IBEX innovation awards 2024

The International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference (IBEX) has announced the winners of the 2024 IBEX Innovation Awards Programme.

Managed by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and judged by Boating Writers International (BWI), the awards recognise 13 Innovation Award winners and five honourable mentions selected from over 80 submissions by exhibiting marine industry companies. The awards were presented at the annual industry breakfast, keynote, and Innovation Awards event, held on 1 October 2024.

The IBEX trade event kicked off yesterday (1 October 2024), running for three days as planned in Florida’s Tampa Convention Center, despite the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene this week.

IBEX 2024 Innovation Awards winners

Boat care and maintenance (dual winners):
CMP Group Ltd., SMartyr SCP Anode
Judge Tim Murphy: “Nearly every boat needs to be protected from galvanic corrosion, but our typical metal sacrificial anodes add toxic metals to the water we boat in. The CMP SMartyr impressed-current cathodic protection solves this problem and satisfies the ABYC E-2 power requirement with a self-contained lithium battery charged by solar cells. The unit senses hull potential, self-regulates, and indicates proper functioning with LED lights. It’s a clean solution at a similar price to sacrificial anodes.”

Arthur Edison, LLC, CLiX
Judge Pim Van Hemmen: “It’s always fun to see someone cook up a really clever, simple, inexpensive solution to a problem that has vexed boaters ever since the onboard fuel tank was invented. The CLiX fuel spill prevention product is simply brilliant and revolutionary.”

Boatbuilding methods and materials:
Supersede, Supersede Marine Board
Judge Charles Doane: “This inventive product, designed to replace marine plywood in boatbuilding and other applications, hits a lot of buttons. Fabricated from recycled plastic, it is itself recyclable. It is rot-proof, price-competitive, weighs the same, and is more versatile. An important step forward!”
Honourable Mention: Chomarat North America, G-FLOW 980L Structural Glass Flow Media

Deck equipment and hardware:
Commercial Sewing, Outer Armor Self-Booting Power Bimini
Judge Brady Kay: “The Self-Booting Bimini is the next evolution in power tops with a truly innovative design where the canvas top retracts automatically into an integrated boot box with a simple push of a button. Say goodbye to zipper Bimini boot struggles.”
Honourable Mention: Gemlux, Paddle Latch

Electrical systems:
Egis Mobile Electric, XD Series Flex N2K Remote High Amp Relay
Judge Tim Murphy: “From simple centre consoles to complex cruising yachts, the Egis XD Series remote relay offers an elegant priceworthy solution to delivering power throughout the boat. The relay’s modular design, together with NMEA 2000 monitoring and control, promises to significantly reduce long heavy wire runs, and does so with comforting analog redundancy.”

Furnishings and interior parts:
Quality Mark, Inc., XPower Seat
Judge Brady Kay: “As boats continue to trend towards automotive-like comfort, the XPower Seat with memory settings and four inches of movement in all directions takes marine seating to new heights. The electric seat base is integrated to move on the post for a sleeker and more efficient solution to marine seating.”
Honourable Mention: SeaDek, Magnetic SeaDek

Mechanical systems (dual winners):
PHIBER Systems, PHIBER Systems
Judge Theresa Nicholson: “After four years of development, PHIBER’s pressurised, hydro injection for brine evacuation and remediation is the first product to streamline the flushing process and to have universal application. PHIBER makes freshwater flushing maintenance an intrinsic function for any system that uses raw water for cooling, at the touch of a button.”

WIF-Pro, WIF-Shield by OhNoH20
Judge Charles Doane: “This clever but simple product takes a critical and ubiquitous bit of kit, the Racor fuel filter, and helps it work even better. The easily removed heat shield bowl enhances key features—the ability to detect water in fuel and easily drain off contaminants—and improves functionality.”

OEM electronics:
Tocaro Blue, Proteus Hub
Judge Theresa Nicholson: “Tocaro Blue Proteus distills RADAR information to bring an easy awareness of waters around the boat. Proteus helps the user digest and understand information from their boat’s Radar, sonar, and AIS systems.”
Honourable Mention: Syntec Industries, Gussi Italia PowerHub 2.0

Outboard engines:
Honda Marine, Honda BF350 V8 outboard motor
Judge Brady Kay: “With Honda’s first production V8 engine, their high-power outboard integrates innovative highlights including a fully balanced 60-degree offset crankshaft that eliminates the need for a harmonic balancer along with key exclusive features found in Honda’s DNA. The development of the BF350 enhances its existing lineup and takes Honda power to the next level.”

Propulsion parts, propellers:
Navico Group, Lenco Pro Control
Judge Richard Armstrong: “The Lenco Pro Control Auto-levelling system leverages existing plane mounting points to counteract dynamic running conditions to improve stability, reduce pitch, and re-entry impact. This cost-effective system is a snap to install and configure.”
Honourable Mention: Mercury Marine, Mercury Precision Joystick

Safety equipment:
Banshee Marine Audio, Banshee VA1
Judge Richard Armstrong: “The Banshee VA1 isn’t the first VHF radio extension speaker, but it’s the clearest and loudest with a 10-watt integrated amplifier and DSP to filter out background noise and emphasise the human voice. The versatile mounting options make it easy to fit on any boat.”

Trailers, parts and trailer accessories:
Quality Mark, Inc., Bow Step G2
Judge Pim Van Hemmen: “As someone who’s spent the past decade clambering onto his trailered boat by using the trailer head and the spare tyre to get over the bow cleat without hurting himself, the G2 Bow Step is a welcome innovation. It’s a smart, well-engineered product that makes getting into a trailered boat so much easier.”

“Congratulations to all entrants of the 2024 Innovation Awards and thank you to our judges for their diligent work in deciding the winners,” says Mary Velline, IBEX show director. “We had such an impressive array of new products this year, so our winners should be especially proud of their accomplishments. Thank you to everyone for participating in this year’s awards.”

All submitted products are being displayed along Innovation Way, located on the second-floor rotunda at the Tampa Convention Center during the event. The products are also viewable in the online showcase.

IBEX has already confirmed its 2025 dates, and will return to the Tampa Convention Center from 7-9 October 2025.

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