Top 20 Marine Innovations: The best in smart, safe and sustainable design

We love a bit of clever design and the simpler the better!  The Fendermate™ Slider is the latest idea from the lovely team at Marine Innovations. It’s a neat clip that lets you adjust fender height in seconds — no knots, no wrestling with lines as you edge towards the pontoon.  The pack even includes a handy hanger for the wires so you can stow the fenders neatly out of the way when you’re underway.  Particularly useful if your crew’s ropework skills are more enthusiasm than expertise but a great addition for any size of boat.

The Slider Bundle (£10.00 inc VAT)

Winner of this year’s SIB Environmental Award, Marine Hygiene proves that eco doesn’t have to mean ineffective. Their range focuses on biodegradable packaging with non-toxic formulas that are designed to work without harming aquatic life. Their Holding Tank Digester uses natural bacterial ingredients to break down waste for cleaner discharge and easier maintenance, while the Head Maintainer tackles those dreaded toilet smells caused by uric acid crystals. We’ve tried the products ourselves and can finally say we’ve found a real solution to smelly heads.

The ‘Get You Started’ kit (£93.95 inc VAT) includes the Holding and Head packs and will comfortably see you through a full season.

Compact, rechargeable and light enough to pack in your luggage, the ZT Dive JetDrive turns any swim into an underwater safari. It doesn’t take up much space on board either, which means it’s easily stowable and even easier to justify bringing along. Three speeds and an hour-and-a-half charge time mean that everyone gets a go.

Currently retailing for around £650 inc VAT this is a great addition to the onboard fun kit. (Price varies by retailer)

Fire suppression isn’t usually headline stuff, but this new system from Marine Fire deserves attention. Traditional engine-room units that rely on oxygen displacement can potentially be lethal to crew if they go off while someone’s working below. Mark remembers a close call after a crew member was overcome by fumes when a system was discharged – fortunately they pulled him out in time. The new Safe-Air formula avoids that risk, using a clean-agent suppressant designed to be safe for use in occupied spaces. For anyone maintaining or inspecting an enclosed engine room, it’s a major step forward in safety – protection for both boat and crew.

Pricing depends on engine-room volume but entry- level units start from around £500.

A wireless charger that’s genuinely built for boats! Scanstrut’s Ultra is the first Qi2-certified, mag-compatible marine-grade phone charger, and it solves a problem every modern boater knows: keeping your phone charged without the tangle of cables or the worry of water damage. With an IPX6 waterproof rating front and back, plus toughened glass and magnetic Mag technology, your iPhone locks into the optimal position every time – and stays put, even in choppy conditions. At 15W, it’s Scanstrut’s smallest and fastest waterproof wireless charger yet, with a sleek, low-profile design that actually looks good mounted on a helm or console. Installation is straightforward – a simple lock ring and 3M adhesive system means you can have it up and running in minutes. Compatible with 12/24V systems and drawing less than 0.4W on standby, it’s the kind of clever, practical kit that makes life afloat just that bit easier.

Price £124.99 inc. VAT / Hudson Electronics

Garmin has built a reputation for clever, forward-thinking kit, and the new Force® Current is no exception.  It’s a trolling motor for kayaks with hands-free wireless throttle and steering, so anglers can navigate, troll and reel in without ever putting the rod down. But it’s not just for fishing – it’s a great way to ‘electrify’ your kayak, giving you a boost when paddling into wind or heading home tired. The lightweight brushless motor delivers up to 50 lb of thrust, runs on 12 V or 24 V, and weighs under 25 lb, making it genuinely portable. Aimed at the fast-growing market of tech-savvy anglers, it’s equally at home in fresh or saltwater.

Prices from £2,999.99 inc VAT (RRP)

Garmin’s new GPSMAP 1523XSV brings a proper ultrawide display to compact helms, giving you the feel of dual screens without the clutter.  The 15-inch touchscreen is 74 per cent wider than a standard nine-inch unit, with crisp high-resolution graphics and edge-to-edge glass that looks smart on any dash.

Built-in UHD ClearVü™ and SideVü™ sonar, support for Navionics+ charts, and seamless integration via EmpirBus™ digital switching, OneHelm™ and the Garmin Marine Network make it a genuine all-in-one command centre. For smaller helming stations wanting a premium setup, it’s a neat, uncluttered solution.

