METSTRADE special gear review
The DAME Design Awards, which promote design in all disciplines and recognise the best-designed products at the show, saw 53 products nominated across eight categories and a further 14 special mentions. Winners are chosen by an eight-strong jury of design and user experts led by renowned naval architect Andre Hoek.
While many products, such as Harken’s neat push/pull captive winch, are aimed at very large yachts or the top end of the luxury market, others are directly relevant to PBO readers, or at least give a hint of what we may be able to buy in the not-so-distant future. Here are some highlights.
1. Overall winner: Oceanvolt HighPower ServoProp 25
This 25kW electric saildrive for 45-70ft yachts has efficient hydrogeneration that returns up to 5kW of power to the boat’s battery banks when sailing. Oceanvolt also produces 10kW and 15kW models (with correspondingly lower output in generating mode) in the same range for boats with waterline lengths of less than
