Numerous events
The word innovation sells and attracts journalists. Many have understood this and there was no shortage of events on new boating trends during Nautic 2017. From the 1st edition of the Nautic Innovation Awards to the Nautic Start-up Day of the Brittany region and the round table on innovation at the annual conference of the Confédération du Nautisme et de la Plaisance, everyone had their own appointment. Nevertheless, it was easier to innovate in the name than in the content, with 3 themes coming up again and again: foils, the connected boat and "new uses".
The omnipresent foil
The foil is the future of the sailor. Its omnipresence in the presentations would almost eclipse all other technical innovations. Almost a third of the companies pitching at the Nautic Start-Up Day and a quarter of the nominees at the Nautic Innovation Awards were related to the flying boat. Seair won the Nautic Innovation Awards for its foiling Zodiac and Absolute Dreamer won the Nautic Start-Up Day award for additive manufacturing of appendages.
Although it could appeal to many young sailors, the foil is not yet within the reach of everyone. Hervé Gastinel, president of the Bénéteau Group, emphasized during a round table discussion the interest of the Vendée-based manufacturer in its application to powerboats. "Motor applications are particularly attractive today, but we still need to work on securing them." Cost issues are also at play.
Connected boat, but for what?
As in the rest of the economy, the adjective connected is flourishing in the nautical industry. However, it covers very different realities. Is the application of simple, classic home automation to boats, presented by large shipyards as an innovation under pompous names, really so? Many of the elements presented have already been seen in the automobile and the home. However, there were some interesting solutions for maintenance, such as Offshore Connected Maintenance from the Grand Large Yachting group, or Nauti Concept, a solution to help maintain the fleet of owner-operated or rented boats.
The autonomous boat is also in the line of sight. Kara Technologies, in partnership with Allures Yachting, is announcing the arrival of a boat that can dock and leave the port without the crew's intervention.
Service innovations
The third recurring innovation also follows the major trends in society. It concerns the uses of boaters who no longer want to buy their boats according to the traditional model. Boat Clubs, which made the news in the spring of 2017, are one of the most highlighted alternatives to purchase. The various purchase financing solutions are also growing. It is the entire boating industry that is preparing for the change in usage, as evidenced by the study on collaborative boating presented by the Association des Ports de Plaisance de Bretagne.
Other avenues to explore
While foils, connected boats and alternatives to ownership are important, it is regrettable that major issues such as ecological materials or clean propulsion do not receive as much visibility in the support for innovation.
