NMMA Innovation Award Winners Announced

All racers battle for the top spot on the podium or in other words, wanting to finish ahead of everyone else so you can stand victorious on the winner's platform. Same could be said when it comes to the Innovation Awards from the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). For decades it has been the measuring stick for innovation and awarded at the Miami International Boat Show as well as the International Boat Builders' Exhibition & Conference (IBEX).

In 2018 the NMMA – in an attempt to broaden its reach – expanded to the Discover Boating Minneapolis Boat Show with its Innovation Awards to include smaller fishing and electric boats, as well as pontoon boats that typically aren't found at the other two Florida-based boat shows – at least not to the same degree as in Minnesota. Minneapolis, with nearly 270 pontoons in the building this year, has become the pontoon show in the world!

As a member of Boating Writers International (BWI), I've been fortunate to be involved in the judging process in Minneapolis each year since the beginning, and over those years I've had a front row view to some truly innovative and unique new boats, layouts and features. 

Back in January at the Minneapolis Show, the NMMA Innovation Awards were announced to honor manufacturers and suppliers who bring new, innovative products to market for the recreational boating industry. The products are judged by a panel of marine writers who are all members of BWI.

There are five total categories including two that are specific to our niche in the boating industry: furnishings and pontoon boats. The other three categories are aluminum/non-fiberglass fishing boats, electric boats, and fiberglass fishing boats.

Below are the ten NMMA Innovation Award entrants (and winners) from the pontoon and furnishings categories that are a direct fit with our targeted audience as a publication.

Princecraft Vogue 25 RL
Princecraft earned its first NMMA Innovation Award in the Pontoon category for it Vogue 25 RL. Part of the luxury-focused Vogue series, the new model raises the bar in pontoon design combining modern aesthetics with cutting-edge features that set a new standard for luxury, innovation, and accessibility in the boating industry.

Available in 25- and 27-foot configurations, what caught our eye as far as innovation is concerned was the contour of the exterior that could be mistaken for fiberglass, but is actually made with ABS, bonded with an acrylic skin laminated on it. The acrylic-ABS side panels provide a modern and unique design with a reinforced dual skin construction for increased resistance.

“The new contoured side panels with a dual-skin design formed of smooth acrylic that is backed by an ABS structure,” said judge Charles Plueddeman. This material offers an outstanding finish and the opportunity to form complex shapes, is very durable and is lighter than fiberglass. It is the first time this construction has been featured in marine,” 

Other Vogue highlights include new RGB lighting and digital switching, a new wakeboard tower and an optional 15-inch Ultrawide Simrad screen.

“The revamp of the Vogue for 2025 provides our customers modernized style, ease of convenience, and an affordable pontoon that is unlike anything we have ever brought to market,” said Rodier Grondin, president of Princecraft Boats. “We are thrilled to introduce this outstanding new product and look forward to bringing it to market.”

Barletta's Leggera Helm With Addressable Lighting
Barletta partnered with ShadowCaster to bring addressable lighting to the pontoon segment and the results were its third consecutive Innovation Award. Addressable lighting refers to advanced LED lighting systems where individual lights or groups of lights can be independently controlled to create dynamic effects. Unlike traditional fixed-color LEDs, addressable LEDs allow for a wide range of lighting effects, including chasing patterns, color fades, pulsating, and synchronized light shows.

Barletta was a dual winner in the Furnishings category for the functionality that is achieved through integrated microcontrollers that send digital signals to each LED, determining its color, brightness, and behavior. The addressable lighting is standard in the Barletta Reserve series, and it combined with its reimagined helm design that truly teleports the user to a high-end luxury experience. 

Retractable Keeper Rail From Bennington
Bennington earned an Innovation Award in the Furnishings category and its spot at the top of the podium by solving a debate. Customers were faced with a tough choice in the past: sacrifice valuable seating capacity in the aft section when under way, or deal with obstructive railings that limit access and usability when stationary.

The Retractable Keeper Rail was developed to eliminate this trade-off. Merging style and security, this feature rail is designed to revolutionize usability and comfort on the water while affording a safer experience. This product proves practicality and aesthetics can go hand in hand. The result is a manual feature that is user-friendly for adults and children alike. It solves the choice of limiting floor plans and options and elevates the pontoon experience.

“Keeping aft seating passengers secure and comfortable, the Retractable Keeper Rail is now available on several models,” said judge Bill Gius. “The high polish, stainless steel rail and linked chain system easily clicks into place for running underway or slides out of the way with the operation of three locking pin sets, to allow for easy access on or off the aft lounge and voluminous swim platform area.”

Bennington M Series
The Bennington M series was also entered for the Innovation Awards because of its premier design that is as intuitive and functional as it is elegant. The customization options and cutting-edge features in the M series such as turned-in benches, chaise armrests and taller helms affords comfort and extreme versatility.

However, it's Bennington's proprietary Vivid UX Digital Control System that is offered as a standard feature that deserves some accolades. The on board technology supports advanced usability and control while under way with the digital dash and optimizes the performance of every system seamlessly. The M series merges what the manufacturer refers to as the 'best of Bennington' with bow to aft feature innovations, enhancing safety and amenities in a blend of design culminating in a pontoon that defines elite performance.

Harris Cruiser E-210
The Cruiser E-210 from Harris Pontoons offers a new and innovative solution for electric propulsion on a pontoon boat. Leveraging Mercury’s Avator system, the Indiana-based manufacturer was able to create battery storage that is built directly into the furniture, meaning the batteries are always hidden but easily accessible. The charging system is designed to plug directly into a standard 120-volt outlet for ease of use. Depending on engine configuration, the boat comes standard with one or two batteries with the option for one additional battery.

