After a hurricane threatened to blow through Tampa in 2022, forcing cancellation, the 2023 IBEX Show (International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference) was a resounding success as over 8,600 industry professionals came to share information, products, innovations and education at the Tampa Convention Center, Tampa, FL between October 3 – 5, 2023. This is a significant gathering of professionals, considering the marine industry’s contribution of over $230.3 billion to the US recreational boating economy, creating over 812,558 jobs and 36,101 businesses, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA).

IBEX Boat Show

Above: Inside the IBEX Boat Show (Circa 2019). Photo via Lenny Rudow.



 

Opening Event Highlights


Those and other positive figures were shared in the opening industry breakfast by NMMA President Frank Huglemeyer, as well as some dire warnings about dangers to the industry posed by NOAA and other marine conservation groups. If boating enthusiasts and marine industry members do not rally the support of our law makers, Congress and State Attorney Generals through Boating United, to invest in technological strategies to save the right whales and other allegedly endangered species, we could all suffer the devastation of boating and fishing coastal economies under unsustainable speeds of 10 knots! The industry encourages all participants to get involved and makes it easy through the communities provided links.

Keynote Address: Connor Lokar


Following was a similarly daunting keynote address by Senior Forecaster from ITR Economics, Connor Lokar, who warned of a “mild” recession in 2024, followed by a growth period in 2025. He turned the down-turn to a positive by reminding companies to focus on all the improvements they wanted to make but did not have time for during the industry’s pandemic surge. His recommendation to “Tout your competitive advantage” would help ensure that all companies would be ready for the ensuing growth to come in 2025. He referred to a “silver lining,” saying that diminishing disruptions in the supply chain, labor and inventory supply, were making the economy easier to manage after the pandemic recovery.

Innovation Awards: A Marine Industry Tradition


The Innovation Awards, a 20-year tradition, selected from 94 entries, covering a dozen categories, were judged by Boating Writers International (BWI) editors. The awards presented at the industry breakfast, covered a broad range of products and services and saw established companies like Garmin, Lewmar and Volvo share the international podium with newcomers like VoltSafe, SeaScour, Temo and others, all developing new ways to increase the enjoyment, productivity and efficiency of boating.

Electric Products: Electric Boats And Outboards & Smart Tech


The air was literally electric with EV products and sustainability programs and exhibits. Educational opportunities and a special technology pavilion emphasized the “Carbon Conundrum” the topic of a seminar, while the electric pavilion included technologies from batteries and boats to propulsion systems, drives and charging, to NMEA 2000 networked equipment and new fiberglass solar panels from Open Waters. Ingenity, Vision Marine Technologies, E-Tech, ePropulsion, and Hercules Electric Mobility were only a few of the newer companies joining the long-established exhibitors including Ilmor, Mercury Marine, Suzuki, Yamaha, Yanmar, Volvo and Honda, which featured its new 350 HP outboard.

Marine Audio


The docks were rocking with upbeat music from Hertz, JL Audio, KICKER Marine Audio, Klipsch, Roswell and Wet Sounds, along with quiet electric boats including a pontoon from Hyper Electric Marine, featuring the Hydrofin foil, Voltari’s electric performance boat, stabilizer demonstrations from SeaKeeper, sea trials from Petestep, showcasing a new boat bottom design and from Sharrow Propellers, displaying its fuel and speed efficiencies.

International Exhibitors


Pavilions representing Australia, China, France and Italy adding an international flair and there was a literal buzz flowing from throughout the Tampa Convention Center and surrounding Harbour Island. A student career day was presented by ABYC and an Emerging Marine Leaders program with the University of Tampa Career Readiness, hosted by Boating Industry and KICKER Marine Audio, both providing opportunities to build the marine careers and minds of tomorrow.

The IBEX Show is owned and produced by NMMA and RAI Amsterdam, in partnership with the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA). October 1-3, 2024 are the dates for next year, so be ready to network, learn and grow at the IBEX Show.