Two products sharing space on the Lusty & Blundell stand at the Hutchwilco Boat Show are worth a closer look. One makes a strong case for moving away from gas on board altogether. The other has never been shown to the public anywhere in the world before this event.
Induction cooking on board
Compliance requirements around gas on vessels are heading in one direction, and it is not towards simplicity. Gas is heavier than air, which means any leak pools at the lowest point of the hull and sits there as a hazard. Regulatory attention is sharpening, and keeping on top of that compliance burden is only going to become more demanding.
There is a practical argument beyond safety as well. Gas ties a boat to the shore in a way that electricity does not. Offshore passages and extended stays at anchor require forward planning around the next refill, and that plan does not always hold up against the realities of remote supply chains. The crew of sailing YouTube channel La Vagabonde discovered this in the Caribbean, where incompatible fittings, mismatched connectors, and a complete absence of local suppliers left them with no way to cook at all. An induction system running off an inverter draws on power generated by the boat itself, whether from solar panels, the alternator, or any other charging source fitted aboard.
Lusty & Blundell has a Safery marine induction cooktop on the stand to make exactly this point.
The unit is current-limited to 2 kilowatts, managing power-sharing between both elements automatically and holding total draw within that 2kW ceiling regardless of how both elements are being used at once. A 2000-watt inverter is the practical minimum for running the system, and the current-limiting design means the cooking setup will not push that inverter past its rated limits.
Battery demand is less intimidating than most people expect. A 200 amp-hour lithium bank is the recommended starting point. Cooking a steak at average power draws around 15 percent of that capacity. On a 7 to 10 metre boat carrying 300 to 400 amp-hours, induction cooking is entirely workable day to day.
A gas fitting serves one purpose. An inverter system, by contrast, runs the induction cooktop, the air fryer, the coffee machine, the toaster, and the jug from the same supply. For anyone spending weeks at anchor or heading offshore, the energy source travels with the boat rather than waiting on the dock for a return visit.
The Safery unit installs flush into the benchtop on a standard cutout. Portable versions are available for boats where a permanent fit-out is not practical.
MarineMind trolling motor
The other standout at the Lusty & Blundell stand has never been displayed to the public anywhere in the world before this event. The MarineMind trolling motor is making its world-first public display at this show, ahead of general availability in September, with New Zealand stock due to arrive in August.
Lusty & Blundell has been part of the development process, with units running on local boats to gather real-world conditions data and practical feedback for the manufacturer. The motor carries an IP67 rating, meaning it remains fully functional when submerged. A gas-assisted strut handles deployment, a brushless motor drives the unit, and a joystick remote provides continuous directional control rather than the stepped button inputs common on many competing products.
The 24V and 36V models feature carbon fibre poles. The 12V model originally came with an aluminium pole, but real-world testing showed the alloy bending under load, and it is being replaced with fibreglass. MFD integration does not feature in the initial release but will be delivered through a firmware update, and units purchased from August will be upgradeable when that arrives.
Pricing is expected to come in well below the established players in this category, which makes the build quality and finish all the more notable. The manufacturer previously produced product for one of the major incumbent brands, took that manufacturing knowledge, developed their own motor from it, and brought it to market at a lower price.
Lusty & Blundell is the first retailer anywhere to put the MarineMind in front of the public, getting there ahead of the manufacturer's own official launch in September.
