IBEX: A Congregation Of Boatbuilders
Marine professionals will converge on the Miami Radisson Centre this February 10-12 for the International Boatbuilders' Exhibition and Conference (IBEX), which provides an educational forum for marine professionals. Bob Livingston, CEO of Grand Banks Yacht/American Marine, praised the 1993 show for "the quality of speakers, the free interchange of ideas and technical staff manning the booths in the exhibit hall." The 1994 version of IBEX combines proven elements from shows past with some interesting changes. Again it will showcase the latest equipment, materials, products and services available to the marine industry. Also featured are useful seminars for marine professionals, a total of 41 this year in five distinct subject areas: Marine Systems and Accessories; New Construction; Design and Engineering; Survey and Repair; and Business Management and Marketing.
Differences for the 1994 IBEX are an expanded exhibition hall to accommodate an estimated 70 more booths than last year. "We have more exhibitors this year," said Gina Amatruda, group show director for CMC, the organization managing the convention. "This year's show is twice the size of the inaugural event two years ago." Aside from differences in sheer size, the lineup of seminars and special events this year foreshadow an event not to be missed by anyone in the boatbuilding trade. "Our seminars this year are more diverse," Ms. Amatruda continued. "We take into account business aspects (ofboatbuilding) as well as construction and design." The most important thing about this year's bigger event, she said, is that it will provide even more members of the boatbuilding community the opportunity to network with and learn from their peers, enhancing all their boatbuilding enterprises. Highlights of the speaker sessions/ seminars include the keynote forum, presided over by Bob Gowen of Mercury Marine and Mike Kelsey of Palmer Johnson. Entitled "Where Are We Headed, and How Do We Get There?", a look at the future of boatbuilding in America and beyond.
The conference program (please see chart below for complete program) features numerous helpful topics and noted speakers in each segment. Examples include "Engineering Stringers, Bulkheads, and Transverse Frames" from the Design and Engineering session, presided over by naval architect Rob Schofield and Mike Russell of the Naval Surface Warfare Center, which will examine the kinds of internal stiffening appropriate to given laminates; and "Selecting the Right Propeller (and associated underwater gear)," given by John Rose of Rolla S.P. Propellers, Lou Codega of Atlantic Associates and Bob Kress of Attwood Corporation, which will deal with blade configuration, metallurgy, and matching propeller to purpose. The Systems and Accessories session will include "Fuel Tanks: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly," given by Ernie Braatz of BOAT/ U.S., Tom Hale of the American Boat and Yacht Council, Bruce Pfund of Professional Boatbuilder/ Advance Process Technology, and Raleigh Wilson of Inca Molded Products, which will examine the problems surrounding fuel tank design, construction and installation; and also a two-part seminar on "Installing Diesels — Problems and Solutions," given by David Brower of Cummins Marine and his staff, focusing on diesel installation, what can go wrong and how to prevent it.
Aside from the sessions, there are also Free Exhibitor Workshops, from "MultiSurf 3-D Modeler," a demonstration of the MultiSurf three-dimensional design program for PCs by Michael Shook and John Letcher of AeroHydro, to "Respiratory Protection in the Workplace," given by Mike Martinez and Bruce Penning of 3M OH & ESD, an examination of the respiratory hazards of exposure to some boatbuilding materials dealing with what protective measures should be employed and when.
Special IBEX events include an opening night reception in the exhibit hall, where complimentary cocktails and hors d'oeuvres will be served, and three luncheons, two sponsored by Interlux Yacht Finishes and the other by Cook Composites & Polymers.
IBEX 1994 has been endorsed by five well-known trade organizations: the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC), the Society of Boat and Yacht Designers (SBYD), the American Boat Builders and Repairers Association (ABBRA), the National Association of Marine Surveyors (NAMS), and the Composites Fabricators Association (CFA). Special group admission, hotel, airline and rental car rates are available for IBEX participants. For more information on IBEX, contact CMC at (203) 852-0500, ext. 295.
