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INDUSTRY NEWS www.BoatingIndustry.com April 2017 | Boating Industry | 9 time in their boat, the operation of everything has to be familiar and intuitive. Stepping into a boat needs to be like stepping into a car. Even if you step into a rental car that you've never sat in before, you still know how it all works because the approach is familiar and intuitive. Boats need to be this way too. As people spend less time boating, they want those days on the water to be easy and ef- fortless, they don't want to waste half of their time fiddling around and trying to figure out why something isn't working. This also means that there is a greater need for the boat's electronic systems to be able to log usage and serve as a prognostic tool, so the marina that is looking after the boat can keep track of its usage and schedule all the maintenance as required. BI: The comparison to operating a car is interesting. So how does this happen for boats? OTTOSSON: We have a plan to take on greater responsibility and be a tier-one sup- plier to the boating industry. We are recruit- ing more people into determining exactly how we're going to do that and exactly what we're going to offer. We're also speaking with major boatbuilders to confirm what their needs are. We are in serious discussions with two major boatbuilders, with a view to pro- viding the electronics systems the same way that it is done in the car industry, where the supplier delivers the whole dashboard, which is then installed as a single integrated compo- nent – the equipment, the wiring, all of it. It's a complete, fully integrated system. BI: That has to be appealing to a boatbuilder, since it would lower their costs and provide a turnkey solution. OTTOSSON: Yes, it is an appealing propo- sition for them. This approach to integrated manufacturing was adopted by the auto in- dustry in the 1990s. That's when the tier-one suppliers took on increased responsibility for delivering complete solutions. As a result, the cost of manufacturing the car has come down by 30 percent. We keep saying that in boating we need to do something to make boats less expensive, and this approach is one way to help achieve that. This is something we have been working toward for several years, and we have devel- oped our products, our resources and our capabilities toward it. But it is important to be successful when you attempt something like this because if you fail, the response going forward will be "that's been tried and it doesn't work." So we're working very hard to ensure we can deliver on that promise. BI: We assume Navico will do this as a supplier of both hardware and software? Or would it make more sense to focus on the software and outsource some of the hardware components? OTTOSSON: The software is critically im- portant, but it needs to interface properly with the end user. The only way to ensure that happens is to take complete responsibility for both the hardware and the software. Our approach is a bit Apple Computer-like, in that we feel the software and the hardware need to be designed together to ensure that the used gets the experience that was intended. It is a completely symbiotic relationship. As a company we manufacture both hard- ware and software. But if I look at the pro- file of our engineering department today, it's probably 70 percent software engineers and about 30 percent hardware and mechanical engineers. The hardware element in what we do is easier to copy. It is the software, which is more complex and represents the greater challenge. But it is a challenge we accept, and we look forward to what the future will bring. New owner for FLIBS, other Florida boat shows Show Management, the producer of five of Florida's largest boat shows, has been pur- chased by a London-based company with a strategic plan to expand its Global Exhi- bitions business in the U.S. Informa, which currently delivers 200 industry events annu- ally including the Monaco Yacht Show, is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a member of the FTSE 100. Show Management was founded in 1976 and has produced the Fort Lauderdale In- ternational Boat Show at the Bahia Mar Yachting Center since then. In 2006, the company was purchased by Active Interest Media, publisher of more than 50 consumer enthusiast magazines, including Yoga Journal and Yachts International. AIM's six groups, the Equine Network, the Home Group, the Healthy Living Group, the Marine Group, the Outdoor Group and the Creative Home Group reach more than 40 million readers in 85 countries. The acquisition of Show Management aligns with Informa's strategic plan to ex- pand its Global Exhibitions business in the U.S. A global business intelligence, academic publishing, knowledge and events company, Informa completed the €1.2 billion acquisi- tion of Penton Information Services, a lead- ing U.S. exhibition services company, in November 2016. Electric, stand-up personal watercraft hits the market The new electric-powered Gratis X1 personal watercraft is now available to order through Free Form Factory's website. "We are thrilled to unveil the world's first electric, stand-up personal watercraft. With the Gratis X1, riders will experience a power- ful, fun and quiet ride on some of the most pristine waterways on earth," said Free Form Factory Founder and CEO Jordan Darling. To ensure riders get the most of each trip to the water, Free Form Factory has built the Gratis X1 with the ability to be charged any- where with a standard 110v electrical outlet "It is new product that drives the market forward. If you want to be the leader, you have to lead." — Leif Ottosson, CEO, Navico