Nine products were recognized for innovative achievement by NMMA and BWI on October 14 at the International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition & Conference in Miami Beach, Florida.
A total of 43 new products were entered in this year’s Innovation Awards program organized by NMMA and judged by BWI.
“Given the state of the marine economy, it is remarkable that we have more than 40 quality entrants in the Innovation Awards this year,” said Roger Marshall, IBEX Innovation Awards chair and past president of BWI.
Additional BWI members serving on the judging panel included: Jim Barron, senior technical editor, Trailer Boats; Glen Justice, editor of MadMariner.com and DIY Boat Owner; Frank Kehr, technical writer, Soundings; Marilyn Mower, editor, Southern Boating and Marine Business Journal; Bill Pike, senior editor, Power & Motoryacht; and, Alan Wendt, editor, Marine CEO.
The winners were:
MasterVolt in the Electrical Systems category for its 24-volt lithium ion battery. Blue Sea Systems received an honorable mention for its SafetyHub250. Taco Metals won in the Hardware Fittings category for its Intelli-Hinge. Armstrong Nautical Products won an Honorable Mention for its RIB ladder.
Volvo Penta won in the Inboard Engines category for its Ocean X sterndrive; Groco won in the Mechanical Systems category for its Raw Water Systems Monitor; Structural Composites won in the Boatbuilding Methods & Materials category for its Prisma TA structural foam and mat building blocks; and Maretron won an Honorable Mention for its N2K Builder software.
Morbern Inc. won the Environmental Award for its Boreal line of vinyl fabrics.