Products Honored For Innovation at MAATS 2008

Six marine aftermarket products were honored last night for innovative achievement by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and Boating Writers International (BWI) at the 8th annual Marine Aftermarket Accessories Trade Show (MAATS) in Las Vegas. Winning companies received their awards during the MAATS Awards Reception, held Thursday, July 17 at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel.

The Innovation Awards, organized by NMMA and judged by BWI, recognize those 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 the show’s conclusion. A total of 60 new products were entered in eight categories for this years’ MAATS awards program.

“Judges take their jobs evaluating Innovation Award entries very seriously, spending hours reviewing and referencing submitted materials and cross-checking facts,” says Jan Mundy, Innovation Awards chair and editor of DIY Boat Owner magazine. “The hands-on process at the show is equally challenging, and after products are critiqued on the exhibit floor judges begin deliberating at great lengths to select the winning entries. The variety of highly competitive products made for some stiff competition. This years’ selection process was the most intense I’ve seen since I first began participating in the awards program.”
Additional BWI members nominated to the judging panel this year include: Charles Doane, editor-at-large, Sail; Ben Ellison, electronics editor of Power & Motoryacht and author of the electronics blog Panbo.com; Alan Jones, executive editor,Boating World; Zuzana Prochazka, staff writer, Latitudes & Attitudes; Randy Vance, editor-in-chief, Boating Life; and Alan Wendt, editor, Marine CEO.
In the Aftermarket Electronics category, the award goes to the Broadband Sounder 1 from Lowrance-Navico. Unparalleled sensitivity and definition combines with software and high-speed signal processing to distinguish fish targets from the bottom and to depths never before achieved. “This device brings high performance fish finding to smaller boats and smaller wallets,” said Ellison.

An Honorable Mention was presented in this category to a second Lowrance innovation: The LVR-880 fixed radio. This is the first dual VHF and FM radio that also integrates NMEA 2000 with DSC for distress and buddy-tracking. 

In the Boat Care/Coating/Chemicals and Maintenance Tools category, the Innovation Award goes to Re-Structure Marine Polish from Mark Silvey Marine Services. This non-petroleum, water-based penetrating polish uses nano technology to clean and protect gelcoat, metal, paint, plastic, vinyl and other hard surfaces. “Easily hand applied without buffing, this product will change the way boaters maintain their boats,” said Mundy.  

Sometimes we overlook the need for a “better mousetrap,” and the Wrino Boat Mooring System from Anzus Imports is such a product. This years’ winner in the Deck Equipment category may look like just another boat hook, but get up close and you’ll discover a unique combination of tools that resolve a multitude of mooring problems. “Every inch is carefully engineered to facilitate dockingâwhether you are securing a dock line to a cleat, lassoing a piling or grabbing a mooring buoy,” said Wendt.

An Honorable Mention was given to Eclipse Marine Products for its T-Top Extender. Easy to install on most hardtops or T-tops, it doubles the shade area, offering sun protection to passengers seated in the bow or stern.
The winner in the Interior Parts category is the Dry Boat from Delta T Systems. This revolutionary DC powered dehumidifer system uses Peltier thermo-electric cooling technology. One-third the size of a conventional unit, it is designed to be portable or permanently mounted and discharge water drains into a sink, the bilge or overboard. “This device employs technology that promises to revolutionize interior climate control in boats,” said Doane.

An Honorable Mention in this category goes to the Comfort-Mate toilet from Thetford Marine. Loaded with home-like performance and styling and featuring a detached pump unit that allows mounting in a remote location, this product raises the seat on entry-level marine toilets.

The winner of the highly-competitive Safety Products category is the Aqualuma Brakelight System. This LED light system automatically signals when the operator releases the throttle for at least one-half second and a manually activated SOS mode lets users signal for assistance. “This light addresses one of the largest causes of collisions between PWCs and helps riders prevent them,” said Vance. “It’s very likely that we’ll see it as standard equipment on many boats, not just PWCs, in the future,” echoed Jones.

The GlobalFix iPRO 406 EPIRB from ACR received an Honorable Mention in the Safety Products category. Compact and lightweight, a digital display provides users with a readout of self-test results to give boaters peace of mind. If activated, the EPIRB displays GPS coordinates, remaining battery power and deployment tips.

Cequent Performance continues to lead innovation in trailer components with the ramped-up F2 2000, this years’ winner in the Trailer Parts & Accessories category. This full-featured winch addresses the various shortcomings of conventional trailer winches. It delivers improvements in both form and function including: Chafe-free operation; a fully adjustable handle that’s easily repositioned for left- or right-handed operation; quick installation via carriage bolts without removing the strap; and a pull-and-turn knob to engage and release the gears.

“Cequent rethought every aspect of the trailer winch and improved it significantly,” said Prochazka. 

An Honorable Mention in this category was given to The Big Stick from How Do We Do It . This patented trailer theft deterrent consists of two components: A hub unit that mounts over the wheel lug nuts and a heavy duty “stick” that slides over the hub and locks in place. 

For more information on MAATS or the Innovation Awards program,
contact NMMA trade events manager Kathleen Clickett at (312) 946-6252; [email protected].

National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) is the leading association representing the recreational boating industry. NMMA member companies produce more than 80 percent of the boats, engines, trailers, accessories and gear used by boaters and anglers in the United States. The association is dedicated to industry growth through programs in public policy, market research and data, product quality assurance and marketing communications.By: Lindsey Savin Johnson