A night of recognition
The global marine electronics industry gathered at the Hilton West Palm Beach in Florida for the 2025 NMEA Product of Excellence Awards. Hosted during the 2025 NMEA Conference & Expo, the awards celebrate innovation, safety, and reliability across every major electronics category used on boats worldwide.
Voted on by NMEA members and certified marine installers, the awards reflect the products boaters and professionals trust most on the water.
“These awards showcase the very best in marine electronics technology,” said Mark Reedenauer, President and Executive Director of the NMEA. “Every year, our members and certified installers select products that they trust and rely on to deliver performance, safety, and innovation.”
Garmin and Furuno shine
Garmin was a clear standout, taking home wins across multiple categories including fishfinder, autopilot, multi-function display (MFD), AIS, and safety product. The company also won Manufacturer of the Year (Level 3) for large-scale producers.
Highlights included the Garmin GPSMAP 9227 Premium 27″ Chartplotter, a flagship navigation system, and the Reactor 40 Hydraulic Corepack with SmartPump v2, which continues to set benchmarks for autopilot performance. Garmin’s inReach satellite communicators also claimed both the satellite communications and safety product awards, underlining the brand’s reputation for reliable emergency gear.
Japanese electronics giant Furuno also had a strong showing, winning categories such as radar with the DRS4DNXT Solid-State Doppler Radar, live sonar, and the commercial product award with its high-powered FAR2228NXTBB radar. These products reinforce Furuno’s leadership in commercial and recreational navigation technology.
Spotlight on new and specialty gear
Innovation was also recognised through new categories and standout products.
- Best New Product went to Digital Yacht’s BilgeIQ, a smart bilge monitoring system that highlights the shift toward preventative safety technology.
- Specialty Product was awarded to the Garmin quatix 8 GPS smartwatch, which integrates marine navigation into a wearable format.
- The Technology Award went to OhNoH2o’s WIF-Pro, showing that water integrity and safety continue to be areas of innovation.
These awards highlight the growing influence of smart, connected devices in modern boating, from bilge monitoring to wearable GPS.
Garmin quatix® 8: The ultimate nautical smartwatch for modern boaters
Beyond navigation
The awards also celebrated electronics that enhance comfort and entertainment onboard. Fusion’s Apollo RA770 Marine Stereo was once again recognised in the entertainment category, while the FLIR M364C thermal camera system reinforced its value for visibility and security.
Meanwhile, Seatronx’s PHT-19 pilot house touchscreen display claimed the display category, and GOST’s Specter Ai won for monitoring systems, reflecting the demand for high-quality control and safety interfaces on vessels.
Recognising the industry
Alongside the product awards, NMEA honoured the companies behind the technology:
- Distributor of the Year went to CWR Wholesale Distribution.
- Manufacturer of the Year (Levels 1 & 2) was awarded to Actisense, recognised for innovation among smaller teams.
- Manufacturer of the Year (Level 3) went to Garmin, cementing its dominance at this year’s awards.
Available in New Zealand
While these awards are international, the products are widely available in New Zealand through local distributors and chandleries. Many of this year’s winners — from Garmin’s chartplotters to Fusion’s stereo systems — are already popular with Kiwi skippers.
For boaties weighing up upgrades ahead of the summer season, the 2025 NMEA Product of Excellence Awards provide a reliable guide to the gear that’s been tested, trusted, and endorsed by professionals across the world.
