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A Record Number of Entries for the 35th Anniversary of the DAME Design Awards
With just a few weeks to go before the Metstrade trade show, the DAME Design Awards have announced the products selected for their 35th edition. The competition, established in 1991, received 153 entries from 30 countries. Of these, 74 products were shortlisted, according to the organizer?s report.
This is the highest number of nominees recorded in 23 years. It reflects sustained activity among equipment manufacturers in a sector where new developments encompass both electronic systems and much more traditional bridge accessories.
Chaired by naval architect Andre Hoek, the international jury brings together eleven experts in design, naval architecture, and onboard living. After three weeks of reviewing the submissions, the jury members spent two days conducting a hands-on evaluation of the products.
The equipment will be on display from November 17 to 19, 2026, in Hall 13 at the RAI Amsterdam. The winners in the eight categories, followed by the overall winner of the competition, will be announced on November 17.
Electrification, Artificial Intelligence, and Connected Devices
The 2026 selection reflects several trends in the boating industry. In particular, the jury highlights the growing importance of electrification, automation, artificial intelligence, and communication between various onboard systems.
In the energy sector, the proposals include a hydrogen fuel cell, batteries using solid-electrolyte technology, and several hybrid architectures.
Navigation electronics also remain widely represented. Manufacturers offer data fusion tools, multifunction displays, maneuvering aids, and diagnostic systems for NMEA 2000 networks.
Deck hardware hasn't been overlooked either. Reversible electric winches, actuators, pulleys, line winders, and rigging measurement instruments show that advancements aren't limited to screens alone.
For recreational boaters, however, the value of this equipment must be assessed beyond its marketing pitch. Reliability, ease of use, compatibility, and maintenance remain key factors on board.
Sustainability is also one of the design criteria
This edition introduces a training program focused on assessing the environmental impact of products, which will be offered to the nominated companies on November 16.
Organized by Marine Impact Lab, in partnership with The Sustainability Toolbox and MarineShift 360, the initiative is designed to help manufacturers better measure and document their efforts.
The jury may also award a prize for environmental design. This distinction does not exempt the jury from examining the actual characteristics of the equipment, including its lifespan, repairability, and resource consumption.
The complete list of products nominated for the 2026 DAME Design Awards
The two pages on the official website currently list 78 items, while the organizers report 74 nominated products. The list below includes all the equipment listed, broken down into the competition?s eight categories. The descriptions are based on the manufacturers? presentations.
Deck Equipment %E2euros%94 16 products
Anchor Swivel %E2euros%94 Wichard : an anchor swivel designed to facilitate anchoring maneuvers.
Ballast Fender %E2euros%94 Easysea : an inflatable fender with a water-filled base to keep it upright.
DROP %E2euros%94 Ankerplex International : anchor manufactured without welding, bending, or lead filling
Electric Rotary Actuator %E2euros%94 Harken : Compact electric rotary actuator designed to facilitate the deployment and retraction of moving parts on large yachts without the need for a hydraulic system
FlyUp Modular Carbon Fiber Boarding Ladder %E2euros%94 Aguacarbon : modular carbon fiber swim ladder with non-slip steps
