Recapping The Fall IBEX Show

Manufacturers gathered once again at the International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference (IBEX) in October despite Hurricane Helene's best efforts to rock the boat. It has become the place to be for builders to see firsthand the new products, materials, and methods to make their own vessels better. The show is geared toward manufacturers so you won't see a lot of boats on the showroom floor like you would at a typical consumer-driven boat show. However, this Tampa, Fla., show has become a must-attend event for nearly 5,000 people. As a staff we spent a couple of days able to walk only some of the aisles, and we left wishing we had more time to see it all. Here are some of the key highlights – from a pontoon and deck boat perspective – from the three-day IBEX show.

IBEX Innovation Awards
Winners of the 2024 IBEX Innovation Awards Program that is managed by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and judged by Boating Writers International (BWI) were announced at the industry breakfast to kick off the show. Once again PDB Editor/Publisher Brady Kay was on the panel of judges who awarded 13 Innovation Awards and five honorable mentions from over 80 entries submitted by exhibiting marine industry companies.

Self-Booting Bimini?
In the category of “Now I've seen everything,” the Outer Armor Self-Booting Power Bimini by Commercial Sewing not only earned a lot of attention at the show but it also took home an NMMA Innovation Award. The patent-pending power Bimini stores the canvas top as it retracts automatically into an integrated boot box. As much as we love power Bimini tops, you still have to deal with putting the boot sleeve on or off when using it. But that's not the case with this game-changing release.

As the Bimini retracts into radar position, the elastic bands integrated along the top fold the canvas in an accordion fashion into the boot box. A key feature of the self-booting box is the integrated fingers that push the canvas into the box before the sides close together.

The complete structure is designed to look like a traditional Bimini and engineered to achieve the high speeds that pontoons are reaching on the water today. It is rated at 65 mph fully deployed, in radar position, or fully stowed while on the water. 

Auto-Like Comfort
Another NMMA Innovation winner that is specific to pontooners—though in reality a great fit for any type of boat—is the XPower Seat by Quality Mark Inc. The electric seat base was designed specifically for marine environments and re-imagines the interface between the boat’s seat pedestal and the seat itself. The electric seat base is integrated to move on the post for a sleeker and more efficient solution to marine seating.

As pontoons continue to trend towards automotive-like comfort, the memory settings and four inches of movement in all directions could be what our industry has been missing in a deluxe helm chair. The design not only enhances comfort and functionality but also ensures easy retrofitting to existing boats, making it an ideal upgrade for both new and older vessels.

Show Stopper
If we gave out a Show Stopper award to a boat or display that really stood out and attracted attendees it would clearly go to Patrick Industries. Inside the convention center there was a section on the main floor of the different brands that industry powerhouse owns. It was like Patrick had its own neighborhood at the show. As impressive as the multiple booths surrounding Patrick's main booth were, it was the outside offering that truly stopped us in our tracks. 

A beautiful Avalon/Tahoe pontoon was on display in the outdoor Pavilion with a custom paint scheme that perfectly matched the dual outboards. The pontoon was loaded with products from Patrick-owned companies including Wet Sounds, SeaDek and the XTCrbn ultralight carbon fiber towers that are revolutionizing the marine industry with advanced composite technology and aesthetics.

Patrick is home to more than 86 leading brands including Rockford Fosgate, Dowco, Marine Electrical Products, TACO Marine, Monster Tower, etc.. All are united by a commitment to quality, customer service, and innovation with Patrick being headquartered in Elkhart, Ind. 

And It Only Took 200 Years
In the year 1824, sacrificial anodes were invented and installed on marine vessels to provide cathodic protection for more valuable components such as metal hulls, rudders, and trim tabs. Each year, millions of kilograms of metals containing trace amounts of toxic elements such as cadmium and lead are consumed by sacrificial anodes and released into the oceans and waterways. After two centuries, SMartyr SCP debuted its self-contained, solar-powered Impressed Current Cathodic Protection (ICCP) device specifically designed for recreational vessels and it earned an NMMA Innovation Award.

This patented product captures the solar energy available under water to power an advanced ICCP system, replacing sacrificial anodes and therefore eliminating their harmful impacts on the marine ecosystem. 

