State of industry address at IBEX - MarineBusinessWorld North America newsletter
by Peter Rendle 15 Oct 02:00 AEDT
State of the Industry Address at IBEX highlights industry influence, access and market growth © NMMA
Last week at the International BoatBuilders' Exhibition & Conference (IBEX) in Tampa, NMMA President and CEO Frank Hugelmeyer opened the annual IBEX Industry Breakfast with a state of the industry address to a sold-out crowd of recreational marine industry professionals.
Hugelmeyer addressed the shifting economic and policy landscape, evolving consumer expectations, and the innovation opportunities ahead for recreational boating. "The future is ours to capture, but we must remain relevant, accessible and affordable," he said, emphasizing the importance of adaptation and collaboration as the industry navigates change.
NMMA announced its new Executive Committee for the 2027-2028 term, led by chair Aine Denari, incoming CEO of Brunswick Corporation and current president of Navico Group and Brunswick chief technology officer. Denari succeeds Ben Speciale, president of Yamaha US Marine Business Unit, who will remain on the Executive Committee as past chair. The committee will help guide NMMA's Board-led priorities in advocacy, self-regulation and market expansion amid an increasingly complex business and policy environment.
The Sea Tow Foundation, a national non-profit dedicated to reducing boating-related accidents and fatalities, in partnership with its Boating Safety Advisory Council, is proud to announce the winners of the National Boating Safety Awards, presented at IBEX, October 6. Now in its eighth year, the awards recognize outstanding efforts within the recreational boating industry that promote safe and responsible boating to help build more confident boaters.
From 23 to 31 January, Germany will once again host the largest international hub for the watersports industry. The 58th boot Düsseldorf will welcome over 1,500 manufacturers, retailers and destinations from all over the world, showcasing the diversity of boating, surfing and diving in all their facets.
The 67th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) will return October 28 through November 1 with an impressive line-up. The show will feature everything from a 305-foot superyacht to new sportfishing models and hybrid propulsion. Several vessels will also make their U.S. or world debuts, giving attendees a first look at some of the newest additions to the global market.
The Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF), is excited to announce the launch of RefitX, a new two-day conference and exhibition dedicated exclusively to the yacht refit industry that will debut during FLIBS 2027. Set to take place in its own dedicated space at the Broward County Convention Center, the event will combine a robust educational program and a dedicated exhibition featuring shipyards, skilled trades, designers, engineers, technology providers, manufacturers and other specialized marine professionals together.
Mercury Marine, a division of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), introduced the new Vessel Interface Module (VIM) at IBEX, a configurable solution that enables Mercury propulsion systems to respond intelligently to conditions elsewhere on the boat. As vessels become more complex and onboard space becomes increasingly limited, the risk of interference between major systems continues to grow. VIM addresses this challenge by connecting propulsion systems with an onboard logic hub as well as sensors or digital switching technologies, helping prevent potentially damaging interactions before they occur.
World Cat honored its top-performing dealers and sales professionals at its Annual Dealer Meeting, held at the JW Marriott in Tampa, Florida. The awards recognized individual sales achievement, dealer performance, market share and year-over-year growth for the 2026 model year.
Lund Boats this week unveiled the all-new Model Year 2027 HG Pro Series, a purpose-built heavy-gauge aluminum platform designed for anglers who pursue big-water fisheries in changing conditions. Available in 22-foot and 24-foot configurations, the new HG Pro combines proven durability, hardtop protection, extended fuel capacity and tournament-ready fishability to help anglers stay on the water longer in demanding environments.
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Peter Rendle - peter.rendle@worldmarine.media