Early adopters of electric boats often felt anxiety when it came to their experience and the reliability of being able to safely return to their dock. So Harris incorporated some additional features such as a house battery monitor in place of the traditional ignition switch. The multi-function display gives clear and easy-to-read data on speed and battery life to ensure a worry-free trip. An added electric trim plate allows boaters to trim the small motor from the helm just as they would a combustion engine making the transition that much easier.

The electric model is built on the same platform as its other boat models so the open back deck space is possible by incorporating a cover plate over the motor pod to make the swim deck even more impressive.

Premier Solaris RS Rear Social         
Pontoons and social gatherings were made for each other and no one understands this like Premier Marine. Two years ago the Minnesota-based manufacturer introduced its exclusive Open Water Panels on its Angler series, earning it an NMMA Innovation Award that year. These panels swing open and out for direct and unrestricted access to the water. Anglers loved it, and so did other Premier customers who craved the open feel, the connection to the water, and incredible versatility the design delivered.

This demand led to the new Solaris Rear Social floorplan – a versatile, entertainment focused design that takes happy hour to an all-new level. Premier combined its Open Water Panels with a co-captain swing back lounger, a swing-back bench, an adjustable pedestal table with dual chairs that can be lowered to create an extended length lounge bed. Not to mention ample integrated storage, and plenty of cupholders all finished in its premium Premier Cool-Touch fabric. The manufacturer then took it a step further by adding even more ways to entertain with an integrated rear caddy featuring a pop-up flat screen lift assembly so you can cheer on your favorite team. That's correct, an optional water-resistant television is available on the new Rear Social floorplan making it an ideal gathering spot whether you’re on the water or chilling at the marina.

Premier Sunscape     
Premier Marine also entered its affordable Sunscape line, an reimagined entry-priced pontoon that doesn’t compromise on build quality, features, or the ownership experience. Sunscape is built using the same materials and construction methods used in all of its premium pontoons including thicker gauge tubes, 16-inch on-center Z-channel frame, and full-welded bulkheads. It’s the kind of quality that has earned Premier Marine three-consecutive Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) awards.

Premier outfitted Sunscape with many of its most popular premium features including a signature clear bow gate, soft-touch fabrics, and electronics from Clarion and Hummingbird. Best of all, Sunscape is priced right (starting around $45K) and is backed by a 10-year, bow-to-stern warranty. Available in six different floorplans and in both two-tube and its exclusive triple PTX.

Sea-Doo Switch Fish
When the Sea-Doo Switch was first released, it earned an NMMA Innovation award at the 2022 Minneapolis Boat Show. So naturally it made sense that Sea-Doo Pontoons would enter its latest Switch Fish. It is the manufacturer's first pontoon designed with catching fish in mind. Using the award winning tri-hull Switch pontoon platform, the Switch Fish adds many unique and innovative features that are designed directly for anglers.

Two Garmin fish finders provide a window below the surface from both the bow and console of the pontoon. An integrated bow-mounted Garmin Force Kraken trolling motor suitable for both fresh and saltwater helps get on the fish with pinpoint accuracy. The integrated storage offers room to spare when storing your trolling motor. The included quick-attach 68L LinQ cooler and livewell and integrated washdown system keep messes to a minimum.

Two fishing pedestal seats can be positioned anywhere on the deck depending on where the fish are biting. The Switch Fish has dedicated locking storage space to keep tackle and other valuables safe as well as a separate quick-access rod storage compartment.

A Series From Sylvan
The Sylvan A-series boats feature an innovative design with integrated high-performance polyethylene material pieces that seamlessly connect to the boat's side panels. This unique construction creates a sleek, unified structure that enhances both the aesthetic appeal and functionality of the boat.

The integration of these polyethylene pieces offers significant weight reduction, making the boat easier to tow and more fuel-efficient. Additionally, the durable polyethylene material is resistant to scratches and dents, ensuring that the boat maintains its appearance and structural integrity over time.

This material also contributes to the boat’s cost-effectiveness, as it is less expensive to produce than traditional materials and requires less production line installation, allowing Sylvan to deliver affordability to the end consumer.

The design further minimizes noise and vibration, offering a quieter, more comfortable ride. Overall, the Sylvan A-series boats (starting at less than $25K) are a smart choice for those seeking durability, ease of transport, and an enhanced boating experience, all at an affordable price point. 

Viaggio Potty Slide
When boating on large bodies of water or for extended periods of time, having access to a head/toilet can become a necessity. However, you don't always have the best options when on a pontoon boat. Often the only solution has been using a five-gallon bucket with a toilet seat mounted to the top. These make-shift toilets are unsightly, in the way and often too small/low to the ground for easy use. And let's be honest, what's worse than actually using them might be having to clean the toilet after.

Being a family-owned company, Viaggio intentionally designs its boats with families in mind. Its latest innovation is to ensure no one is left on sure – including those who may need access to a usable toilet.

The patent pending Potty Slide is an option that includes a dedicated storage location for the toilet and features a slide mechanism from Boat Outfitters, making it easy to slide the toilet in/out.

The toilet features a dry-flush design: after every flush, a foil liner wraps the waste (shielding it from odors), stores it in the bottom of the container, and replaces the liner for future use. The toilet is comparable in height to a standard toilet, making it easy for older family members to get on and off.