These days, high-speed boats just cannot go without a Bimini top.
In fact, it looks odd if the sun was out and mighty and a yacht is out at sea without the popular topping to protect it.
It is almost like seeing a female swimmer with the bikini top missing, or any swimmer for that matter not wearing any sun block lotion.
For those who are not aware, the top under discussion is an arched framework attached to a boat and covered with some form of durable, water-resistant fabric.
Obviously, it is there to protect from the harmful rays of the sun or some mild wind.
It cannot, however, be expected to weather stormy conditions, because the contraption just happens to have no cover on both sides.
Of course, anybody is welcome to add this missing feature, although if this happens, the framework should probably be given a different name.
Nobody knows for sure who first christened the boat accessory with the name.
However, there is a windy, sunny string of small islands in the Bahamas known as Bimini Islands.
A Wikipedia article claims that Paul Johnson from Rhode Island, U.
S.
, invented the innovative and widely useful top.
The contraption has become so much a part of mainstream boating that enthusiasts have now learned to add the accessory to enhance their property's appeal and resale value.
Apparently, what seems to be happening to bikini fashion is also happening to the Bimini, since it has become so much a part of the boating lifestyle.
Some boat makers are known to enhance their product offering with colorful or art deco tops, lending any boat model a distinct identity.
Creativity seems to be the only limit for such boat enhancement.
In addition, many boat accessory providers sell Biminis of all sizes, colors, and designs.
While boat owners prefer these shades to be foldable, some boats still sport a rigid, permanent construction.
By all indications, the boat accessory is here to stay.
Beyond the aesthetic values, boaters are better off with a model of durable construction.
While most models these days are made from aluminum frame, there is nothing stopping sailing hobbyists from going with the solid steel type, at an additional cost.
Just like any useful invention, the Bimini top will go down in history as the subject of much innovation and personal enhancements.
While boaters are free to go overboard with the Bimini they have in mind, it is a cautionary tale never to forget what the device is supposed to do for the vehicle it is trying to protect.
With this in mind, there would be a much lesser chance that the device will flip in the wind at the worst moment, when the sun is in full glory.