Tips for Maintaining & Caring for Your Electric Bimini Top
Your autobimini provides you with some of the best lake days of your life! From instant shade to protection from pop-up rain showers, you’ve stayed comfortable through any weather.
Plus, there’s no hassling with put-ups and takedowns, so you’ve been able to enjoy every minute you’re on the water. Make those days last every year with some simple maintenance tricks that keep your autobimini clean, cared for, and ready for more every boating season!
While our user manual offers a good section on the care and maintenance of your autobimini, our experts offer a few more tips that add longevity and protection to the canvas and parts.
Canvas Cleaning & Protection
Our heavy-duty canvas tops and boots are made of highly durable, marine-grade fabric. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t clean or protect them where possible.
Clean Regularly & Carefully
Even though this is a sturdy canvas, it’s still a fabric and will degrade more quickly if you’re neglectful or use harsh cleaning methods.
Ideally, you should rinse or lightly brush the fabric after every use to keep dirt and debris from building up on it, but at least clean it every month you’re on the water.
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Use gentle water flow from a hose to remove loose dirt and buildup. Be careful if using a pressure washer because fast streams can damage the canvas and its protective coating or loosen the threading.
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Use gentle cleansers, like dish soap, if you have significant dirt or grime on the canvas, and rinse with clear water. Never use bleach because it is too harsh, and never put the canvas in the washing machine.
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Use soft-bristle brushes for stubborn stains or grime.
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Always let your canvas top air dry fully before folding and storing it. This prevents mildew growth.
Protect Against Water & Sun Damage
Your autobimini sees a lot of sunshine and water, and though the marine-grade fabric is tough, adding a little extra protection never hurts to give the canvas a longer lifespan.
Protect Against Mold & Mildew
Your electric bimini top is bound to get wet and sometimes dirty, which makes it primed for growing mold and mildew if you’re not careful.
The surest way to protect your autobimini from mildew and mold growth is to always wipe down your canvas and let it air dry completely. Especially before closing your top into its boot, make sure it’s dry and clear.
In addition to keeping the fabric clean, make sure you’re cleaning it gently and allowing the protective coatings to remain on it. Bleach, harsh chemicals, power washing, and washing machines all strip the material of these coatings, making it susceptible to unwanted growing things.
If you’d still like some extra layers of protection, use a fabric guard regularly.
Aluminum Frame Maintenance
The aluminum framing is crafted to be simple to care for and corrosion-resistant. You shouldn’t have to worry about cleaning it very often except when it gets dirty or at the beginning or end of the boating season.
The main rule to keep in mind is similar to good fabric maintenance: Avoid harsh chemicals and brushes. Don’t use bleach, baking powder, or anything with chlorine or phosphorous because these compounds can damage the metal finish.
Instead, wipe down the frame with a soft cloth and clean water occasionally. If you notice oily residue from sunscreen or fish oil, remove the canvas for deeper or end-of-season cleanings to prevent a buildup of these marring substances.
Clean the entire frame with a gentle cleanser, and let it air dry fully before replacing the canvas top.
Electrical Components
Once installed, there isn’t much you’ll need to do to maintain the battery, actuators, or other electrical parts. Our support team can help with troubleshooting needs anytime they arise, and replacement parts are always available for you to order.
When you aren’t using the autobimini, it enters sleep mode but still draws a minimal current because the controller is connected to the battery.
If you won’t be using your boat or autobimini for a longer period of time, you can prevent battery drainage by tripping the circuit breaker manually.
Enjoy the Water More With an Easy-to-Care-for autobimini!
Get an autobimini or autobimini lite delivered right to your door for a weekend DIY project that will elevate your boating experience to luxury living on the water!
Or have one of our electric bimini tops installed for you through one of our top-rated dealers.
Either way, you’ll have an autobimini that will make you want to be out on the water even more, and since it’s so easy to care for, you’ll have the time!
Order today or contact our experts with any questions about installation, maintenance, and shipping.