An Insiders Look At The Latest Tech And Tools Introduced At IBEX

Naval architects, boatbuilders, dealers, and just about anyone else immersed in the marine world heads to Tampa, Florida, each fall to attend the International Boatbuilders' Exhibition and Conference (IBEX) show. Whether you're an industry insider or not (the show isn't open to the public), one of the most interesting things about this event is discovering which cool new gadgets and gizmos win Innovation Awards.

Managed by the National Marine Manufacturer's Association and judged by Boating Writers International, the Innovation Awards are bestowed upon new products and processes that stand out from the crowd and highlight the best of the best introduced during the show. Note that some of these winners aren't yet available, and some are original equipment manufacturer (OEM), meaning it comes with the boat. That said, you'll get an early look at what's to come. Here are the top picks from 2021.

Bright Idea

The Furnishings and Interior Parts category was brightened by Guardtex Kanvaslight, which incorporates illumination into the canvas fabric on bimini and T-tops. The flexible, rollable, waterproof, polyester fabric has a 5- to 24-VDC "light injector" that beams through optical fibers on the canvas, creating a warm white or RGB-dimmable glow (with an optional phone app control). Multiple fabric lengths and widths are available and the Kanvaslight can be sewn right into the canvas or attached with hook and loop tape, zippers, or even magnets. OEM only | Kanvaslight.com

Bolt From The Blue

Winning in the Electrical Systems category, Discover Battery's Lithium Blue is a line of LiFePO4 batteries with an unlikely edge: They're Bluetooth-capable, so you can use your phone to check the battery's status and see the charge level, voltage, current temperature, and more. Lithium Blue models are available in 12-, 24-, and 36-volt models, and they charge faster and discharge deeper than regular lead-acid power cells. (Note: LiFePO4 batteries have different installation, charging, and use parameters than nonlithium batteries.) $1,099 to $2,220 | Discoverbattery.com

Hyrofoiled Again

Getting a pontoon boat to run 20% to 40% faster while burning half as much fuel would certainly seem worthy of an award, so it's no wonder the Hydrofin Superfly won one in the Propulsion Parts and Propellers category. This multi-foil hydrofoil system is developed specifically for pontoon and tritoon boats by longtime foil designers Morrelli & Melvin. It generates almost 1,800 pounds of lift at 40 mph, bringing the boat's logs higher in the water by 4 to 8 inches so they glide atop the surface rather than plowing through it. The Hydrofin can work with 24-, 25-, and 27-inch logs and can be DIY or professionally installed with adhesive, nuts, and bolts; no welding or drilling necessary. $1,995 | ShopHydrofin.com

No S-Kidding!

Gibco is no stranger to nonskid, and Re-Deck is the company's new peel-and-stick solution to nonskid repairs. It took top honors in the Boat Care and Maintenance category thanks to the innovative application of a polymer resin-based flexible sheet printed in Gibco's 100 series nonskid patterns (which are UL-listed for slip resistance). Sheets can be cut to shape, are available in 1- by 1-foot to 4- by 12-foot sheets and can be applied with pressure-sensitive adhesive or MAS epoxies. Sold directly to manufacturers/repair shops | GibcoFlexmold.com

Better Bunks

It's no wonder that in the Trailers, Parts, and Trailer Accessories category, it was Innovative Group's Roller Bunk that got the prize. This system combines the best of a bunk trailer with the best of a roller trailer. The rollers sit in the bunks but pop up for loading and unloading. That makes getting the boat on and off a breeze yet allows the boat's hull to be fully supported during travel and storage. Price unavailable at press time | Roller-Bunk.com

And The Oscar Goes To ...

The Safety category is one we always keep a sharp eye on, and this year's winner is the Oscar Navigation Sentry. Sentry provides high-tech "intelligent object recognition" using a combination of thermal cameras, low-light cameras, and a processing unit to provide 360-degree object tracking, perimeter surveillance, and collision avoidance. The system can integrate with NMEA2000, MFDs, and/or Wi-Fi systems. Approximately $46,000 | Oscar-Navigation.com

Stick It To 'Em

Boatbuilding Methods and Materials is a much-watched category at IBEX, and this year's winner was Sika Corporation for its Adekit A236. This two-part polyurethane adhesive is a non-sagging paste that can be used to bond large composite parts. It provides excellent strength resisting vibration and impact, and is odor- and solvent-free. OEM sales by the drum, plans for retail kits | Industry.Sika.com

At Your Fingertips

The LED+ from RideController garnered the award for Entertainment, and this remote-control platform was two years in the making. With full-on control of neopixel LEDs, it puts the power to adjust and control all your onboard LED lighting at your fingertips, and as RideController likes to say, allows you to "wirelessly bend anything 12 volts to your will." Price unavailable at press time | RideController.com

Presto Change-O

You wish you could equip your boat with a fishing rod holder one day, a grill the next, and a diving board the day after that? LilliPad Marine's Ghost Mount sits flush with the deck and is smaller than a quarter, yet can withstand 1,000 pounds of pulling force. Connections are made via threaded bolts fitted to the accessories, and single or multipoint mounting systems can be installed. The judges voted this one tops in the Deck Equipment and Hardware category. $150/three-pack | LillipadMarine.com

Docking Easy

A big dose of tech could be found this year in Volvo Penta's Assisted Docking system, which took the OEM Electronics category. This system ties together the IPS drive train, joystick control, the Glass Cockpit system, and a Dynamic Positioning System to counteract and compensate against environmental forces like wind and current as you maneuver your boat. It also displays the level of force being used so you always know exactly how much "assistance" you're getting from the system. This allows you to move the boat in a straight line, rotate it in a fixed position, and make microadjustments in position, without having to fight the elements. OEM only | VolvoPenta.com

Whisper Quiet

We may not normally think of marine sanitation devices as prize-winning material, but in the Mechanical Systems category, the Xylem Jabsco Quiet Flush E2 flushed away the competition. The manufacturer claims this toilet is easy to install and service. It's also designed to minimize noise levels so its use doesn't wake up people aboard the boat. Plus, touch sensor activation simplifies operation. Price unavailable at press time | Xylem.com