Organizers yesterday announced the winners of this year’s IBEX Innovation Awards. The program, managed by the National Marine Manufacturers Association and Boating Writers International, had a record 112 entries. All of the winning products are on display at the Innovation Way rotunda during the show IBEX, which runs through tomorrow afternoon.
“We had 112 nominations this year, up from 80 last year,” show director Mary Velline told Trade Only Today. “In a year where you don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, our industry took the time to be thoughtful and use that time to innovate — and we’re thrilled.”
Velline noted that the awards don’t just highlight new technology; they also influence how consumers evaluate their purchases. “You go to boat shows in January, February and March, and you see that Innovation Award logo,” she said. “People stop and look and say, ‘What’s innovative about this boat?’ It really carries through from the builder to the buyer.”
Dometic Marine’s new CSX refrigeration system won the award in the Mechanical Systems category. CSX provides refrigeration without installing a dedicated appliance.
“You can actually turn a compartment or a regular passive cooler or a bait well into a refrigerated space,” Dometic president Eric Fetchko told Trade Only Today. “It’s very energy efficient and convenient — you don’t have to buy a complete refrigerator and try to find a place to put it.”
Fetchko said the system uses the same compressor and electronics as Dometic’s NSX fridges, drawing up to 25% less power than comparable products. The CSX system will be available to OEMs and aftermarket customers.
He added that innovation remains at the heart of Dometic’s approach.
“We entered a number of new products into the contest,” he said. “The others didn’t win, and we’ll go back and see why we didn’t win some of those. Part of the reason we innovate — and it’s in our DNA — is because we’re committed to saving effort for boatbuilders and actually making a better experience for boaters. Innovation is the only way you’re going to do that.”
Aqua Amp’s SeaSocket won the award in the Electrical Equipment category, along with dual winner Solid State Marine’s new lithium-ion battery (36V120ah New 6TL).
Aqua Amp’s SeaSocket conceals a 360-watt power socket within a cup holder. “You run power to it, and our accessories have an NFC tag that wirelessly communicates with the cup holder and tells it to turn on,” Ryan Pickren, head of product at Aqua Amp, told Trade Only Today. “Then and only then does it become a power outlet. It’s 30 amps on a 12-volt system,” allowing users to plug in anything from a phone charger to an electric reel “in any corner of the boat.”
Winning the Innovation Award, Pickren said, was particularly meaningful: “Our team worked really hard on this for over a year, and seeing it resonate with boatbuilders and the judges was really rewarding.”
Taco Marine’s Ultura teak helm chair won in the Furnishings and Interior Parts category for its classic materials and advanced engineering. Seating sales manager Travis Amuso said the design features a stainless internal frame that delivers comfort and structural integrity.
“It has an internal seat suspension thanks to that frame, as well as the option for heating and cooling,” Amuso told Trade Only Today. “It has no deflection — no flex in the teak — making it the most durable teak ladder-back helm chair on the market.”
Amuso pointed out the chair’s “clean” construction. “That stainless frame allows for no visible attachment points,” he said. “You don’t see any straps, studs or aluminum sticking out. It’s a fully clean piece.”
Manufactured by TACO in Largo, Fla., the chair will debut to consumers at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. “We’re ecstatic,” Amuso said. “We put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into this. Our engineering and manufacturing teams did an amazing job developing a helm chair unlike anything else on the market.”
An IBEX statement lists all the IBEX Innovation Awards with judges’ comments.
