The annual DAME Awards recognizing superior design were just announced at the opening of the big METSTRADE marine equipment show in Amsterdam. The awards were started in 1991 to promote design in all boating fields and to recognize the best-designed products at the show.
This year a record 53 products from 100 entries were shortlisted for the awards. An international jury of eight industry veterans then chose the winners in eight categories, plus 14 special mentions.
The overall winner was the HighPower ServoProp 25 from Oceanvolt, the Finnish electric inboard pioneer. It’s a 25-kW electric saildrive with a controllable pitch propeller designed for 45- to 70-foot sailboats (see picture).
The other winners included:
Alpha Performance Display System from Raytheon. The jury praised the quality of its 7-inch and 9-inch displays, saying the large numerical, graphical and animated screens are well designed and easy to read even at a distance. They can be controlled via touch screen or remotely from any compatible MFD.
Mobile Pro Mini Water Purifier from Spot Zero. The jury said the Spot Zero, designed for dockside use to provide spot-free washdowns and to serve as a water purifier when filling tanks, “was quite possibly the neatest design of reverse osmosis water purifiers ever to enter the DAME jury room.”
Zhik Seaboot 700 from Plastimo. The jury said the Seaboot was “designed to reinvent the way a sea boot works and feels” and is “lightweight, flexible and comfortable.” Zhik worked with Michelin on the design of the sole and formulation of the rubber, resulting in a “waterproof and breathable footwear that may be used for many hours or even days at a time.”
Among the Special Mentions:
Atlas 190 Pro Sensor Life Jacket from Mustang Survival. The life jacket has a new bladder design, and the jury said it is lightweight, flexible and comfortable to wear.
sMRT Alert DSC AIS MOB from the Wescom Group. The jury said the sMRT Alert combines AIS and VHF DSC technology to localize a man overboard recovery. Automatic or manual activation triggers a DSC distress signal, with location tracked by dual GPS and Galileo receivers through AIS.
GPSMAP 9000 Series by Garmin. The jury said the new Garmin was an “impressive integrated 4K resolution touchscreen chartplotter with edge-to-edge clarity on a glass helm. It features premium design and materials, fast processing, and comprehensive connectivity.”
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