The best new equipment at METSTRADE 2024

About DAME Design Awards

The international exhibition METSTRADE 2024 pleased all yachting enthusiasts with new equipment. But in addition to an extensive list of new products, the exhibition also honored the best inventions and yacht equipment, according to the jury, as part of the DAME Design Awards. 

The DAME Design Awards were established in 1991. The idea of the award is to promote outstanding technological innovations in yachting, presented among others at the METSTRADE exhibition. The DAME Design Awards are one of the most prestigious awards in the world of yachting, so even the nomination is considered an honor. Thus, in 2024, a total of 58 products from different companies were nominated.

Nominations and winners at METSTRADE 2024

There are eight main nominations in which the jury selects the winner. In addition to the eight main nominations, there is a special, ninth award – Environmental DAME Design Award. It is awarded to a company that has presented an exemplary product that is not only well designed, has clear advantages over competitors, but also has a minimal impact on the environment. 

The list of main nominations is as follows:

• Personal equipment
• Comfort & entertainment afloat
• Navigation & communication
• Electronics & electrical systems
• Propulsion & dynamics
• Deck equipment
• Security & safety aboard
• Shoreside equipment & materials

Let's go through the 2024 winners in each category.

Personal equipment

In 2024, the best personal equipment item at METSTRADE was named the Offshore 150N Hi-Lift multifunctional life jacket from TeamO Marine. The main feature of the vest was the rethinking of its operating mechanism. 

TeamO Marine has improved the way a person is supported in the water and has also found a way to speed up the ascent of a person overboard with the help of an improved design of the vest. The vest is able to automatically or manually help a person raise their head above water.

Comfort & entertainment afloat

The winner in this nomination was the compact refrigeration unit Indel Webasto Marine Slim-Fit Cooling Unit. Its key feature is the integrated concentric evaporator, which is part of the cooling unit. This solution eliminates the need for separate installation of the evaporator or the use of additional connections, which simplifies installation and reduces the likelihood of malfunctions.

Navigation & communication

The Navigation and Communications Award went to Raymarine for its new RSW Wired Smart Wind transducer. The sensor is designed to provide highly accurate, calibrated wind speed and direction data. 

A 30-meter Smart Wind cable for the mast is included as standard. Compatible with Axiom chartplotters and Alpha Performance MFDs from the same manufacturer.

Electronics & electrical systems

Electronics control is becoming more and more complex every year, so automation and remote control systems come to the rescue. The Egis XD NMEA 2000 series system was created specifically for remote control of storage batteries and was noted at METSTRADE.

The main feature is the support of the NMEA 2000 protocol, which allows Egis to be integrated into almost any system that also supports this protocol. Due to the fine-tuning, Egis XD can be fine-tuned to any type of boat and the owner's preferences.

Propulsion & dynamics

In this nomination, the jury absolutely deservedly noted the company Yanmar and awarded the prize to a new product – E-Saildrive SDe Series. The line includes three saildrive-type electric motors of different power: 7 kW (9.5 hp), 10 kW (13.6 hp) and 15 kW (20.4 hp).

One of the features of the new saildrives should be simplified installation based on the plug-n-play principle, i.e. “install and use” without additional complications. 

Deck equipment

Karver Systems presented a new halyard stopper KJS12, which won the hearts of the jury. The stopper is designed for a working load of 600 to 2000 kg and is made of durable stainless steel. The main reason for buying the device should be its wear resistance and the ability to safely work with sails even under extremely high loads.

Security & safety aboard

If the Offshore 150N Hi-Lift life jacket from TeamO Marine is intended for personal use, then the signal ball will be an excellent solution for an emergency situation on board a yacht. It is this device called AirMarker AG R.Four that was awarded in the category "Safety on Board".

The R.Four signal balloon can rise to a height of 15 meters and send out a visual distress signal. The balloon comes in a durable waterproof case and inflates automatically. The internal LED has additional protection from water, so that in case of inclement weather conditions the device continues to perform its function.

Shoreside equipment & materials

North Sails won the Best Coastal Equipment and Materials category with its new NPL Renew material, which will be used to create sails. The new NPL Renew laminate on 90% consists of an alternative biomaterial and already recycled raw materials. The main features of the new sails made from this laminate are durability and environmental friendliness.

Sustainable Design Award

In the ninth nomination, two companies became winners at once. The first was the already mentioned Yanmar with its new saildrive, and the second was CMP Group for the modern SMartyr SCP Anode.

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26.11.2024