I too am interested in this, my Bimini needs a lot of stitching right now ☹ Google-Fu shows some creative cheap solutions. Maryland watermen never met an old piece of plywood they couldn’t nail onto a crab boat for shade and shelter and people have just attached plywood to their Bimini frame. I have also heard of using 4x8 foot fiberglass sheets sold at Home Depot for shower installs and they are pretty cheap too and never rot. The next idea isn’t exactly cheap, but does serve two functions: Get solar panels big enough and bolt them together and use the panels themselves for the covering. I think I would be in the 200-400 watt range that way! The latest Good Old Boat has an article about making a hard Bimini yourself as well.
Joe Coquina C&C 35 MK I (If have no pride but hate sun, rumor has it Harbor Freight blue tarps are cheap)
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