Click for Delta Click for JetForums Click for Mulder Click for Mag Bay Click for Comfort

IBEX: New Innovations

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by JWY, Sep 1, 2014.

You need to be registered and signed in to view this content.
  1. JWY

    JWY Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2004
    Messages:
    1,507
    Location:
    Ft. Lauderdale
    IBEX (International Boatbuilders’ Exhibition & Conference) is the show for all things related to yacht building and "yusage." IBEX is being held Sept 30 – Oct. 2nd in Tampa, Fl. and is the largest marine technical trade-show in the world. Owned and produced by “Professional BoatBuilder” magazine and National Marine Manufacturers Assoc., their claim is “ Where Better Boats Begin.” With over 550 companies having displays both in the Tampa Convention Center and at the in-water venue onsite, I am hoping that this new relationship with YF will bring us some new contributing members. YF could use additional experts on fiberglass delamination, stability, launching methods, and any topic that has pulled comments in the gazillion page range :D

    IBEX not only offers product displays and demonstrations, but presents a format for educating those in the yacht building industry. 5,000 marine professionals from 50 countries are expected for the 3 day confluence of demonstrating new developments in the marine trade. In additional to the exhibit hall presentations, there are educational seminars led of course by the industry experts.

    BWI (Boating Writers International) is the organization entrusted with reviewing new products and coming up with a group conclusion on who gets the prestigious awards for the latest and greatest. The awards will be presented at the opening breakfast Tuesday morning, Sept. 30th.

    The plan is for the IBEX organizer to send the 5 judges information on the Innovation Award candidates by Dropbox this week. In a few weeks we’re having a 10 person conference call. Then we start 9:00 on Sunday morning pre-convention and put in 2 days of hands-on review of the products, hearing the “why I should win” pitch from the manufacturer, and subsequently we collectively come up with our winning conclusions.

    In anticipation of getting my sneak preview this week as one of the 5 judges (see Carl's magnanimous YF post earlier), I’ve been thinking of what might appear as the new gotta have boat thingy. I haven’t researched past winners, but surely Travelift was one. Or gyrostabilizers, or joysticks or vacuum bagging. Was autopilot not the greatest invention for marine use! That got me thinking what I might expect and more importantly what would YOU want to see as a new introduction to the marine world. Whether in the build process or end usage, what would make you vote Yes!

    I’ll start a new thread on “Marine Wish List.”

    Judy
  2. JWY

    JWY Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2004
    Messages:
    1,507
    Location:
    Ft. Lauderdale
    Marine Wish List

    For the intro, please see the threads entitled IBEX. What innovations would you like to see? I have a few suggestions:

    Barnacle Belchers: Not just bottom paint to resist barnacles, but one that eats them as they try to attach. That way not only is your bottom barnacle free, but it stops the little buggers from attaching to your dock neighbor’s bottom. Maybe this will help eradicate this nautical nuisance until the “Save the Barnacle” brigade arrives.

    Varnish Vaporizer: Bright work that aint so bright needs a bright idea. Don’t you hate having to sand the old crud before even getting started? Does your caprail look like a molting alligator? Voila – slap on Varnish Vaporizer. It dissolves the old varnish as it is replaced with ooey-gooey shiny.

    Forum Fumigator: The computer program that gets the bugs out for Carl so that he can drop his Wizard role behind the curtain and come back to writing yacht reviews!
  3. Old Phart

    Old Phart Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2011
    Messages:
    1,332
    Location:
    I dunno
  4. Old Phart

    Old Phart Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2011
    Messages:
    1,332
    Location:
    I dunno
  5. Old Phart

    Old Phart Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2011
    Messages:
    1,332
    Location:
    I dunno
  6. NEO56

    NEO56 Member

    Joined:
    May 2, 2014
    Messages:
    656
    Location:
    Miami
    Is IBEX open to the public?
  7. Old Phart

    Old Phart Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2011
    Messages:
    1,332
    Location:
    I dunno

    Only you are able to answer if you qualify for admission.


