The International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference (IBEX) is back this October, and once again Tampa Bay will play host to the conversations that shape our industry. While the show floor is always buzzing, it’s the IBEX Education Conference that many insiders make the trip for — three days of seminars, talks, and workshops that cut right to the heart of modern boatbuilding and marine business.
The Main Stage: where big ideas take the helm
The Main Stage is the heartbeat of the conference, bringing together some of the best-known names in boating. Expect straight talk from Robyn Boerstling (NMMA), Dr Thomas Dammrich (former NMMA president), Cecil Cohn (Freedom Boat Club) and Mark Reedenauer (NMEA) as they tackle the issues that affect us all: tariffs, trade, supply chains, and how we build a strong workforce.
These aren’t just lectures — they’re conversations about the future of our industry.
“IBEX serves as a central hub for collaboration and real-time problem solving,” says show director Mary Velline. “The best way to face industry challenges is by learning and working together.”
Seminars: from paint to foils to AI
With more than 50 sessions on the programme, the Seminar Series dives into everything from practical yard work to advanced design theory. But a few stand out as especially interesting, even intriguing.
- Developing full foils for recreational boats: Hydrofoils have left the America’s Cup behind and are now showing up on ferries, workboats, and weekend toys. This session looks at what’s next as designers try to balance speed, safety, and efficiency.
- Anatomy of a sinking: Rare but devastating, sinkings hold vital lessons. Using case studies and photos, this session unpacks how design choices and operational habits can prevent disaster.
- Starlink and the flat-panel revolution: Always-on connectivity is no longer a dream — but it comes with integration challenges. This talk explores what boatbuilders and owners need to know as satellite systems reshape life at sea.
- Revolutionising the design spiral with gaming engines: What happens when naval architects borrow tools from the gaming industry? Faster design loops, smarter testing, and potentially a whole new way to model boats.
- AI afloat: Artificial intelligence isn’t just for tech companies. This session explores how AI might help predict failures, improve efficiency, and even support autonomy at sea.
- The price of weight-saving composites: Every kilo matters, but every kilo saved has a cost. This rare behind-the-scenes look will put numbers to the trade-offs builders make daily.
- Winning the next generation of boaters: The million-dollar question — how do we get younger generations out on the water? This panel moves past clichés and into real strategies.
Each session also counts toward Continuing Education Units (CEUs), so participants walk away with both knowledge and credit.
Tech Talks: quick hits of inspiration
If the seminars are the main course, the Tech Talk Theater is the tapas bar — fast, flavourful, and often surprising. These free sessions run on the show floor and have become a crowd favourite.
- Women at the helm: Marcy Offner and Michele Goldsmith lead a dynamic discussion on how women are reshaping leadership and innovation in boating.
- Defending design: Wake boats are under legislative fire in the US. This talk explores how the industry can protect innovation while addressing environmental and community concerns.
- Human factors and TBI: The hidden risks of high-speed boating — repeated impacts and brain injury. This one promises to be eye-opening.
- From hull to high-tech: CNC machining has transformed how we build everything else. Now it’s changing boatbuilding, cutting waste and opening the door to new design possibilities.
- uGLOF and underwater luminescence: With a name as futuristic as its technology, this session shows how glowing oil films can reveal skin friction in real time — a breakthrough in hull efficiency research.
- Electrification of powertrains: As boats catch up with cars, this Tech Talk looks at platform-agnostic designs that could accelerate the shift to hybrid and electric systems.
- AI, cloud and mobile marinas: The marina of the future won’t just be a place to tie up. This talk explores how technology is modernising services and deepening customer connections.
Pre-conference training: deep dives before the show
For those who want to arrive at IBEX already armed with new skills, the Pre-Conference programme offers full-day and half-day courses. A selection of what is on offer:
- SNAME electric and hybrid propulsion systems: A deep-dive into the design of hybrid and fully electric power for small craft, packed with real-world case studies.
- Orca3D CFD workshop: A rare chance to get hands-on with one of the most powerful hull-optimisation tools available.
- ABYC certification: A fast-track to one of the industry’s most respected credentials, combining e-learning, review, and exam in a single day.
- Composites with ACMA: A practical introduction to fibre, resin, and laminating that’s perfect for newer technicians.
Setting the course
IBEX has never been just another trade show. It’s where ideas are tested, knowledge is shared, and the future of boating gets sketched out. From AI-driven navigation to the ethics of boatyard management, this year’s education programme is broad, ambitious, and refreshingly hands-on.
For anyone serious about where boating is headed — whether you’re a boatbuilder, designer, or simply passionate about the industry — IBEX 2025 is a chance to listen, learn, and be part of the conversation that sets the course for the years ahead.
