DAME Awards

Top equipment prize from the Marine Equipment Trade Show in Holland

On the opening day of the Marine Equipment Trade Show (METS), the winner of the DAME Award 2004 was announced by the chairman of the jury, Tony Castro. The DAME Awards places its emphasis on design in all of its elements but it is also pleasing to the Jury when a well-designed product emerges with the added promise of contributing something genuinely new to the world of leisure boating. Such can be said of the Bamar RLG-CODE Furler from ARTE s.r.l. of Italy, presented by Romar B.V. of the Netherlands.

This product uses a series of cleverly designed components to allow the furling of asymmetric downwind sails that are usually released and gathered in by the use of a sock by crew out on deck. The RLG-CodeE furler can be controlled from the cockpit at the press of a button and its self-aligning waterproof ball joint deck fitting with a below deck motor obviates the need for a furler drum, keeping things tidy up on the bow. While aimed at the upper end of the yachting market this product has clear implications for the future at a time when boat owners are seeking ease of handling as a priority for their purchases.

Bamar’s furler is an exciting indication of the value of boundary-breaking research investment and a worthy DAME 2004 winner.

Category Winners

Marine Electronics
There were two joint winners in this category. The C-SERIES multi-function navigation system from Raymarine Ltd. of the UK was highly praised for its intuitive user interface, one of the best seen anywhere in this sector and a step forward even for a company with an already good track record in this competition. The Jury particularly praised the B&G Remotevision wireless remote control unit presented by Simrad A/S of Norway for its aesthetics and its ability to control navigation instruments and the autopilot from anywhere on the boat.

Interior Equipment, Furnishing, Materials and Electrical Fittings
The winner is the Andromeda lighting range from Foresti e Suardi Spa of Italy. Cabin lighting equipment often disappoints the Jury, which expects great emphasis to be placed upon styling and tasteful use of materials, so this company’s efforts to meet the challenges of increasingly sophisticated interior design are to be particularly commended.

Marina, Boatyard and Equipment Used To Construct Boats
Standards in this category were insufficient to merit a Category Winner award this year.

Deck Equipment, Sails and Rigging
This category consistently challenges the Jury with many good designs. After much deliberation the Bamar RLG-CODE Furler from ARTE s.r.l. of Italy, presented by Romar B.V. of the Netherlands, was selected as the Category Winner. It was later also voted overall DAME 2004 winner (see above).

Clothing and Crew Accessories
Unusually for this category the Jury did not decide upon an outright winner, indicative that no one product revealed itself as outstanding this year.

Life Saving Equipment and Safety
The joint winners in this category come from opposite ends of the scale in terms of sophistication. The deck harness with lifejacket accessory from Spinlock Ltd. of the UK borrows heavily from mountaineering technology and shows great attention to detail in all aspects. It is a welcome re-evaluation of lifejacket and harness design that caused much debate because of its unconventional approach. In comparison the Clamseal from Barton Marine Equipment Ltd. of the U.K. uses just four components to create a clever but simple solution to mending holes in inflatables and liferafts; a genuine step forward for a problem that is rarely effectively solved using glue and patches during emergencies out on the water.

Propulsion, Machinery, Electrical and Mechanical Systems
The Jury has welcomed, in recent years, the emergence of LED technology to replace incandescent bulbs in the marine world but the Lopolight series of navigation and deck lights from Lopolight APS of Denmark really caught the eye, for their high luminance, their distinctive styling and their rugged construction.

Marine Related Software
Standards in this category were insufficient to merit a Category Winner award this year.

DAME Jury Innovation Award

The Jury was granted the right to highlight outstanding innovation among entrant products back in 2002 but has been waiting for an exceptional maiden candidate. It believes it has found that in the form of the MFC AHD-100 marine fuel cell from Max Power of France. A compact device capable of generating 100Ah of regulated 12V per day for battery charging, the fuel cell weighs 7kg and can be moved by hand although it will need a semi-permanent installation if used on a boat. The fact that this unit uses methanol will cause some careful thought regarding safety and environmentalists will be disappointed to see that there are some small levels of carbon dioxide emissions during operation but this is surely a glimpse into the future and a real surprise in such a portable package.


Special Mentions

A total of 23 products were selected from seven of the eight available categories.

