Soundings Trade Only “Most Innovative Marine Company” Awards
The Annual Soundings Trade Only “Most Innovative Marine Company” Awards was recently announced. The trade magazine honors forward-thinking companies that are transforming the future of the boating industry through new initiatives, technologies, and processes.
This year’s winners were --
1. Garmin Electronics
This year’s new-product launches include the GPSMap 9000 series of multifunction displays, which includes the industry’s first and largest, at 27 inches, integrated 4K resolution touch-screen chart plotter. The MFDs have processing power that’s seven times faster than previous generations, along with multimedia streaming and video integration.
2. Brunswick Corp.
The electric Aviator line is itself notable for innovation this year, with five models launched: the 7.5e, 20e, 35e, 75e, and 110e.
Mercury also developed new ideas in the e-foiling category this year with the lower priced Flite Air and Air Pro electric hydrofoil surfboards.
Navico Group’s big product release this year is the Simrad NSX Ultrawide multifunction display, giving lots more screen space for multiple displays.
3. Volvo Penta
The new Glass Cockpit 9000 series integrates navigation, engine monitoring and control functions. It puts navigation and engine systems data at the operator’s fingertips. The system can be combined with the new IPS Professional Platform, or independently applied, per the company
Also, Volvo Penta recently unveiled a hybrid electric propulsion package in partnership with Azimut Yachts as the company leans into more sustainable yachting.
4. Suzuki Marine
In the area of sustainability, Suzuki Marine is a clear leader. This year’s efforts include helping to spearhead a project in tandem with the National Marine Manufacturers Association to launch the first-ever pilot program for sustainable marine fuels. Suzuki played a key role in making low carbon high-performance, 93-octane, ethanol-free gasoline available to boaters at St. Andrews Marina in Panama City, Fla.
5. Yamaha Marine
Yamaha displayed the world’s first prototype hydrogen-powered outboard for recreational boats, along with a prototype fuel system integrated into an actual vessel.
For the hydrogen outboard, Yamaha partnered with Roush and Regulator Marine. Roush has spent more than two decades working on hydrogen systems integration and research. The idea for recreational applications is not based on using a hydrogen fuel cell. Instead, it’s a system with an internal combustion engine that uses gaseous hydrogen as a fuel.
6. Sharrow Marine
Sharrow Marine has produced more than 5,000 propellers since 2020, with revenue increasing more than 300% from 2022 to 2023. Now the company is partnering with Veem to create the Sharrow by Veem line of inboard propellers for larger boats. Through the partnership, Sharrow props can be up to 15 feet in diameter. The companies are in production now. It also introduced the first commercially available aluminum Sharrow props.
7. Dometic
Dometic launched its variable-speed A/C compressor for marine applications in the United States earlier this year, with the global market planned for next year — after four or five years of figuring out how to do it.
With this technology, as the compressor slows down, it blows overheat-exchangers that are oversized for the amount of refrigerant passing through them.
8. Voltsafe
VoltSafe Marine builds shore power pedestals with magnetic hardware connectors, eliminating the need for prongs and live, recessed metal contacts. If a cord falls off into the water or somebody is near the outlet, no one will ever get electrocuted or get a shock. It is one of the most significant differences between this hardware and other pedestals.
The system comes with a software management platform that lets marina managers control power at slips, detect current leakage and receive alerts about safety concerns on the docks. It’s available in a 30-amp setup, with a 50-amp on the near horizon, according to the company.
9. Medallion Instrumentation Systems
One of this year’s notable products is the 360 Camera System, which will be on model year 2025 Malibu boats. It gives smaller-boat skippers an experience similar to what megayacht captains have at the helm.
10. Roswell Marine
Roswell offerings include the Centurion SurroundFire tower speaker system, which has conical diffusion technology to disperse full, rich, crystal-clear sound evenly throughout the cockpit, eliminating dead zones. The system includes a trio of R1 Pro marine speakers: two that project sound to riders off the stern, and one that channels audio directly into the cockpit.