Expert Panel Of Judges
There were a total of seven judges on the Boating Writers International panel for the NMMA Innovation Awards, including (from L to R) Rich Armstrong, Charles Doane, Tim Murphy, Theresa Nicholson, Pim Van Hemmen, Brady Kay and chair Ben Stein. Rachel Harmon from the NMMA (not pictured) was tasked with managing the entire process.

Honda's Powerful Wake
With Honda’s first production V8 engine, their high-power outboard integrates innovative highlights including a fully-balanced 60 degree offset crankshaft that eliminates the need for a harmonic balancer along with key exclusive features only found in Honda's DNA. Its latest offering earned Honda an Innovation award in the outboard engine category.

The high-power model delivers premium power and enhanced performance for exceptional boating experiences. It also delivers impressive fuel economy, outstanding and quiet performance, and a range of features and functions found only on Honda outboards. The Honda BF350 does it all in a sleek, striking new design that’s as practical and functional as it is elegant and eye-catching. 

High-End Quality
KICKER Marine Audio is always striving to build on its successful product offering, but its latest release takes sound quality to a new level. The MSS65 and MSS8 component speakers bring the luxury of premium home audio to the water. The MSS series separates the tweeter from the mid-range cone to eliminate the frequency response dip commonly found in coaxial speakers. MSS components deliver superior sonic accuracy right in the heart of the vocal range, enriching the listener’s experience with lifelike sound reproduction.

Teteron tweeter domes provide smooth acoustics common in luxury home audio systems while ensuring UV stability and water resistance—crucial for marine environments.

Cover Options
Pontoon covers traditionally include sewn-in clips that secure the fabric around the railing for a snug fit. For manufacturers the design is challenging because the clip location cannot be changed if there are obstacles or supports in the way. For the consumer, if your clips are damaged you have to send the entire cover off for repair.

Taylor Made has introduced an easily adjustable clip pontoon cover to solve these problems. The clip incorporates a durable 1.5-inch by 5-inch strip of mushroom head hook and loop, which is then attached to the loop strip on the inside perimeter of the cover. To move the clip to another section, pull the clip with hook and loop strip until it comes free and place where desired. The clips attach to any square pontoon rail. 

Nothing To Fear?
Captain Fear, a Caribbean pirate captain, is the official mascot of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and he stopped by the Suzuki Marine booth at IBEX to arm wrestle Suzuki Marine Executive VP Gus Blakely. Suzuki Marine is based in Tampa and is a major sponsor of the NFL football team.

Going Up?
Earning an NMMA Innovation award is hard enough, but Quality Mark Inc. actually won a second trophy at the show with its Bowstep G2. Its patent-pending foot activator is designed to control the ladder on your trailer entirely from the top step. Traditionally, folding and unfolding a boat ladder required manual effort from the ground, but with the Bowstep G2, that’s no longer necessary.

The key innovation is the foot actuator at the top step. A simple press of your foot unlocks the folding step, deploys it, and locks it back into place—all from the top step. Whether stepping down onto the dock or climbing back into your boat, it provides total control at your feet. 

Simple But Effective
It’s always fun to see someone come up with a really clever, simple, and inexpensive solution to a problem that has vexed boaters ever since the onboard fuel tank was invented. The CLiX fuel spill prevention product is simply brilliant and earned a lot of attention at the show. The Arthur Edison LLC device known as the CLiX received the coveted Innovation award, which kept Howard Silverstein and his brother Steven very busy in their booth.

The CLiX allows you to refuel your boat with ease and precision. It takes the stress and mess out of boat fueling by keeping the fuel in the tank, not on the boat or in the water. The custom-made material even has an additive to reduce the risk of sparking when fueling, because safety is always a priority.

Risk-Free Interference
With an industry-first Hi-res audio certification (24-bit/96kHz resolution) for audiophile-level sound quality, Hertz Marine debuted its A2B marine audio DSP at IBEX. The H16 DSP A2B is a groundbreaking digital signal processor designed for seamless integration. With the two-wire system, it eliminates traditional analog cables which minimizes the risk of interference and ensures pristine sound quality. 

