Innovation Awards. Nine Products Honored For Innovation at 2008 Miami Boat Show Nine marine manufacturers were honored by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and Boating Writers International (BWI) at the 2008 Annual Miami International Boat Show. The Innovation Awards, organized by NMMA and judged by BWI, recognize products that best meet the following criteria: Innovative distinction from other products currently being manufactured; benefit to the marine industry and/or consumer; practicality; cost-effectiveness; and availability to the consumer within 60 days of award receipt. “This year, a total of 50 products were entered in eight different categories,” says Zuzana Prochazka, Miami Innovation Awards chair and member of the BWI Board of Directors. “There were some exceptional entries this year, and it made the judging process a challenge. We not only had winners in every category for which we received entries, but determined several additional products worth ‘Honorable Mentions.’ We also gave out an Environmental Award for a grand total of nine awards.” In addition to Prochazka, BWI members rounding out the judging panel include: Jim Barron, technical editor and writer, Trailer Boats magazine; Ben Ellison, electronics editor of Power & Motoryacht and SAIL magazines and author of the electronics blog Panbo.com; Jan Mundy, co-founder and editor of DIY Boat Owner magazine; Lenny Rudow, freelance writer, author and boating editor of Texas Fish & Game magazine; Matt Trulio, editor-at-large of Powerboat magazine and powerboat editor for boats.com; and John Wooldridge, executive editor of PassageMaker magazine. In the Consumer Electronics & Software category, the judges selected the NavNET 3D by Furuno USA Inc. NavNET is a multifunction navigation suite available in both stand alone and black box units. Two Honorable Mentions were also awarded in this category, which the judges say was crowded with excellent entries. The first went to the HX850S floating handheld, GPS enabled VHF from Standard Horizon, and the second was presented to the Satellite Personal Messenger Device, also known as SPOT. The AirBattens from UK-Halsey Miami was the winner in the Consumer Installed Non-Electronic Hardware category, according to the judges. AirBattens increase in-mast furling mainsail performance by 15 percent by significantly improving sail shape. Battens are inflated or deflated by a 12-volt powered control panel or manual pump. An Honorable Mention in this category was given to the design of the Adaptive Seating & Steering System developed by Shake-A-Leg Miami. In the Consumer Personal Gear category, the Innovation Award was presented to the Coastal Compact Life Raft from Revere Survival Products. Compact, easily stored, lightweight, well-made and affordable are just a few of the adjectives used by judges to describe the life raft. Roughly the size of a laptop case, this product opens up a whole new level of safety for near-shore boating. The H2 LED Dock, Marina and Pier Lights by TouchStone Accent Lighting took home the Innovation Award in the Consumer Installed Docking & Fendering Equipment category. The H2 LED cleat light is a simple, well-engineered and sleek light available in 12-volt or solar versions that mount under a standard 10-inch cleat. The True North 34 from Pearson Yachts/True North Yachts was the winner in the Inboard & Outboard Cruisers category. The 34-foot True North combines an innovative hideaway tailgate/transom and moveable cockpit seating for a truly unique design. Walker Bay Boats’ Airis High-Pressure Inflatable Kayak was deemed the winner in the Inflatables, Small Boats Up to 15’ and Tenders category. Constructed using patent-pending AirWeb technology, this one-of-a-kind performance hull design can be inflated to more than six psi, resulting in a rigid and stable platform that is lightweight and compact enough to be carried as a backpack. An Honorable Mention was also presented in this category to the Hobie Mirage il2S Inflatable Pedal-Powered Kayak. Yamaha Motor Corp. took home the Innovation Award in the PWC, Jet Boats & Pontoon Boats category for its Wave Runner SHO. Yamaha’s SHO features several PWC-industry ‘firsts,’ including: A Nano-engineered hull that decreases the craft’s weight by 25 percent; a No-Wake mode that automatically sets engine RPM at optimal no-wake speed; and cruise control. The RPT (Revolutionary Planning Technology) pontoon tube design by Sylvan Marine received an Honorable Mention from the judges in this category. In the Runabouts & Fishing Craft category, judges presented the Innovation Award to Boston Whaler for its 230 Dauntless. The revolutionary approach to seating in the Dauntless 230 sets it apart in its class. Great engineering, flawless execution and clever ideas combine to create a new level of comfort and maximum use of space. Finally, this year’s Environmental Award went to the Eco-Star 200 electric boat by Starcraft Marine. The Eco-Star 200 combines excellent access to electrical motors with exceptional maneuverability of twin propellers, all on the popular deck boat platform. The judges considered this design to be a positive step for both the boating industry and use of alternative energy propulsion systems. For more information on the Miami Innovation Awards program, contact NMMA Melissa Skomedal at (312) 946-6281; mskomedal@nmma.org. Ten Products Honored For Innovation at IBEX 2007 Ten marine manufacturers were cited for innovative achievement by the NMMA and BWI at the annual International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition & Conference (IBEX) in Miami in early October. A near-record total of 79 new products were entered in this year’s IBEX Innovation Awards program. Serving as judges for the awards were Roger Marshall, chair and U.S. editor of The Yacht Report; James Barron, technical editor and writer, Trailer Boats; Dean Travis Clarke, executive editor, Sport Fishing, Fly Fishing in Salt Waters, and Marlin magazines and host of Sport Fishing Magazine TV on the Outdoor Life Network, (OLN); Jan Mundy, editor, DIY Boat Owner; Marilyn Mower, editor, Southern Boating and Marine Business Journal magazines; Lenny Rudow, senior