Marine innovation takes centre stage
The International BoatBuilders' Exhibition and Conference, better known as IBEX, has firmly established itself as the pulse of marine innovation across North America. Once again filling the Tampa Convention Center, the 2025 edition draws together designers, engineers, and suppliers collectively shaping the way tomorrow's vessels will be built, powered, and kept running.
The education programme at IBEX 2025 is arguably the strongest the event has ever offered. Pre-conference sessions kick things off with hands-on workshops covering composite fibre lay-ups, NMEA 2000 installer training, and the principles behind electric-hybrid propulsion design. From there, attendees can pursue ABYC certification, dig into seminars on tariffs and supply chain resilience, or explore the fast-evolving world of digital switching. More than 50 technical seminars carry Continuing Education Units, covering ground as varied as AI Afloat: Assessing the Promise of Intelligent Technology and Developing Full Foils for Recreational Boats. Free Tech Talks run throughout the day in the third-floor theatre, and Student Career Day on 9 October gives young tradespeople a direct line to prospective employers through an interactive map built into the IBEX app.
Now into its second year, the Yachting Ventures Start-Up Pavilion is shaping up as one of the most talked-about corners of the entire event. Seven emerging companies will take to the stage to pitch live in front of Florida investors, each making their case for why their idea deserves backing. The line-up covers a wide range of ambitions: Cohesive Robotics is bringing AI-enabled automation to the marine sector, while Neptune-pv is targeting the off-grid boater with portable solar kits. BoatPlanet aims to bridge the gap between boat owners and marine professionals, and OceanVault is developing hardware-based security for high-value vessels. The Pavilion's central position within the exhibition floor ensures a steady stream of industry leaders and curious innovators passing through all day.
Yachting Ventures founder Mary Velline describes the fast-paced pitching contest as bringing "energy and opportunity in equal measure," with Florida investors assessing each start-up's potential.
Running alongside the main programme is MIX 2025, a collaborative forum produced by Soundings Trade Only and IBEX. The Marine Ideas Exchange blends keynote addresses with interactive sessions focused on leadership, technology, and the culture that drives successful marine brands. Among the confirmed speakers are Bill Yeargin of Correct Craft and Jason Lippert of Lippert Components, joined by senior executives from Garmin, Raymarine, and Chris-Craft, all examining how innovation and organisational culture feed into the broader marine economy.
On the exhibition floor, more than 600 companies fill the hall with the latest thinking in efficiency, sustainability, and connectivity. Familiar industry names appear throughout, including Garmin USA, Mercury Marine, Yamaha, Honda Marine, Furuno, Raymarine / FLIR, Seakeeper, Smartgyro, and Propspeed. Australian representation comes by way of DockMate and Launch & Retrieve Boat Latch, a reminder that marine innovation is a genuinely global conversation, even when the venue is Tampa.