    Who Should Attend IBEX
  8. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,647
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    Hello Judy

    Were glad you're here.

    I still wish for mfg's to practice what they build in the confines of what they sell or what they product is installed in.
    We all love remote oil filters. May this be an example.
    If you do not have 20 inches of hotz space, it's hard to pull a 30 something inch HRO membrane. I have faced this this with factory installs.
    It's not that we love the fancy options or the simple needs of daily maintenance, the folks who put it together have no thoughts on how it will be serviced.
    Future Innovations should be service oriented. Hy-tech is cool, but if you can't reach it, it's better as reef material when it fails.

    Please keep these in mind when thinking about a wish list.

    Luv Ya,
    Ralph
  9. JWY

    JWY Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2004
    Messages:
    1,507
    Location:
    Ft. Lauderdale
    Thanks, Ralph! Great reminder of something that will be on my priority list on equipment as appropriate.

    Please keep suggestions like that coming!

    Judy
  10. ddw1668

    ddw1668 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2007
    Messages:
    133
    Location:
    Murrells Inlet, SC
    For those of you who know Ralph.........he pretty much fills any space he is in! His plea for more service room is understandable. I am 6'3" and i have to look up to him!

    Hell of a mechanic.:D
  11. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2013
    Messages:
    7,132
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    An instrument to accurately measure wave height since the size of waves seems to grow like the size of the fish that got away.

    Advancement in PFD's with reduction in pricing. The combination of comfortable, effective, and affordable hasn't been really hit yet and leads to people not wearing them in situations where they should.
  12. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,647
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    That's just a new/updated/improved calibration technique needed. Including updates on the ole BS meter..
    Maybe some observation/observer courses/updates in understanding the new data would help also..

    Wave height and fish size does require a little Panache when discussed. Not sure the younger developers can handle the old school logic when these units of measurements/logs were first developed.

    It took years of practice and a lot of rum before I could get a grasp of my calibrated eyeballs..
  13. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2013
    Messages:
    7,132
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    I look at things like Marmot's system that address a need that's there for all diesel owners. Things that I can eventually picture as a standard item. Probably start on a few yachts and then price moderates and distribution increases.

    There will be some items you see and immediately think that's something everyone could use. Of course, on the other side, nice items that have limited users.
  14. JWY

    JWY Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2004
    Messages:
    1,507
    Location:
    Ft. Lauderdale
    I now have information on 88 (!) submissions for the Innovation Awards. There are 13 categories with a winner to be selected in each category. Let me know if you want me to list the 13 categories. I think the number of entries is an all-time IBEX record (there were 60 something last year). It's going to take me a while to get through reading the applications, descriptions, and looking at the videos and photos of all 88! This is for the judges' preliminary review (homework) to get familiar with each product before experiencing it hands-on in Tampa.

    For a brief overview, there are submissions that are improvements on the old tried and true; there's the "I can't believe somebody didn't think of that sooner;" a plethora of "isn't technology amazing;" a long list of gotta haves; and of course the odds and ends ranging from unique to wtf. More than one submission is related to social beverages but I'll withhold an opinion until onsite where I might have to give in to imbibe bribe :D

    Judy
  15. JWY

    JWY Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2004
    Messages:
    1,507
    Location:
    Ft. Lauderdale
    I've become a new product junkie! Can't wait to report to some YF relevant posts. I recall a thread on synthetic teak decking and now there's a product that cools off 30% faster and reduces the weight 2.7kg/m2. There's a new one-piece sea strainer made from an anticorrosive material. Lots of remote control widgets such as a remote drain plug for fishing boats. There's a new and improved varnish that almost fits my earlier wish list. I'm seeing products with an ecological conscience from construction materials to aftermarket comfies. I can't believe how many products are being created to make our happy hour happier! Forget those built-in cupholders, you need one that keeps your can cold if you're a slow swigger - better yet, one that has a lighted stainless trim so you can find it if you're at the stumbling stage after sunset.

