall. Thick wall = strong frame

New Canvas Tops Can Make Your Old Boat Look New Again.

2010-01-17T17:54:00.000-08:00

So your boat may be looking a little, well, lets say tired. You were planning to buy a new boat this year but with the economy still on the mend and not quite back to where you are comfortable you are going to have to keep it. This is the perfect time to make some inexpensive investments into the boat and get it looking like new again. New furniture may be too expensive, new carpet may be too much work. Think about a new bimini top and frame. They are easy to put up and if made correctly will really set your boat off right. You can pick up a new one with a frame for a great price at www.northstarproductsinc.com. You simply need to measure how wide your boat is at the point you want to install it, then figure out how long you want it. That is it. You can make your boat look new again for as little as 306.09. Check them out and also look for other accessories to spruce up the old boat. You will be glad you did.

Who you should buy a bimini top from

2010-01-13T11:06:00.000-08:00

When you do a search for Boat Tops or Bimini Tops you are given a lot of websites to choose from. Go one step further and search for something more specific like Pontoon Bimini Tops and a new set of websites are displayed. Refine your search more to something like Replacement Bimini Tops for Pontoon Boats and another set of websites is revealed. On some of those searches the same websites come up.

There are a lot of companies out there trying to get your business. Some have name recognition that makes the buyer feel good about buying from because they've heard of them. Cabela's, Bass Pro Shops, Wal-mart, Overtons, and West Marine just to name a few. All of those companies have one thing in common - they are all distributors of boat tops. None of them manufacture them. In fact many websites you buy bimini tops from do not manufacture them - they distribute them.

There is nothing wrong with buying from a distributor. They know the products they are selling well enough. Service after the sale may be a problem though. If you have any trouble with your purchase and contact them for help they will more than likely either send you on wild goose chase to contact the manufacturer or they will have to get back to you so they can contact the manufacturer. Of course you are going to also pay a bit more for the bimini top if you buy it from a distributor. After all they have to mark it up to sell it to you.

They are in business to make money. Bottom line though...you trust the name Overtons. You trust the name West Marine. You trust the names Cabela's, Bass Pro, and Wal-Mart. You are willing to pay more for that piece of mind. But do you have to pay more for piece of mind? Is it really worth it? After all it is just bimini top for a boat. It just needs to keep the rain off of your head and the sun off of your back. Oh yeah, it should look good too.

If you invest a little bit of time into researching exactly what you are buying and who is making the product you will be able to save yourself a bunch of money. Everyone knows cutting out the middle man will save you money. The same is true in the aftermarket and replacement bimini top industry. Cut the middle man out. Cut the distributors out and buy from the manufacturer whenever possible. When it comes to service after the sale I know I would rather speak with the person that designed and built what I bought instead of a salesman.

Where Has the Quality Gone?

2010-01-08T08:18:00.000-08:00

This country is obsessed with warranties. If you buy a car, you get a warranty. Buy a television get a warranty. How about that computer, iPod, and blender? warranty, warranty, and warranty. Yes, it's true it seems everything now a days gets a warranty. It is supposed to make you feel good. It gives you confidence that someone is going to stand behind what you are about to buy but if companies didn't sell junk to begin with perhaps we wouldn't need a warranty to feel good about our purchases.

Go back 30 years though. Products were bought based on it's function and reputation, not on how many years the warranty was good for. There is something missing in more and more of today's products - quality. In the aftermarket bimini top industry this has never been more apparent. The choices are almost overwhelming and everyone tells you their fabric, frame, and bimini top is the best. They want you to feel as though you would be crazy to even consider an alternate bimini top from one of their competitors. It is so important to look at the quality of the organization and it's products. Warranties are great but a great product is better. The use of quality raw materials and labor is what it is all about. Don't settle for knock off materials or for companies that try to use them and tell you they are just as good. If they were just as good they would cost the same. The saying goes you get what you pay for.

Now, where to start as a consumer to make sure you get a great bimini top?

Start with the fabric

Bar none acrylic is one of the best if not the best material you can use for a bimini top. There are a few reputable acrylic materials out there. Most notably is the sunbrella brand. Others include Outdura and Recasins. Acrylic will cost you the most money but they have- you guessed it - a great warranty against fading and deteriorating. Don't overlook other materials though such as the different kinds of polyesters - Aqualon, Surlast, and Odyssey III to name a few. Bottom line you need a bimini top to keep the sun and rain off of you. Be wary of materials you can't readily find information out about. If the only place you can get information from on the material is the guy selling you the bimini top, chances are it's a knock off material. Not to say that is good or bad, just be aware of what you are buying.

Now consider the framework

7/8" round aluminum, 7/8" round stainless steel, 1" square aluminum, 1.25" square aluminum. Where to begin? Not only are there many different sizes you also have different wall thicknesses as well in each category. For the money and function go with the 1" square aluminum framework. It is stronger than 7/8" round aluminum, lighter than 7/8" round stainless, and less cumbersome than the 1.25" square. Dollar for dollar it is the best choice. Most pontoon boat walls are made with 1.25" aluminum so many go with that choice - and it's a good one.

It will match the aluminum your walls are made of. It may cost a bit more but for some that is worth it. make sure the wall thickness on whatever you use is at least.058. This gives you plenty of strength so your framework won't bend on you in a few years. Anything less and you may end up with a bent frame in a few years. Also, make sure the aluminum is anodized - preferably satin anodized. This ensures the frame won't "bleed" black stuff all over your boat.

What should be included?

Included in your purchase should be the bimini fabric, frame, rear struts, front straps, installation hardware, and storage boot. Anyone that tells you any of the said items are extra are as bad as the tire shop that charges extra for valve stems.

