2015 Innovation Awards

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and Boating Writers International (BWI) announced the winners of the 2015 Innovation Awards at the opening annual Industry Breakfast of the 2015 Progressive Insurance Miami International Boat Show

These awards recognize exceptionally innovative new consumer marine products, and were on display throughout the show from February 12-16, 2015, at the show’s three locations – Miami Beach Convention Center, Sea Isle Marina and Miamarina at Bayside. This year’s program featured a record number of entries with 97 products—a 68 percent increase in entries compared to last year.

The 2015 Miami International Boat Show Innovation Award winners are:

Alternate Drive Technology (pods, stern drives): Volvo Penta, Forward Drive; volvopenta.com

Deck Equipment & Hardware: Taco Metals, Rub Rail Mounted LED Light; tacomarine.com

Docking & Fendering Equipment: StormFender LLC, StormFender; stormfender.com

Mechanical & Electrical Systems: Yamaha Watercraft, Connext Helm Control System; yamahaboats.com

Inboard Engines: Indmar Products, ROUSH Charged Raptor; indmar.com

Outboard Engines: BRP U.S. Inc., Evinrude E-TEC G2; evinrude.com

Consumer Safety Equipment: Simrad-Navico, Forward Scan; simrad-yachting.com

Watersport Equipment: LilliPad Diving Boards, LilliPad Diving Board; lillipaddivingboards.com

Consumer Electronics, Apps & Software: Navionics, Inc, SonarCharts and SonarCharts Live; navionics.com

Center Console & Walkaround Fishing Boats: Hydra-Sport, 53’ Suenos; hydrasports.com

Cuddy Cabin and Bowrider Boats: Rec Boat Holdings/Four Winns, Horizon 440 Bow Cruiser; fourwinns.com

Deck Boats: Boston Whaler, 320 Vantage; bostonwhaler.com

Jet Boats: Chaparral Boats, Aerial Surf Platform; chapparalboats.com

Personal Watercrafts (PWCs): Yamaha Watercraft, Yamaha RiDE System; yamaha.com

Pontoon Boats: Apex Marine, Inc., Angler Qwest; apexmarineinc.com

Tow Boats: MasterCraft Boat Company, X23; mastercraft.com

Environmental Award: Wake Worx, LLC, Mussel Mast’R Aquatic Invasive Species Filter System; wake-worx.com

The Innovation Awards judging committee is comprised of BWI members who perform product testing throughout the year and have specific expertise in marine products and equipment. The committee is chaired by Zuzana Prochazka, freelance writer with regular contributions to SAIL, Sea, BoatUS and Cruising Outpost magazines as well as Boats.com, Yachtworld.com and TalkoftheDock.com. The judging committee includes:

Nigel Calder: Associate/Technical Editor with Professional BoatBuilder, Sail, PassageMaker, Yachting Monthly and Ocean Navigator; and author of The Boatowner’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual, Marine Diesel Engines and several other titles.

Alan Jones: Executive Editor of Boating World magazine.

Liz Pasch: Editorial Director of Southern Boating.

Lenny Rudow: Senior Editor for Dominion Marine Media, including Boats.com and Yachtworld.com; Electronics Editor for BoatUS Magazine; and author of six books.

David Schmidt: Electronics Editor at Yachting magazine; Racing Editor at SAIL magazine; U.S. Racing Editor of www.sail-world-com; and Owner and Founder of Alembic Media, LLC.

Ed Sherman: Vice President and Education Director of American Boat & Yacht Council; contributor to Boating, Cruising World, Soundings, Professional BoatBuilder, and Yachting magazines; owner of Ed’s Boat Tips blog; and author of several books.

Alan Wendt: President of BWI and frequent contributor to Lakeland Boating.