DAME 2025 winner brings aviation sector expertise into marine instrumentation

Monday, 17 November 2025

This was a year in which several of the category winners were in close contention to take the top prize. Despite the strong line-up of alternates and a close debate, the Jury kept revisiting LXNAV’s E360 chartplotter. The appeal of this entry included its easily integrated compact, cohesive design, matched by an intuitive user interface, broad range of functions and responsive screen.

The E360 is a 4in (102mm) round touchscreen multi-function display that features the ability to display a wide range of NMEA 2000 data. It is supplied with preloaded OpenSeaMap charts, offers Navionics compatibility via SD card and has built-in Fusion music control. The E360 is waterproof to IPX6 and includes built-in Wi-Fi and GPS. It offers high levels of user customisation for displayed data and alert thresholds.

LXNAV is a Slovenian manufacturer that made its name over the past decade creating high-performance instruments for gliders. The Jury was intrigued to see the E360 bringing aviation design expertise to the company’s emerging marine products, at a market realistic price. It also praised the E360’s optional car-style NMEA 2000 connected jog wheel controller.

Acting Chair’s remarks

Andre Hoek, Chair of the DAME jury, was sadly unable to be present for the two-day jury meeting due to an unforeseen medical issue from which he has now thankfully fully recovered.

Patrick Hemp, Technical Director for the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA), kindly stepped in as Acting Chair and observed: “The Jury had the unprecedented task of assessing 146 products this year. Each judge was acutely aware of the effort and investment that sat behind every product that we considered – whether complex or seemingly simple.

“There is welcome evidence that the industry is not satisfied with status quo. The DAME Design Awards doesn’t solely reward altogether new and previously unseen concepts. Encouraging and highlighting iterative design improvement is also at the core of its objectives and many of this year’s nominated products are improved designs of what has gone before. In some cases, we could see clear evidence of manufacturers taking higher technology, expensive solutions from sectors such as superyachting and extreme yacht racing and bringing them to a broader user base at appropriately sized and priced packages. That’s a very welcome trend.

“Another obvious trend is the ongoing shift towards minimizing the consumption of power. With the increasingly heavier reliance on electricity onboard, squeezing the most efficiency from every amp is an imperative now.

“It’s also clear that market changing design is being delivered by a broad variety of marine equipment businesses. We expect the industry’s long-established names to deliver products that propel the industry forward – and momentum from established companies has certainly picked up again in this year’s awards. However new market entrants and startups are also making their mark. Our DAME Design Awards overall winner is a great example, as are the nominations for no less than five Metstrade and Superyacht Startup exhibitors, three of whom claimed well deserved Special Mentions.

“We wish to commend every company that put their products forward in this record-breaking year, congratulate all who attained the very notable achievement of nomination against such a large field and salute those who have claimed the honours highlighted in this report.”

€21,900 raised by DAME entrants for ocean conservation cause

The DAME Design Awards is organized, fully funded and hosted by Metstrade. All entry fees each year are donated to a charity selected by the Metstrade Exhibition Committee. A record €21,900 was donated to The Ocean Conservation Trust at the show’s Opening Ceremony.

The Ocean Conservation Trust was founded to restore and protect the seas upon which we all enjoy our recreation and rely on our living. Its focus is on pro-ocean behavior and habitat restoration, centred around people and positive action. It inspires ocean advocacy through connections with nature, combined with its ground-breaking work protecting and restoring vital ocean habitats. Ocean Conservation Trust’s team of marine biologists, educators, communicators, researchers, ecologists, oceanographers and divers are ocean optimists. They work tirelessly to connect people to the ocean and influence pro-ocean behavior. 

You can read more about this charity at oceanconservationtrust.org

DAME Design Awards 2O25 results

The names of all the winners and shortlisted entrants are shown below. Please visit damedesignawards.com to see the full Jury Report with information on the winning entries and insights on why they won.

DAME Design awards 2O25 overall winner

LXNAV E360 Round Chartplotter
Stand 05.280

Category Winners

Personal Equipment

FLIR Ocean Scout Pro
Stand 08.729

Onboard Facilities, Comfort & Entertainment

Dometic CSX Refrigeration System
Stand 01.131

Navigation & Communication

LXNAV E360 Round Chartplotter
Stand 05.280

Electronic & Electrical Systems

Simarine SAC15R – NMEA 2000 Smart AC Distribution Unit
Stand 05.285

Propulsion & Dynamics

Dometic DG3 Gyro — and Panbo review here
Stand 01.131

Deck Equipment

Softstep by One Palma
Stand 08.166

Safety & Security Aboard

Garmin OnBoard System
Stand 01.103

Manufacturing, Support Products & Materials

Supersede Marine Board
Stand 12.704

ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN AWARD WINNERS

ONE Palma IFS Multi Tradewind Sail
Stand 08.166

Digital Yacht BILGE IQ — Panbo discussion here
Stand 01.535

SPECIAL MENTIONS

Personal Equipment

Henri-Lloyd Ocean Pro
Stand 03.512

Zhik X Range Hiking Boots and Carbon Insole
Stand 12.435

Onboard Facilities, Comfort & Entertainment

Brand ID Smartdeck HEAT
Stand 01.761

Dometic Sanitation Wall Holding Tank Series with VacuMAX Technology
Stand 01.131

maglassX PORTOFINO BLACK magnetic lamp
Stand 12.336

Navigation & Communication

Avikus NEUBOAT Dock II
Stand 08.844

SEA.AI WATCHKEEPER
Stand 01.513

Electronic & Electrical Systems

AS Labruna VOLTAB
Stand 01.263

LightGraphix LD1093Z
Stand 08.122

Propulsion & Dynamics

Marlic 3520 Hydraulic Steering Cylinder
Stand 07.300A

ZF POD 4900
Stand 07.300A

Deck Equipment

Seldén Ratchet for CXr Code furler
Stand 01.775

Linnext TENDER-REST Dinghy-Chocks
Stand 07.300E

Safety & Security Aboard

Digital Yacht BILGE IQ
Stand 01.535

Sensar Marine Expansion Hub
Stand 01.814

Manufacturing, Support Products & Materials

Effetto Venturi GiPSy-mini
Stand 07.300F

Fastmount VL-PF3 Recessed Mount Acoustic Clip
Stand 01.404

Sace Components CorkMood
Stand 12.237