Bottom line

Call the manufacturer. Ask them questions. Get a feel for how they treat you on the phone. Customer service says a lot about the culture of the business. The culture of the business will tell you a lot about the quality of what they sell. Buy quality not a warranty.

Replacement Bimini Tops

2009-12-04T15:14:00.000-08:00

So you need a new bimini top but your framework is in great shape. You know you can get online and find one without much trouble. But here's the thing, if you bought your boat from someone else are you sure the framework is the original? Perhaps the previous owner had the original replaced already. We make a bimini top that is truely universal. A zippered pocket goes around the front bow and another around the rear bow of your frame. The middle bows of your frame are held up with adjustable straps. This way YOU can adjust how much crown to give your bimini top and it also ensures a good fit. The zippered pockets are nice and we can do those as well but the adjustable straps give you more flexibility.

Oh by the way, take a look at our prices- very inexpensive compared to others. Why? We manufacture them. There is no middle man. We pass the savings on to you...truely.

By the way if your frame needs some parts we have those to.

Quality doesn't have to cost you an arm and leg

2009-11-29T17:24:00.000-08:00

The culture of business these days seem to be the best stuff costs the most. You can always find those seemingly amazing deals on ebay or amazon or other sites of that sort that you can buy something that is 50% off or more. It feels good to find those kinds of deals. You can spend hours online searching for the best deal on a television, airfare, hotel, or that hot new toy. You search day after day, site after site looking and waiting for that item to go on sale or to uncover a site that has it on special. Then you find it and it seems to good to be true. You quickly put it in your "shopping cart" and smile knowing you got a great deal on a great product.

No one seems to value their time anymore. It's amazing to me. The company you work for surely puts a value to your time. In most cases I'm sure what you believe your time at work is worth is much more than what you are getting paid. I have news for you... your time is worth even more outside of work. So why not put a price tag on it? Add up all that time you spend searching for that sale on that high quality item you really need or want. You may be surprised to see how much - even on sale - that you are actually paying for that item.

I search the web all the time for bimini tops, boat tops, pontoon bimini tops, etc. I find all kinds of sites that claim to offer the lowest prices online. They say they will match the price if you find it cheaper online. Next time you are looking for an 8x8 bimini top with a four bow frame made with sunbrella and you happen upon one of these sites that will "beat all deals online" send them to www.northstarproductsinc.com. That's my website. That's my company. In fact if you check it out you may not want to waste any more of your time (money) to even contact them. You will find not only great prices on bimini tops, you will find great prices on double bimini tops and all the hardware that you may need as well.

Great prices and quality is what we are all about. We manufacture our products with pride right here in the U.S.A. We use american made fabric such as Sunbrella, Outdura, Aqualon, and Odyssey III. More importantly we use an american labor force. Folks living right here and working hard to provide a quality product at a low price. We know what our "competition" sells their products for and we could easily have priced ours simply 50.00 or so under theirs. That is not what we are about. We simply input the price of our materials, labor, and overhead into a bill of material. We put a little in our pocket so we can grow our business and put food on our table. That's it. Simple. We are proving that you don't have to pay an arm and a leg to get a high quality american made product.

Boat tops

2009-11-27T16:17:00.000-08:00

Looking around the marine industry and all of its aftermarket products, there is really only one product that can give an older boat a new look for really next to nothing. A bimini top. When made correctly a bimini top can really set your boat off right. The opposite can happen as well. A poorly made bimini top can make your boat an embarrasement on the water. What is even more embarrasing is over paying for a sub par bimini top. The problem in the aftermarket industry right now is that the consumer has only had a few options for ANY bimini top.

When searching for bimini tops online you are bombarded with websites. Most of those websites are selling a limited number of brands. Take a close look at who actually makes the bimini tops. Most of the websites are merely distributors of a select brand. There are few that actually make the bimini tops AND frames themselves. Make sure you check out the warranty as well. The material the bimini top is made of will carry a warranty offered by the material producer such as Glen Raven Mills for Sunbrella. They carry a 10 year warranty. What about the craftsmanship though? Some offer a few years, some more. It seems there are companies out there even charging you for an extended warranty. Seems kinda crazy to me. The main cost of a bimini top is the material and that is already covered. The rest of the bimini top is thread, binding (edging), zippers, and maybe some buttons. Bottom line these are all very inexpensive items. Why not cover them without additional cost? Northstar covers there craftsmanship for as long as you own it.

You may have a difficult time finding them online right now : www.northstarproductsinc.com. You will soon find the prices are very low when you compare them to others. We ARE the manufacturer and designer of BOTH the bimini and the frame. There is NO middleman. You will find not only the best looking bimini tops on the market at the best price with an outstanding warranty, but also something that is becoming extinct...service after the sale. These are American made products at a price that we believe is unbeatable. Oh, one more thing, when you refer a friend to us and they buy a bimini top from us we will send you a check for 25.00. The more you refer the more checks you get. Just make sure your friend tells us you sent them.

We encourage you to look around and compare our bimini tops with others. Check out their warranties. Check out the way the sew the bimini top together. You may be surprised to know that most websites that sell bimini tops have no idea how they are sewn together. The reason being they didn't sew them together. If you do get an answer you will find they are put together with a single lockstitch machine. That means ONE stitch is holding the top together. Ours are put together with two and three lockstitches. The advantage is so the top doesn't fall apart in about 2 years. Look we don't want to replace your bimini top every two years. We look at your bimini top as an investment, just like you do. Invest in our company and you will be glad you did.