Taylor Made SureShade Power Bimini Sport Arm Kit, 36-Inch Silver

The SureShade Power Bimini is a great piece of kit, but at speed the canopy wants to flap and lift. That's where these Taylor Made sport arms come in. This is the 36-inch silver set, built from anodized aluminum, and its whole job is to hold the front of your power bimini steady so it stays extended when you're moving. Owners run these so they can leave the shade up while running across the lake or heading out to the fishing grounds, instead of dropping it every time they get on plane.

Here's how it works. The power bimini extends and retracts on its own, but the front edge of the canopy needs something to brace against once you pick up speed. These two front support poles tie the leading edge of the frame down to solid mounting points on your boat. With the arms locked in, the top holds its shape in wind and at higher speeds instead of buffeting or trying to fold back on itself. Reports from owners put the extended-at-speed range up around 45 mph once the sport arms are in place, though how your specific boat and top behave will vary.

Installation is a DIY job for most boaters. The kit gives you the two poles, two flip-locks, and four screws, so you've got the hardware to get it mounted in an afternoon. The flip-locks are the nice part. Once the arms are set to length, you flip them closed and the poles are locked. When you want to stow the top, flip them open and the arms release. A couple of practical tips from folks who've done the install. Pre-drill your mounting holes so you don't crack the anodized finish, and snug the screws down well since vibration on the water likes to work fasteners loose over a season. A dab of thread-locker on the screws isn't a bad idea either.

Who's this for? Anyone running a SureShade Power Bimini on a pontoon, bowrider, or center console who's tired of dropping the shade every time they want to run. It's especially handy on pontoons and mid-size runabouts in the 20 to 26 foot range where the top sees real wind load. If you tow with the top down, the sport arms also give you a cleaner, more secure stow because the front of the frame isn't floating loose.

The arms are anodized aluminum, so they hold up to sun and spray and won't rust like plain steel hardware. The silver finish matches the factory SureShade look. If you run in salt, give the arms a freshwater rinse when you're back at the dock and they'll keep looking sharp for years. That's the same care you'd give any anodized hardware on the boat.

One sizing note. These sport arms come in two lengths, 32-inch and 36-inch, and you want to match the length to your bimini and mounting geometry. This listing is the 36-inch set. If your SureShade setup calls for the shorter arms, grab the 32-inch version instead. Getting the length right matters because the arm has to reach from the front of the canopy frame down to a solid mounting surface at the correct angle.

What this isn't. It's not the bimini top itself, and it's not a replacement canopy or motor. It's the front support arm kit that works with a SureShade Power Bimini you already have or are installing. If you're not sure your top is set up to take the sport arms, check your bimini model before you order so you get poles that fit your frame. And if you're running the shorter arms up front already, this is the longer 36-inch pair when you need more reach.