From: Dan Green, NMMA
Subject: Pioneering Technologies Honored for Innovation at IBEX
Date: October 29, 2004

NATIONAL MARINE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION
200 E. Randolph Dr., Suite 5100
Chicago, IL 60601-6528
312/946-6200

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHICAGO, October 29, 2004 - Eight companies were recognized with IBEX Innovation Awards at the International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference (IBEX). National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) presented the awards October 27 during the IBEX Industry Breakfast and Keynote Presentation, held in Miami Beach, Florida.

The Innovation Awards program, organized by NMMA and judged by Boating Writers International (BWI) recognizes 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

BWI provides the judges for the program, each having particular expertise in the award categories.

“This year we saw more than 60 new products, and virtually anyone could have been honored with an award,” said Roger Marshall, editor for Dockwalk magazine and vice president of Boating Writers International (BWI).

Marshall and NMMA president Thom Dammrich presented Innovation Awards to companies recognizing eight different product categories:

Category Company Product
Boatbuilding Methods & Materials Prairie Technology Group SWORL
Electrical Systems Westerbeke Safe-CO™ Generator
Engine Systems R&D Systems Polymer Heat Exchanger
Furnishings & Finishes Current Composites Silent Running – SR 1000
Hardware Fittings Hayn Enterprises Hi-Mod Failsafe Insulator
Mechanical Systems Sea Fire Marine Fire Foe
OEM Electronics & Electronic Sys. Tacktick Micronet System
Outboard Engine Mercury Marine Verado

Prairie Technology Group’s SWORL (Sprayable, Wedgable, Odorless, Reusable and Lasting) is a sprayable silicone bagging material that can be sprayed onto tooling to form a removable injection molding seal or a vacuum bagging barrier coat that is fully reusable, cost effective and easy to produce.

“This is a boon for boatbuilders who must handle a part a number of times. It enables the builder to lower costs, time and investment and still have a fully finished vacuum bagged part,” says BWI judge Lenny Rudow, senior technical editor at Boating magazine.

The Safe-CO Gasoline Generator by Westerbeke is a new line of electronically fuel injected gasoline-fueled marine gensets that reduce CO emissions by well over 99 percent compared with typical carbureted generators.

“Safety is very important in boating, and Westerbeke should be applauded for the development of this genset line. I look forward to the time when we see a propulsion system utilize this technology,” says judge Bill Pike, boats and boating editor with Power & Motoryacht magazine.

In the Engine Systems category, R&D Systems’ Polymer Heat Exchanger is ideal for today’s aluminum engines because it has no metal parts to react with the engine alloy. If the tube bundle corrodes it can be easily replaced at about one fifth of the cost of replacing the entire heat exchanger.

Current Composites’ Silent Running – SR 1000 Marine Coating is a water-based, VOC-free, single-part vibration and sound dampening coating that absorbs vibrations and then dissipates it throughout the applied surface, drastically reducing noise and vibration generated in these areas.

The Hi-Mod Failsafe Insulator from Hayn Enterprises is the only fail safe wire rigging insulator on the market. Delrin bushings are used to insulate the stainless steel body, ensuring that no electrical current can flow across the unit, and should the delrin brushing fail and internal nut will bottom out against the housing, ensuring the yachtsman does not lose a mast.

In Mechanical Systems, Sea-Fire’s Fire Foe is an automatic fire suppression system that extinguishes fires through a self-activating, temperature sensitive delivery tube. When the temperature gets too hot, the tube ruptures; spraying an extinguishing agent into the compartment that is harmless to humans and boat engines.

The Micronet System from Tacktick is a new range of wireless, solar powered electronics that use unique, low power, high speed radio communication protocol to produce electronics that are wireless, waterproof and use zero power consumption.

“The installation savings alone makes the system worth it,” says BWI judge Zuzana Prohaska. “You don’t have to take down the overhead, run wires through the mast or behind furniture. Now an instrument package can be installed without drawing power from a sailboat’s batteries.”

Mercury Marine was recognized for its Verado in the Outboard Engine category. It is the world’s first production supercharged four stroke outboard, and its inline six-cylinder design uses an efficient twin-screw supercharger with electronic boost bypass control and charge air cooling to deliver low- and mid-range torque and acceleration rivaling the strongest two-stroke engines.

“The only thing that is traditional on this engine is the prop nut. Everything else has been designed from scratch, making it totally new for the marine industry,” says judge Dean Travis Clarke, executive editor for Marlin magazine and Sportfishing magazine.

For more information contact NMMA assistant director of Communications Dan Green at (312) 946-6269; dgreen@nmma.org.