One Finger Steering
Not that you would ever want or need to steer a large pontoon with just a single finger, the JC TriToon SportToon 26TT with the QMI Multiflex steering system was on the water outside the Tampa Convention Center demonstrating just how easy it is to steer this 26-footer. The overbuilt construction of the JC TriToon and loaded features, combined with the steering system ensured this pontoon didn't sit at the dock very long and always seemed to be taking attendees out for a quick ride. 

Brazilian Connection
Our friends from Sao Paulo attended IBEX to see first-hand the new products that might be a good fit for their VCAT luxury pontoons that are built in Brazil. (From L to R) VCAT CEO Valéria De Fusco Pereira, [PDB's] Brady Kay and Lead Designer Barbara Perrone.

Rockford Teams Up With Bennington
The PMPS-10-POWERED was designed in collaboration and partnership with the Bennington Marine group. Its key design is to optimize bass performance and acoustics within a selective series of Bennington’s S Series, M Series and LXS Series pontoon models.

With effortless plug-and-play installation, premium marine-grade materials, and powerful bass performance, the Rockford Fosgate and Bennington all-in-one 10-inch subwoofer and a 400-watt amplifier is a seamless one-piece design that delivers an amazing bass experience. 

Attractive Flooring
Magnetic SeaDek was one product we had to see for ourselves to truly appreciate the innovation. It features powerful magnets embedded directly into its high-quality EVA foam, providing a revolutionary alternative to traditional adhesives and snap-ins. Its magnetic technology provides the flexibility to make adjustments without damaging surfaces.

It not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of any vessel or project, but also delivers superior durability and comfort. The UV-resistant EVA foam is engineered to withstand the toughest marine environments, ensuring long-lasting performance.

What's New From Boat Outfitters?
One booth you always want to seek out at any show is the Boat Outfitters display. As a division of Teak Isle Marine, this Florida-based manufacturer always has something new to show off. We went in looking for Teak Isle's newest cooler slide that upgrades the wasted space under leaning posts to offer either storage for your favorite 65-quart cooler or storage for up to four dive tanks. While there, we were drawn in to other cool products such as its highly functional Pontoon Tackle Center as well as its multi-function drawer units. Made in the USA from durable King Starboard and marine grade hardware, you could spend a full afternoon just in the booth if you're on the hunt for space-saving innovations for your boat.

Let's Dance
There were plenty of products catching your ear at the show this year, including the all-new Fusion Apollo speakers and subwoofers from Garmin that merge crystal-clear, premium sound quality with enhanced aesthetics. You can easily customize the look on board with new interchangeable grilles – available in sports white or gray and shielded white or gray – and industry-first dual-hue LED lighting rings that provide a sleek look with bright illumination that supports RGB with both cool and warm white. The Apollo speakers also feature a new hexagonal tweeter design that gives a unique look distinct to this series.

Improving On Greatness
In 2013, Mercury introduced its first joystick piloting system for outboard-powered boats in an effort to enhance maneuverability and control. Mercury Joystick Piloting allows for precise 360-degree control over the boat's movements, making it easier to perform complex maneuvers, such as docking or navigating in confined spaces.

At IBEX, Mercury introduced its next evolution of joystick functionality: Closed-Loop Velocity Control. Another outboard industry first, this innovative new software compensates for the effects that wind, waves and current have on a vessel, so the user doesn't have to make additional joystick corrections while maneuvering at low speeds. This affords a new level of control and operational ease that according to the manufacturer delivers a 74 percent reduction in fore-aft drift during sideways and yaw maneuvers, resulting in fewer adjustments from the captain.

The Closed-Loop Velocity Control software utilizes vessel speed-based joystick operation (vs RPM based) by seamlessly integrating feedback via a single GPS unit with the joystick controls, adjusting throttle, shift and steering so that the operation of the vessel becomes much more intuitive and natural.

Just Wear It!
They say the safest life jacket is the one you'll wear and that's why the latest offering from Mustang Survival is worth a closer look. The Atlas 190 DLX Life Jacket was designed to redefine safety, comfort, and performance. The ergonomic design sits off the neck, and together with the lightweight chassis and supple yet durable fabrics, it ensures all-day comfort. Four key features set it apart: bladder lobes shaped to turn the wearer face up effectively, baffle barriers near the chin to dissipate incoming waves to the face, wide head pillow to provide greater stability for user’s head and dogleg design for improved in-water comfort and stability.