Hardtop Bimini

Yes, it is a great idea for originality and functionability. You just have to be careful with whom you employ to get the job done but trust me, there is a full pool of intelligence and experience here at YF so you will be shown in the right direction.

Tarek,
The hard top in the image is relatively simple. It doesn't take hi tech milling and all this other stuff. It doesn't take a 500Lb sledge hammer to crack a walnut and after the mould is made by this 3D mill, you still have to fair the mould. This is where most of the labor hours add up. In fairing and finish.
The actual lay-up is really quite simple and doesn't take a whole lot of time.
You will get the same product whether you go with 3D milling or traditional methods the difference is that with traditional tooling you won't be paying for someones milling machine.
Dennis

Hi Tarek, a couple of considerations for the initial design stage, apologies if I'm stating the obvious....

Presuming you want shade extending as far forward as say, your hands at the helm, and also being supported by your existing mast uprights will make this a very long, thin structure....adding an opening section will obviously take out a vast amount of longitudinal stiffness between fwd and aft ends. You may need to allow for a higher profile and or secondary pillar supports near to half way along the structure.
There are several companies that can make a concertina style opening panel, using standard mechanisms made to individual lengths and widths etc...however, they will all have different sectional dimensions... it will pay you to decide which company you want to supply your opening panel and mechanism before finalising the hard-top design. You will then have a definite set of dimensions to design the track gutters and mechanism mounting around.
Drainage of opening panel track gutters...better sorting this out at design stage, draining the gutters fwd down the fwd support pillars may be best, if you can get a decent drain run, but whatever water you get in the track gutters has to go somewhere.
Racking / sideways movements...difficult one this, you have a fast, lively boat there, crossing wakes / hard turns will have a pronounced affect on the hard-tops sideways inertia...a composite hard-top of this size will weigh in at around a tonne if made with conventional layup so checking the existing mast mounting is up to the increased weight of the hardtop is a must, and careful thought should be given to the mounting of the fwd support pillars, including possibly additional webbing under the mounting point on the superstructure etc.
Access to nav / comm gear, access to bolting points, access to opening section motors etc etc...all better designed in from the get-go.

Hello Carl Can you PM me to give me names and numbers for some one to build and install a hardtop on a 106' Westship. I am a Seattle native and can only take so much Florida sun.
Thanks Scott