Marine Electronics

Simrad A/S of Norway pioneered the handset and black box style of VHF and the RS82 furthers the development with a competent and cohesive design.
The TF6600 GPS Chartplotter/Fishfinder from Navman New Zealand Ltd. of New Zealand offers flexible options on an excellent display and engine information via Mercury’s SmartCraft protocol.
Interphase Technologies Inc. of the U.S.A. has developed the Color Twinscope forward looking sonar to allow scanning across a 90° arc either vertically or horizontally, a fascinating navigation tool for shallow water exploration.

Interior Equipment, Furnishing, Materials and Electrical Fittings

The Rako Wireless Lighting Control System submitted by Sensory International of the U.K. was praised for the slim form of its built-in switch fixtures that can be accommodated in thin bulkheads, making the most of the cable-free nature of this system.
Frensch GmbH of Germany fascinated the Jury with its F-4 Tasklight, a three-mode chart light employing red and white LEDs, touch-sensitive operation and an automatic night light consuming just 20mA.
The Evolution toilet from TECMA s.r.l. is a ceramic wall-hanging design with a detachable lower service section that combines practical and aesthetic strengths in balanced measure.
The inside Lamellar Hinge from MBT Maschinen-und-Metallbau GmbH & CO KG of Germany was praised for its ability to be installed internally within doors, avoiding visible hinge elements.

Marina, Boatyard and Equipment Used To Construct Boats

Pildne of Latvia has developed the Floating Fuel Station as a self-contained solution to environmentally responsible bunkering of leisure vessels.

Deck Equipment, Sails & Rigging

In designing the 880 Carbon V-TOP Winch, Harken Yacht Equipment of the USA has created a top cleat winch with stunning looks and functionality.
The aesthetically-pleasing HI-MOD Failsafe Wire Rigging Insulator from Petersen Stainless Rigging Ltd. of the UK features a strong fail-safe design.
Suunto OY of Finland has developed the K-95 marine compass with an easily gripped rotating bezel to mark wind direction when yacht racing.
Intelligent metal covered PBO yacht rigging from Smartrigging B.V. of the Netherlands incorporates a measurement fibre to monitor loading and a satellite uplink to the manufacture who can advise when replacement is due to avoid failure.
Frederik Andersens Maskinfabrik A/S of Denmark has incorporated a low profile maintenance free motor in the above-deck base of its attractive Andersen 68ST electrical winch.
Perfix canopy fasteners from Perfix International B.V. of the Netherlands replace the sharp metal receiving pins of traditional securing systems with a reinforced plastic smooth latching dome and button system available in a variety of colours.

Clothing and Crew Accessories

The Shorehike Breath technical sailing shoe from Helly Hansen ASA of Norway is loaded with design detail but at a realistic price for many of its intended users.
Suunto OY of Finland has recognised the benefits of a two-part design in its dry suit that features a horizontal midriff zip to connect the smock with salopette-style trousers; either component can be worn separately.

Life Saving Equipment and Safety

CLOP from France recognises the dislike expressed by many young children when forced to wear crotch straps with personal flotation devices by instead integrating a pair of shorts in comfortable material with its Shorty 100N lifejacket.

The Throwing Strop from Ocean Safety Ltd. of the UK develops the throwing line in a bag concept to include a padded strop secured around the exterior and a longer than normal floating line.

Propulsion, Machinery, Electrical and Mechanical Systems

Mastervolt of the Netherlands has developed its Mass Combi to offer a one-box solution for 2kW continuous inverter and up to 100A battery charger operation, along with automatic power control functionality.

The Seastar Power Assist pump submitted by Teleflex Marine of the U.K. offers a self-contained solution to add power steering capability to the company’s hydraulic steering systems.

Jefa Steering APS of Denmark recognises the need for sailboat-specific permanently engaged autopilot drives with its DD1 direct drive unit which features very low drag when not energised and excellent design attention.

The Jury praised the Watermaker Power Flex from Schenker Italia s.r.l. of Italy for its AC and DC dual voltage operation with auto switching capability.

Proving that the simplest ideas are often the best, Performance Metals of the U.S.A. has incorporated a plastic button in its red spot wear indicator range of aluminium anodes to indicate when replacement is required.

Marine Related Software

Standards in this category were insufficient to merit a Special Mention this year.