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I've replaced all of the teak, the RPS seat, the rod holders and the cooler and front cushions on my 1988 Montauk 17. Now I am realizing that without a Bimini top, my ability to use the boat in Florida is limited because of the hot summers here. I wanted to add a Bimini, but I see a lot of conflicting information out there. Most seller websites list the standard Bimini for a Montauk as 67-72" wide, by 60" high by 6' length. I would like to go to an 8' length top but I am bothered by the 67-72" width. Wouldn't that stick out at the corners when folded over the bow rail? Also, does anyone have experience with a Bimini with a rear strut to support it?

Finally, I would like to cover my RPS seat, but the only ones that I see for sale fit the 2003 and newer Montauk seats which are fiberglass or acrylic construction. Would the dimensions be close enough for the cover to fit?

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I strongly recommend that you get your Bimini top from Mills Canvas, Whalers original supplier, with canvas specifically designed for the boat. It will fit, and look, perfect, and comes with complete installation instructions and all fittings needed. In your case, you want the "Sun Top and Boot". This is premium quality equipment, with SS frame and Sunbrella fabric, and is designed to stow forward, inside the bow rail. You can select the fabric color of your choice, but I recommend the standard "Pacific Blue", or the light tan "Toast" color.

Go to millscanvas.com

Avoid any Sun top that stows to the transom, or even worse, must be stowed "in the air", supported on a pair of legs. Those are terrible, and not appropriate to a Montauk.

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Or, you can add a slider track which will allow you to stow the top forward, on the OUTSIDE of the bow rail, freeing up a lot of bow space..

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I just bought a Mills sun top and mooring cover in toast color. Excellent product and easy to install. My top came with 21 inch long tracks to mount on the topside gunwales. That way the top can be stored down with the boot on, in front of the bow rail, if you have one. You can see a picture of the tracks in a photograph posted on my website.