Fold %E2euros%94 Easysea : freestanding bimini with automatic opening and closing
Furl-Fix Stanchion Block %E2euros%94 UltraGlozz : stanchion block used to guide the furler line
LDA700 Openable Line Driver %E2euros%94 Antal : open-end rope guide for various maneuvering circuits
M2 Performance Anchor %E2euros%94 Mantus Marine : anchor with a profiled shank and rear flukes, designed specifically for muddy bottoms
Multistan %E2euros%94 multiplex : railing system designed for yachts
Reversible Electric Winches %E2euros%94 Seldén : reversible electric winches for tightening and slacking a sheet
Rig-Sense Pro %E2euros%94 Spinlock : Tension gauge for wire and rod rigging, with a rated capacity of up to 8,000 kg
Series 55 Ratchet Orbit Block %E2euros%94 Ronstan : ratchet pulley equipped with a 55-mm sheave
SoLite Marine Sunroofs %E2euros%94 Webasto : power sliding sunroof
Tackfurl © Facnor : manual retractor with top lock and compact drum
X Batten Car ? Rigging Projects : mainsail battens car
Electrical and Electronic Systems %E2euros%94 8 products
EB108 RW-00 %E2euros%94 prebit : recessed light fixture designed specifically for walkways and crew areas
H2 Marine One %E2euros%94 MOTA and HOPIUM : hydrogen fuel cell using direct seawater cooling
H4 Hybrid Power System %E2euros%94 HikoTerra : hybrid system for the generation and management of electrical energy
HeVOLUTION 80%E2euros%94 AS Labruna : 80-kW hybrid generator set, compatible with diesel and HVO
Solid State Technology Battery %E2euros%93 Svenner II %E2euros%94 EPTechnologies : solid-state marine battery with integrated management
Titan %E2euros%94 BCM Illuminazione : recessed titanium spotlight, designed to resist corrosion
TLX 3D Flexline Series %E2euros%94 Tottalux : flexible LED lighting that can bend in multiple directions
Zeus Omega Alternator Control System %E2euros%94 Arco Marine : modular alternator control system
Manufacturing, Materials, and Technical Products %E2euros%94 9 products
Oceans Assured Compliance Platform %E2euros%94 Lankhorst Taselaar : an information platform on regulations governing navigation
Sensiblue S4 ? Sensiblue : a device for disinfecting water through salt electrolysis
Smart Rig Manager %E2euros%94 Cyclops Marine : interface displaying the forces measured by the rigging load sensors
Sunbrella Plus Recycled %E2euros%94 Sunbrella : technical fabric made in France from recycled fibers
TruDesign Air Handler Valve %E2euros%94 TruDesign : valve designed for marine air-handling systems
Hempel's Infinity %E2euros%94 Hempel : an aqueous product designed to restore the properties of the Silic One hull coating
Supersede Marine Board %E2euros%94 Supersede : a waterproof panel made from recycled plastics, marketed as an alternative to wood
VL-PF3 Female Recessed Mount Acoustic Clip %E2euros%94 Fastmount : recessed mounting for PET acoustic panels, without adhesive
"Goccia" Water Inlet by Guidi : streamlined water intake designed to minimize hydrodynamic drag and noise
Navigation and Communication %E2euros%94 16 products
ActiveTarget 2 XL %E2euros%94 Navico Group : 180° real-time fish finder, designed primarily for fishing
ADAS Platform %E2euros%94 Eagle Marine : platform to assist with navigation and docking maneuvers
AI: Data Fusion System %E2euros%94 LOOKOUT : a system that combines sensor data to create a three-dimensional representation of the vessel's surroundings
B&G Zeus SRX %E2euros%94 Navico Group : multifunction display for sailboats, combining navigation and onboard controls
IC-M430E %E2euros%94 Icom : Compact marine VHF radio
NAVDoctor Pro %E2euros%94 Digital Yacht : Real-time diagnostic tool for NMEA 2000 networks
Pathfinder ECS Black Box %E2euros%94 Raymarine : electronic charting system for commercial vessels
Q Display Float Series %E2euros%94 Nextfour Solutions : a display system that combines navigation, 4G connectivity, monitoring, and audio features.