Price £3,879.99 inc VAT (RRP)

If you want your boat to stand out when she comes alongside, these French-made inflatable textile fenders will take some beating. Made from a high-tenacity polyester knit, the thread is dyed in the core, giving built-in UV protection and long-term durability. When inflated, they’re tough enough to protect anything from a 20ft cruiser to a superyacht, yet they deflate and roll down to almost nothing – a big win on a passage when locker space is tight. New for this year are the Pontoon Protectors, designed to be fitted on a dock, pontoon or the vessel itself with the same lightweight, easy-handling feel. There’s a range of custom colours and covers available to match your boat.

Price from approx £130 inc VAT each/ £899 for a six-fender pack but check the website to configure your vessel for exact pricing.

Here at PBR, we love a good sustainability story, and the Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity’s Pre-Served range has a good one. Every bag and accessory is handmade in the UK from decommissioned Navy liferafts – tough, waterproof fabric that’s been given a new life as something stylish and useful. It’s a brilliant example of the circular economy in action, turning end-of-service materials into long-lasting products with purpose.

My favourite is the shopping bag, while Mark made a beeline for the laptop cover. Every sale helps fund welfare and family support projects for serving personnel and veterans, funds do not go towards military operations or equipment. And, it is good looking, durable kit.

Shopping bag £40 inc. VAT

Laptop cover £50 inc. VAT

Some of the best ideas start with a bad day, and SeaSight was born from exactly that. When founder Tony Cantrill’s RIB was stolen from its mooring in Cornwall, he decided to design the marine security system he wished he’d had. The result is a clever, purpose-built suite made for boats rather than borrowed from the car market. The SeaSight Shield combines motion sensors, GPS tracking, tamper alerts and even a mooring-line detector that knows if your boat has drifted or been cut loose. A hidden backup tracker called Stealth adds an extra layer of protection if thieves disable the main unit. Everything links via an app, giving peace of mind whether your boat’s on a mooring or in storage. This is a smart, British innovation tackling the  growing threat to  boat security.

Prices start at £152 inc VAT for Secure, £425 for Shield and £324 for Stealth plus you’ll need a subscription for £180.00 inc VAT for 1 year.

Developed with Navico Group, the Axopar Connect app and onboard interface bring your boat’s data – fuel, batteries, weather, and trip information – together in one clear, easy-to-read place. One of the best features is Boat IQ, which offers model-specific tips and tricks, along with a really useful checklist tool for everything from pre-departure prep to seasonal maintenance. It’s a well-designed app that makes life easier, not more technical, giving owners a simple snapshot of what’s happening on board whether they’re at the helm or checking in from shore.

The app itself is free, and the Axopar Connectivity Hub is available as an option on boats from the Axopar 29 upwards. Price from around €1150 ex VAT for standalone Axopar Connectivity (depending on model and spec) and Premium Dual Display from €7,990 ex VAT.

We spotted this one in Cannes, where Tecmar unveiled its new partnership with Italian start-up Blue-Airco – and it’s a smart match. Blue-Airco’s founders are engineers and physicists who’ve channelled serious technical expertise into a new generation of marine air-conditioning that’s lighter, more efficient and impressively quiet. The patented system delivers strong cooling and heating performance while using less power, and the materials – titanium, stainless and high-grade composites – make it far more resistant to corrosion. Gaining a special mention for ‘on-board comfort’ at the DAME awards, it’s ideal for cruisers and liveaboards who value comfort and quiet, efficient performance.

Price from €5,200.

Designed for smaller craft, the new Dometic DG3 brings big-boat stability to the sub-40ft market without the usual bulk or maintenance. It’s a fully electric, self-contained gyro that spins up fast, settles quickly and uses around 40% less power than comparable systems. By removing hydraulics altogether and using sealed needle bearings and a corrosion-proof titanium heat exchanger, Dometic has made a stabiliser that’s virtually maintenance-free – a genuine “fit and forget” solution. Compatible with 12, 24 or 48-volt systems and connecting straight to your MFD via Ethernet, it’s an easy upgrade for anyone who wants smoother passages without extra upkeep.

Price $43,999

Every year there’s one product that stops people in their tracks – and this season at Cannes, it was the SEABOB SE63 by Automobili Lamborghini. The two brands have created what can only be described as the supercar of the sea: all electric, carbon-detailed and impossibly sleek. Weighing just 35 kg yet delivering serious thrust, it combines zero-emission fun with pure Italian theatre. Even the start button and digital read-out echo Lamborghini’s signature styling cues. Add the optional Performance Board and you’ll hit 35 km/h on the surface – though really, this one’s as much about glamour as it is about speed.

Due for release in 2026, expect to see it gracing superyacht decks everywhere.

