Showing posts with label 8x8 bimini tops. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 8x8 bimini tops. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Why buy a pontoon boat longer than 8' than?
It gets hot out there on the water. Sun beats down and you feel like you could melt. You want to be on the boat and take a bunch of friends but the same thing always happens on a day like this. Everyone uses about 8' of the boat - in the back under the bimini top. Change that. Invest in a double bimini top. How much is your comfort really worth, or that of your family and friends? Why buy a pontoon boat larger than 8' long if that is the only amount of space you will all occupy for the majority of time on the water? When you weigh the amount you paid for your big beautiful boat and compare it to the price of a double bimini...well lets face it, there is no comparison. Start getting your money's worth out of every foot of your boat. It doesn't matter the size of your pontoon, we have a way to keep more of it in the shade. Relax, keep cool, we've got you covered - Northstar Double Bimini Tops.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Sunbrella Bimini Tops Versus The Rest.
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.
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.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Now Is The Time.
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.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Pontoon Bimini Top Frames – make the old new again.
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!
Monday, May 10, 2010
which material works best for a boat bimini top?
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.
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.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Why Buy From Northstar Products Inc?
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
- 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
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