One key highlight of the fall boat show season each year is the introduction of new boats and products—we all clamor for the new technology and fawn over the new offerings in sleek fiberglass, glowing wood or nowadays, high-tech carbon fiber.
And so, under perfectly sunny fall Rhode Island skies, the 2024 Newport International Boat Show announced its winners of the annual Newport for New Products awards. An annual industry highlight, NFNP entries were open to domestic and foreign products that were nationally launched after April 1, 2024, and made their boat show debut at Newport. Show attendees selected the People’s Choice Award winner, while all other category winners were selected by a team of industry experts based on innovation, value to the consumer, safety and aesthetics. On the opening day of the show, those experts (including yours truly) spent a full day on the docks checking out all the latest. This year saw the debut of 20 new powerboat entries with another nine in the sail category, as well as 18 products ranging from sailboat winches to waterproof personal gear to safety and more. Products and vessels were checked and cross-checked, and the deliberations at the end of the day could have filled a dozen boating magazines as we weighed those categories of innovation, value, safety and aesthetics.
Bringing home the double win as Best New Large Powerboat and Overall Powerboat Winner was the Full Keel Marine NorthCoast 415HT. This quad-outboard-powered beast of a vessel is offered in cruising and fishing configurations, but what stood out to the judges was simply the beauty, size and brawn of this well-built boat. It also offers excellent value as well.
The Newport for New Products also presented awards to the following manufacturers:
- Best New Boating Product – Seldén Mast 3-Speed Electric/Manual Winches
- Honorable Mention: Raymarine Smart Wind Sensors and Ugo Messenger
- Best New Sailboat – Carbon Ocean Yachts SDK 49
- Best New Small Powerboat – Solace Boats 28HCS
- Green Product Award – Elco Motor
- Green Boat Award – HYFOIL 32, Hyfoil Marine
- Accessible Product Award – Digital Yacht America Man Overboard Alert
- People’s Choice Award – Kufner 54’ Exclusive, Kufner Yachts USA
