Organizers of the International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference released details today of its expanded IBEX Education Conference Seminar Series for Oct. 1-3, 2019 at the Tampa Convention Center.
The IBEX Seminar Series offers courses that range from fundamental skills to advanced training for the boatbuilding, design, and repair industry.
The series is being offered in eight tracks: design and engineering; composite methods and materials; marine electrical systems; marine onboard systems, marina and boatyard operations; and manufacturing management policy. The IBEX tech and tool lab is new for 2019.
“We continually update the format of our education program to give participants a more exciting and useful experience,” said IBEX show director Anne Dunbar in a statement. “We’ve reorganized the space to include the hands-on tool and tech lab to make this year’s program the most dynamic yet.”
Presenters will include author Nigel Calder; Steve D’Antonio, technical editor at Professional Boatbuilder; Richard Downs-Honey, president of The Landing School; John McKnight, senior vice president of environmental and safety compliance at NMMA; hydrofoiling engineer Harry Larsen; James Anderson, formerly of Hodgdon Yachts, now senior research and development program manager at the University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center; and Gary Loftis, principal at Maffett Loftis Engineering.
One-of-a-kind seminars include “Return to Thunderboat Row” in the design and engineering track. This event will be a lively panel discussion including the men who built and drove the boats of the golden age of offshore powerboat racing, as well as a few who are still in the game.
Participants will have the opportunity to meet legendary drivers, throttlemen, and hear builders Odell Lewis, Alan “Brownie” Brown, Steve Curtis, Bob Saccenti, John Cosker and Val Jenkins weave tales of the good, the bad, and the bloody times of North Miami’s historic Thunderboat Row, moderated by the editors of Professional BoatBuilder.
The tech and tool lab is a dedicated room for seminars providing hands-on learning for topics such as vacuum bagging and 3D printing. There will also be live feeds from offsite work run by ABYC and NMEA called “Live from Annapolis: Engine and MFD Setup,” and “Live from Annapolis: Add a Batter.”
The show’s education partners, which produce the seminar series, include Professional BoatBuilder, the American Boat & Yacht Council, the National Marine Electronics Association, the American Boat Builders & Repairers Association, Association of Marina Industries, and IBEX co-owner the National Marine Manufacturers Association.
