No single part of the International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition & Conference utilizes the American Boat & Yacht Council and its membership more than the seminar series. Under the direction of IBEX education director Patty Lawrence, topics from all across our industry are presented and discussed at a high level.
Take, for example, “Get a Jump Start on the 2026 Model-Year Requirements.” It featured the ABYC’s Craig Scholten and Brian Goodwin, with the Coast Guard’s Jeff Ludwig and Kevin Ferrie. For this 90-minute seminar, the panel discussed changes builders can expect. Goodwin explained that ABYC H-40, Anchoring, Mooring and Strong Points (July 2024) now contains requirements for water toy and watersports attachment points. Goodwin also said an updated compliance audit checklist for model year 2026 is available. “This is a great tool to utilize from design through construction,” he said.
Scholten said attendees appreciated talking directly with the Coast Guard and standards writers to get a real-world, hands-on understanding of how the requirements have evolved. “Boatbuilders are selling to a global market,” Scholten said. “The international updates were a big plus with those attending.”
This seminar dovetailed with one called “The 2025 Regulatory Landscape for Boatbuilders.” It featured ABYC chair Jeff Wasil and former chair Dave Marlow on the panel. Maciej Rynkiewicz, also a member of the ABYC standards and compliance team, took the stage with ABYC member Jochen Czabke from Seaman Consultants to discuss “Navigating Compliance: Building Electric Boats.” They discussed standards for charging systems for these boats.
These topics are great for builders, but technicians gained important information, too. From the state of the industry on lithium-ion batteries to issues with systems and troubleshooting, longtime members Nigel Calder, Steve D’Antonio and Jim Cote covered topics that technicians wrestle with on a daily basis. ABYC members Dan Rutherford and Steve Knox tackled the topic of damage surveys and dealing with underwriters, an eye-opener for surveyors and accident investigators alike. Incoming ABYC board chair Christina Paul discussed the advantages of proper, detailed record-keeping that mitigates the severity of legal liability should an accident occur.
These are not just technical seminars. One session, “Who’s Training our Workforce,” moderated by Sarah Devlin, accreditation director for the ABYC Foundation, brought industry and schools into one room. Potential employers had the chance to dive into what their future employees are learning and how industry members can get involved at local schools. Devlin gathered Manatee Technical College’s Freddie Fowler, newly awarded instructor of the year by the ABYC Foundation, along with Kerry Schroeder from Yamaha and Mark Reedenauer from the National Marine Electronics Association. The roundtable also included discussions about how to get involved with schools to learn about the students who will graduate and enter our labor pool.
The presentations are just one part of the IBEX seminar experience. The Q&A sessions are also a great opportunity to clarify what was presented and dive a little deeper into the topic, to make your dollars spent on the seminar series go that much further.
IBEX was also the place for groundbreaking technology. Yamaha’s Grant Suzuki (yes, also an ABYC member) talked about hydrogen and its place in powering recreational boats, something you would not see anywhere but IBEX. This was happening alongside Dave Gerr (a member since 1982) covering the design of drivetrains, wet exhaust and propeller selection — all necessary when planning a high-quality refit.
The planning that goes into a successful IBEX program is nothing short of amazing. Shortly after IBEX, a small group of industry members sorts through seminar feedback and suggestions to lay the groundwork for the next year’s series. This year, the meeting is being hosted at ABYC’s Standards Week and Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas.
If you did not attend IBEX, please consider making the trek to Tampa, Fla., for 2025. I can say from personal experience that time is well-spent at IBEX, on the show floor or attending seminars (hopefully both). Access to key people from every segment of our industry is second to none. Get your questions answered, find your next product and learn how to tackle difficult customers.