RCU-1 Autopilot Remote Control System %E2euros%94 Raymarine : wireless autopilot remote control with color display
Scout %E2euros%94 Vortex Marine : a solution that combines satellite imagery, mapping, weather, and vessel data
VHF Signal & Remote %E2euros%94 Garmin : VHF radio with AIS capabilities, touchscreen, and remote control
Simrad NSO 4 %E2euros%94 Navico Group : multifunction display that centralizes navigation and controls
SmartDrive Autopilot Actuator %E2euros%94 Garmin : Linear actuator for a sailboat's autopilot, with a brushless motor
SWAY 3.0 %E2euros%94 SWAY : system for recording voyages and analyzing wind and AIS data
TZMAP13 %E2euros%94 Furuno : 13-inch multifunction display with built-in navigation, fishfinder, and radar
Wireless-Powered Navigation Pole Light %E2euros%94 Scanstrut : Navigation light on a mount using wireless power
Comfort and Life Aboard %E2euros%94 8 products
2 kg LPG Composite Cylinder %E2euros%94 Ragasco : 2-kg LPG cylinder made of composite material
Deluxe Folding Faucet %E2euros%94 Queensize Camper : 316 stainless steel swing-out valve with three supply lines
Flamefield Petralite Marine Tableware %E2euros%94 Flamefield : impact-resistant tableware; oven- and microwave-safe according to the manufacturer
Ellipse Bluetooth Pedestal System %E2euros%94 Springfield Marine : motorized pilot seat base, adjustable via Bluetooth
Kenyon Signature Induction Cooktop Series %E2euros%94 Kenyon : induction cooktops with a matte black glass surface
Multizone Control Kit %E2euros%94 Blue-Airco : a system that allows you to create two independent climate control zones
SCU08VFDHE-M %E2euros%94 Frigomar : standalone air conditioner with a variable-speed compressor
silwy Ready Table %E2euros%94 silwy Magnetic System : table with a built-in metal surface for holding magnetic accessories
Personal Equipment %E2euros%94 7 products
Dan W4-VIR %E2euros%94 Daniamant : a life jacket light that combines a visible light signal with an infrared beacon
Gravix %E2euros%94 Jobe Sports : wakefoil set with a learning aid
Handheld Weather Ultrasonic Wind Meter %E2euros%94 Calypso Instruments : portable ultrasonic weather instrument
Women's Tidal Waterproof Bib %E2euros%94 Mustang Survival : waterproof overalls designed for the female body type
VITO AFS 170N Life Jacket %E2euros%94 Spinlock : 170 N life jacket with a new buoyancy design
Sailing Bob Bump Shell %E2euros%94 Forward WIP : navigation helmet with built-in impact protection
OFS800 Offshore Range %E2euros%94 Zhik : a line of marine apparel designed for offshore sailing
Propulsion and Dynamics %E2euros%94 10 products
Belassi Modular PowerPod %E2euros%94 Belassi : a preassembled propulsion system comprising the engine, waterjet, cooling system, and controls
Lowrance Scout Trolling Motor %E2euros%94 Navico Group : auxiliary electric motor designed for fishing
M3 Trolling Motor with Pedal %E2euros%94 MARINEMIND : electric fishing motor with foot control and virtual anchoring via GNSS
Mercury Keyless Ignition %E2euros%94 Brunswick Marine : keyless start and locking system, via code or smartphone
Pacific Control Series %E2euros%94 Quick Group : range of controls for maneuvering thrusters
Rotating Saildrive %E2euros%94 Mitek : 360°-rotating saildrive to direct the thrust
Spirit 1 Electric Outboard %E2euros%94 ePropulsion : New version of the Spirit 1 electric outboard motor
Stabilizer Fins %E2euros%94 Spark : stabilizer aileron system
Teignbridge Controllable Pitch Propeller (T-CPP) %E2euros%94 Teignbridge Propellers : variable-pitch propeller designed to improve propulsive efficiency
YF12e Hybrid %E2euros%94 Yanmar Marine International : integrated hybrid electric propulsion system
Safety and Security on Board %E2euros%94 4 products
Quasar ONE %E2euros%94 Safiery : Ship network monitoring system with remote analysis
SafeLi Battery Gas Detector %E2euros%94 Digital Yacht : Gas and Overheating Detector for LiFePO4 Battery Systems
Spinlock Mast Float %E2euros%94 Spinlock : masthead float designed for dinghies in the event of capsizing
WIF-Pro %E2euros%94 OHNOH2O : system for detecting the presence of water in fuel
Join us on November 17 to find out who the winners are
The 2026 DAME Design Awards offer a glimpse into the developments underway among marine equipment manufacturers, from propulsion systems to deck hardware. The competition will recognize the products deemed to be the most accomplished in terms of design.
There is still one crucial step left for boaters: putting this equipment to the test under real-world conditions of navigation, installation, and maintenance. The awards will be announced on November 17 in Amsterdam.