Winner of the Cannes Innovation Route Award 2025, SEA.AI Watchkeeper takes watch-keeping into the world of artificial intelligence – and I have to say, this one really caught my attention. Using a combination of AI-powered cameras and thermal imaging, it constantly scans the water, spotting what radar and AIS can miss – from buoys and paddleboards to semi-submerged debris. The system classifies what it sees and alerts the helm in real time, day or night, giving an extra layer of awareness when visibility drops. Compact, fully autonomous and easy to integrate, it feels like the future of navigation: smart, watchful and beautifully executed. As someone who loves a bit of AI, this one’s a beauty.

Price:  The entry-level Watchkeeper starts at €4,490 ex VAT and can be fitted on craft from 30ft upwards.

One of the more unexpected finds this season came from Italy, where Ohoskin has managed to turn orange peel into something that feels remarkably like fine leather. Made from citrus by-products and regenerated plastics, it’s a soft, durable and entirely vegan material that’s already being explored for use in marine interiors. UV-resistant and easy to clean, it’s designed to stand up to life afloat while looking anything but utilitarian. The idea that waste from Sicily’s orange juice industry could end up trimming a superyacht is the kind of circular design story we love.

Launched at Genoa, Gene.Sys represents a new way of thinking about how yachts are built and managed. Developed by start-up P2M and now integrated into Italia Yachts, it’s a digital passport that stores a boat’s technical data and maintenance history throughout its entire life – effectively creating a traceable identity, or “digital DNA.” Using an RFID tag embedded within the composite structure, each yacht’s information can be accessed securely via smartphone or tablet, from design and production to servicing and even end-of-life recycling. Ticking all the ESG sustainability goals this device will add transparency and credibility to premium yacht builders and owners.

Price TBA

One of the most interesting launches at Genoa came from Italian start-up Electrifly, whose patented propulsion system replaces traditional bearings, seals and lubricants with magnetic levitation. The result is a completely contactless drive — no friction, no oil, and no maintenance. It’s an elegant answer to one of boating’s dirtiest secrets: what Electrifly state is up to 240 million litres of lubricant oil that leak into the oceans each year. By supporting the rotating components magnetically, Electrifly eliminates wear and drastically cuts energy loss, offering a cleaner, quieter and far more efficient way to move through the water. It’s still early-stage technology, but it feels like a genuine leap forward for sustainable propulsion.

Price TBA

Blue Gold is a European innovation built around one simple idea: if we can measure water, we can manage it better. Already used across land-based industries to monitor and reduce water waste, the technology is now being trialled and adapted for marine use – bringing proven environmental insight from shore to sea. Using a network of compact sensors and an intuitive app, the system tracks tank levels, freshwater use and leaks in real time, helping owners cut waste and spot problems early. It’s aimed at environmentally aware boaters and builders who want to reduce their footprint without complicating life on board. With freshwater becoming an ever-scarcer resource, Blue Gold feels like a small but significant step towards cleaner, more thoughtful boating.

Price TBA

BlueNav have come up with one of those genuinely clever ideas that adds capability without complicating the boat. Designed for smaller and lighter craft, it provides clean, silent electric thrust for the low-speed phases that BlueNav estimate make up around 30% of time on the water — harbour entries, close-quarters manoeuvring and precise positioning.

The company are experts in low-speed navigation between 0 and 5 knots and have equipped the motor with Rim Drive Technology and BlueNav’s Whale Design fins which ensure great reactivity at low speed and energy efficiency. When switching back to combustion propulsion, the motor retracts to preserve speed and overall performance.

The system was named New Propulsion Technology of the Year 2025 at the Electric & Hybrid Marine Awards in Amsterdam, and when paired with the new 3D Joystick it offers intuitive handling plus options such as Dynamic Positioning and Virtual Anchor. Designed for smaller and lighter boats wanting hybrid manoeuvring capability without a full electric conversion, it’s an easy-to-install solution that makes boating feel smoother, quieter and far more controlled when it matters most.

Prices 8 kW : €13, 950 excl VAT
Joystick : €1500 excl VAT

After a season of shows from Southampton to Cannes and Genoa, it’s hard not to feel optimistic about where boating is heading. From quiet revolutions in sustainability to digital tools that make life afloat simpler and safer, it’s innovation with real purpose. For Mark & I, that’s what makes covering these shows so enjoyable: finding the ideas that don’t just move boats forward but move boating forward in an exciting and innovative way.

Keep an eye on our News and Events pages for latest news and product releases.