    And I haven't even gotten through a fourth of the list!

    Judy
  16. JWY

    JWY Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2004
    Messages:
    1,507
    Location:
    Ft. Lauderdale
    IBEX is around the corner (I fly to Tampa Saturday night) and i have been busy doing homework. The exhibits are sold out and they are expecting record crowds. I've made a short list of 32 first place contenders for the Innovation Awards' 13 categories. I was told to compile a reject list but I didn't come up with any that I thought were really bad ideas; however, if some of the submissions are improved products but not innovative, then they will get bumped.

    I'm also gearing up for FLIBS and I have my eye on a new foot cover. Don't you hate having to take off your shoes for every boat at a boat show? Or worse, the surgical shoe covers which still require manual dexterity while holding bags and stooping. I'm hoping to mooch a new invention that is perfect for boat shows even if it was designed for sole protection for mechanics. There are numerous head improvements and inventions that beat the crap out of the old school toilets :D Aside from having products from head to toe so to speak, there's everything in-between. Speaking of crap, there's a mini-sized bilge pump for inaccessible recesses for Ralph.

    It's all very exciting and I can't wait to see what the other judges come up with for their short list. Will also be interesting to see how the products match up to their descriptions and promotions. We review the 88 products Sunday and Monday and then present the awards at the opening breakfast on Tuesday. Can't wait!

    Judy
  17. NEO56

    NEO56 Member

    Joined:
    May 2, 2014
    Messages:
    656
    Location:
    Miami
    Hi Judy,
    Thank you for keeping us abreast of all this, sounds like you have your plate full! I'm not sure that this is being addressed, and I've been asking this question for years, and nobody can come up with a satisfactory answer. How is it that life raft manufacturers don't use real people. I've looked into 6 and 8 man life rafts, and a 6 person life raft...might be able to accommodate two....maybe three adults at best. Or why don't they put in a neoprene floor to ward off hypothermia? I will have on board Mustang survival suits for everyone on board, in addition to life rafts. I think life rafts need all kinds of new innovations. I had a buddy of mine in Florida who worked for a refurbish company that inspected and repacked life rafts, and I saw first hand a canister raft, deployed. The powder they use filled the area with so much powder that it took your breath away...and smelled so bad...most people would rather drown than to crawl into the raft. Yeah, I know...it's something you'll probably never use...but some innovation needs to be put into that product. Just my two cents.
  18. SFS

    SFS Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    122
    Location:
    Tampa
    Judy - sent you a PM
  19. JWY

    JWY Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2004
    Messages:
    1,507
    Location:
    Ft. Lauderdale
    I arrived at IBEX, met the other 4 judges and team leader, and after setting up the format and process, we headed into the exhibit hall to start exploring the 88 innovative submissions. The judges are an impressive group flying in from all US corners who share a passion for boating and have made a career out of working in the marine industry while simultaneously honing the skill of writing about various aspects of the maritime boat building sector. These accomplished writers have resumes that read like a nautical library, and each brings an interesting vantage point to their opinion of the products.

    While we each had our favorites list, we all agreed the cling-wrap for footsies is simple, brilliant, and why didn't somebody come up with the idea sooner for protecting flooring. Many of the products were good improvements over previous productions, but improvement isn't synonymous with innovation. Quality became a leading topic and many good ideas didn't pass the look and feel standards. Remotes were a common theme; towers, arches, and bimini tops were offered in various stages of folding, flexing, and covering. Wait til you hear details about a weldless ski/wake tower that redefines out of the box creativity and engineering.

    It was an 11 hour day of shop walk n' talk. My pedometer readout was 1.6 miles - just in the convention center exhibit hall. Only 60 more products to visit tomorrow before we begin final selections.

    Judy