Thirteen marine manufacturers were honored this morning for innovative achievement by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and Boating Writers International (BWI) at the 2010 International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition & Conference (IBEX) Innovation Awards in Louisville, Ky.

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. A total of 67 new products were entered in this year’s IBEX Innovation Awards program.

BWI members serving on the IBEX Innovation Awards judging panel this year include: Alan Wendt, IBEX Innovation Awards committee chair and editor of Marine CEO; Zuzana Prochazka, technical editor, Latitudes & Attitudes and blogger for Boatermouth.com; Frank Lanier, marine surveyor and contributor to Practical Sailor and Southern Boating; Dave Mull, editor, Great Lakes Angler; Alan Jones, executive editor, Boating World magazine; Tom Tripp, freelancer, publisher and editor, OceanLines; and Chris Caswell, author and senior editor, Yachting Magazine.

IBEX Innovation Awards were presented to the following companies in these categories:

Boatbuilding Methods and Materials

Winner: Structural Composites
Judges selected Structural Composites for their Prisma SPT Strip Plank Technology.

Deck Equipment and Hardware

Winner: Sawgrass Distributors
Sawgrass Distributors solved an age old problem that nearly every angler faces—where to put the beverage when the fish bite. The solution is a combination rod and drink holder.

Furnishings and Interior Parts

Winner: Corium Urethane Technology
One of the newer advancements in construction techniques, the system creates seats, dashboards and interior wall finishing by using the molded PU-Skin and foam technology.

Mechanical Systems

Winner 1: Dometic
Dometic took home the Innovation Award for their In-Duct Breathe Easy Air Purifier.

Winner 2: Whale Water Systems
The second winning entry is for Whale Water Systems Gulley IC. This compact pump eliminates the hairy, sticky sumps for onboard showers.

Electrical Systems

Winner: Professional Mariner
With the ever changing technology in batteries, the ability to mix newer types like Lithium with existing technology is a problem that Professional Mariner solved with the Pro Nautic P.

Honorable mention: Blue Sea Systems for the Safety Hub.

Outboard Engines

Winner: Yamaha
Yamaha took home the trophy for its new V6 VF250 four stroke outboard engine.

Boatyard Hardware

Winner: Kasco Marine
Kasco Marine took top honors for its Robust-Aire Marine Diffuser.

Honorable mention: Pier Vantage for its affordable, web-based boatyard maintenance software package.

Propulsion Parts, Propellers

Winner: Power Tech Propellers
Judges found innovation in Power Tech Propellers’ Safety Torque Hub and Drive Line Protector system.

Source: IBEX