technical editor, Boating; and Alan Wendt, editor, Marine CEO. The ProSafe FS Series from ProMariner was the winner in the Electrical Systems category. Judges said the ProSafe lineage solves the most common forms of corrosion and zinc loss problems for boaters while the boat is connected to AC power. i2Systems’ Tri-Light Technology took the award in the Furnishings & Finishes category. The product allows boaters to create their own live ‘disco’ on board, with the brightly-colored, changing lights, also said tohelp prevent night blindness. In the Hardware Fittings category, awards were presented to two different companies: the Airlock Wakeboard Rack from Skylon; and Tallon Marine’s Tallon System. Skylon’s rack secures boards, prevents damage and keeps those onboard the boat safe. The Tallon System enables boaters to swap out fixtures and accessories on their vessels and holds a broad range of marine accessories from rod holders and dive racks to drink holders and powered accessories. In the Inboard Engines category, the judges selected Mercury Marine’s Axius. Axius is a sterndrive package that uses twin, individually articulating MerCruiser Bravo Three sterndrives without the use of a tie bar. It’s designed to solve one of boating’s biggest challenges: Docking. The Turbo Air Conditioning System from Dometic Environmental Corp. took the award this year in the Mechanical Systems category. The product, marketed under the Cruisair and Marine Air brands, reduces unit height by up to 17 percent, increases capacity by up to 21 percent, decreases amperage draw by up to 27 percent and cuts back on installation time by 10 to 20 minutes. In the OEM Electronics and Electrical Systems category, awarded was EvrSafe Marine Technologies for its EvrSafe ISS 1040. The product is a multi-toxic gas sensory device that can simultaneously detect gases such as carbon monoxide, butane, LPG, nitrogen dioxide or hydrocarbons via a single sensor. Judges selected the Yamaha F350 V8 Four Stroke Outboard as winner in the Outboard Engines category. Features offer easier rigging through “plug and play” wiring and laptop computer-based testing with no engine installation required. Mounting centers are identical to those on the Yamaha V6 outboards. This year’s IBEX Environmental Award was presented to Ocean Equipment for its Offshore System Deck Filler Gauge. This product enables boat owners to see a digital indication of tank levels right at the point of filling, which is particularly important when refueling. The system prevents harmful and unnecessary fuel leakage, protecting the environment and the boater from steep fines. For more information on IBEX or the Innovation Awards program, visit ibexshow.com or contact Melissa Skomedal at (312) 946-6281; mskomedal@nmma.org. Products Honored For Innovation at MAATS 2007 Six marine aftermarket products were honored by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and BWI at the 7th annual Marine Aftermarket Accessories Trade Show (MAATS) in Las Vegas. The Environmental Award, honoring the most environmentally-friendly product entered in the awards program, was also presented. A total of 50 new products were entered in eight categories for this year's awards program. “When the judges consider entries, we sometimes see products that feature incremental additions or improvements,” says Jan Mundy, Innovation Awards chair and editor of DIY Boat Owner magazine. “According to the definition of ‘innovation’ as it relates to these awards, a new product must be substantially different, not just an incremental change to an existing product. The key challenge for judges this year was to select products that met this criterion.” Additional BWI members on the MAATS judging panel included: Jim Barron, technical editor, Trailer Boats; Mark Corke, senior editor, BoatWorks and SAIL magazines; Scott Croft, assistant editor, BoatU.S. Magazine; Alan Jones, executive editor, Boating World; Zuzana Prochazka, staff writer, Latitudes & Attitudes; and Alan Wendt, editor, Marine CEO. In the Aftermarket Electronics category, the judges selected the McMurdo Smartfind Plus 406 GPS EPIRB from Revere Survival Products. Small and lightweight with a carry-safe mounting bracket to eliminate false activation, it is said to be the only all-digital GPIRB available today, and allows the use of a non-hazardous battery. In the Boat Care/Coating/Chemicals/Maintenance Tools category, the Award was presented to Engine Check Up. A fast, easy and economical method of diagnosing problems within any four-cycle gasoline or diesel engine, the user simply places a few drops of oil on a test pad to reveal the condition of the oil and amount of contaminants. Judges also presented an Honorable Mention in this category to Performance Metals for its marine water heater corrosion alert monitor. A ‘smart’ electrode activates a light and alarm to alert the boat owner when it’s time to change the anode. The Floatstep Dock Ladder from Floatstep was winner in the Deck Equipment category. Designed by two former dock builders, this ladder rises and falls with water levels, allowing water access at all times, regardless of tidal or water level conditions. Mustang Survival’s Survival Rescue Stick took home the Safety Products category Award. For sport boaters who don’t have space onboard for a traditional life ring, this device incorporates a handle with a horseshoe buoy that inflates in the water on contact. In the Trailer Parts & Accessories category, the judges selected two products they felt deserved an Award. The F2 trailer jack from Cequent Performance delivers improvements in both form and function, including nine patented advancements. The second category award was presented to Rope-A-Boat, an automatic boat loader that simplifies launching and loading. Winner of the Environmental Award was Blue Water Marine Paint for its Enviro-Pads. A synthetic fiber pad placed under a boat before pressure washing filters wash water and traps contaminants that results in zero impact on water quality. For more information on MAATS or the Innovation Awards program, visit nmma.org/maats, or contact NMMA trade events manager Kathleen Clickett at (312) 946-6252; kclickett@nmma.org.