"Worlds First Universal Hydraulic Bimini System" (PowerBim)

[PDQ]

Another competitor of ours here on the south coast of England, boasting the "Worlds First Universal Hydraulic Bimini System".

The PowerBim:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTX9C2xb_hg

[hdflame]

I'll bet that ain't cheap! :o

Wonder if there are any straps to support it after it's up?  Looks like it wouldn't hold too well in heavy winds without extra support of straps??

[PDQ]

I was wondering the same thing as I've never seen one in the flesh as yet.

[Grebo]

Is it April the 1st  ::)

Good gracious something else to go wrong  ???

[ROGUE]

As an engineer who used to work for an auto company, I always wanted to team up with an auto convertible top engineer and build something similar for boats.  Still think its doable coming out of a radar arch just never had the time or money to pursue it.  All the snaps and zippers and what not is the only thing I dislike about my boat.

[PDQ]

Is it April the 1st  ::)

Good gracious something else to go wrong  ???

No Joke, Greaser. ;)

They're based in a place that I believe is well known to you, Poole.

I've got a feeling we'll be seeing a lot more of these in the future seeing that the company are the sole suppliers of marine canvas to Sunseeker, Fairline, and also suppiiers to Princess and Sealine.

[JuneC]

Well, I only have some experience with Sunseeker OEM canvas and I was not impressed.  I didn't care for the keyhole fastening system - no room for adjustment at all, and the binding they use is crap.  The fit was mediocre at best. 

June

[Peppy]

No Joke, Greaser. ;)

They're based in a place that I believe is well known to you, Poole.

I've got a feeling we'll be seeing a lot more of these in the future seeing that the company are the sole suppliers of marine canvas to Sunseeker, Fairline, and also suppiiers to Princess and Sealine.

Oh boy. Universal, eh? Can't wait till the guy with the 1982 bayliner comes to me with this 'universal' electric boattop he bought at the boat show.

"Waddya mean it won't work? The salesman assured me you could do it!!"

[Geech]

Wonder if there are any straps to support it after it's up? 

From the photo gallery it looks like they have straps up front once its fully opened like you suspected:
http://www.power-bim.com/Photo-Gallery.aspx

Interesting idea, something I've wondered when I'd see for a while now.  I'm jealous though, they incorporated one of my ideas I've been wanting to do for a bigger boat's top - lighting in the frame. Its quite common to see holiday lights strung around a boat frame in my parts.... nothing like using $0.99 string lights to top off a $5k enclosure but they own the boat - I just make the canvas ;)