It was a bright and sunny day at Chelsea Piers, one that almost felt like it was meant to be held on the water. To its credit, Brunswick came aptly prepared with a multitude of aquatic offerings for the press to enjoy, showcasing the myriad feats under the brand while likewise proving its commitment to innovation. In my opinion, the firm's media event was a breakthrough that gave enthusiasts a clear perspective of what is currently on the table in terms of advanced marine technology and what will only be enhanced in due time.
At the forefront of the event was Brunswick's newest Boston Whaler, the 280 Dauntless, which boasts all of the same technological innovations represented across the firm, including its joystick piloting and Skyhook digital anchor. Despite being built and designed for fishing, the 280 Dauntless delivers much more over its primary use case due largely to the boat's available dual or single outboard Mercury engines, which were among CES 2022's innovation award honorees.
Although I didn't get the chance to ride in the newer option, I was privy to a quick trip on the Boston Whaler 360 during the Brunswick event. Captain Will Rogers of Boston Whaler took us out on the water toward a nice spot by lower Manhattan, where the cityscape took hold, and the Skyhook anchor proved its worth. My curiosity got the best of me, and I had to ask Captain Rogers just how difficult the Skyhook was to set up and, incidentally, it works as easily as pressing a button.
The Skyhook digital anchor kept us secured in place on the water (even in slight chop with boats passing by) as an editor from another site performed an interview. Pretty awesome spot to be holding questions, I must say so myself, but the slight pause gave me more time to speak with Captain Rogers on his involvement with Brunswick and his overall feeling on the tech they make. It's clear from my discussion that not only is the tech a welcome addition to the boating experience, but forthcoming enhancements, like autonomy, will only aid the pilot of the ship - never, in the end, replacing them.
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This is what makes Brunswick's business so profound, as the firm doesn't intend to reshape the entire boating experience. It simply wants to rectify many of the most substantial pain points that generate anxiety out on the water, most prominent among them being docking, which has been holistically enhanced thanks to Brunswick's joystick piloting technology. Although there weren't many boats in his way, Captain Will proved to make backing up, and parking in the slip look as easy as parallel parking on the road. I even wondered, alongside the firm's Senior Vice President of enterprise finance, Neha Clark, if the joystick could ever take over the steering wheel in the future.
The event gave those present ample opportunities to speak with several of the most prominent individuals behind the Brunswick banner, including CTO Alexandra Cattelan, who joined the company not a mere four months prior, Executive Vice President and President of Brunswick Boat Group Aine L. Denari, and CEO David Foulkes. Of major importance to the firm right now are two valuable technological innovations: autonomy and electrification. "We have a team working on autonomy applications right now and obviously that's still in the early stages, so I can't give you everything that we're doing. But anywhere from almost level 0 to level 4 applications we're working on right now," said Cattelan, who explained that Brunswick has "a number of use cases" for autonomy in the pipeline. The firm also is first getting its toes wet in the field of aquatic electrification, ensuring that low-level offerings are more pronounced now before jumping into more advanced options. The Avator Electric Outboard is proof enough in how Brunswick is parceling out the technology, leading with a mere concept that will officially debut in 2023. The company's Fathom e-Power technology also ensures that the long-lived generator can find a well-suited replacement, with an interesting spin on how operators can keep the system charged: through the boat's own engines. Beyond electrification and autonomy, Brunswick is looking at even more ways of enhancing the boating experience through interesting newfound discoveries. Cattelan says, "In addition to our connected systems and our digital systems, there's materials technology we're looking at. There's a lot of sustainability around recycling materials, so we're doing a lot of research in that area, light weighting manufacturing technology, so digital as part of manufacturing." Cattelan also pointed out the automotive and aerospace industry's hold on brilliant simulated technologies, a form of tech Brunswick is looking to leverage more readily in the future. An unspoken keyword mentioned throughout the event was "Synergy." Synergy not just in the technology Brunswick provides but also, and most importantly, in the teams that build that very same technology. Collaboration and passion remain a staple of the brand, and it is felt throughout the varied line of products underpinning the Brunswick name. From the all-female-designed Sea Ray SLX 260 Outboard to the community-assisted BaylinerT24CC via feedback from the Freedom Boat Club, Brunswick keeps to the forefront of the industry with an extremely dedicated and passionate team.
"We have some of the most fantastic talent in this organization," said Cattelan. As mentioned previously, Cattelan joined Brunswick four months ago and has since seen her new employment as the perfect next step following her position as VP of Engineering at Polaris. She proved to be as amped as I am on where Brunswick is headed and how best it will implement its technologies to further the marine industry.
Thus, while I do think the boats and technology making up Brunswick are absolutely extraordinary, the real captivating picture here is in the amazing team that outputs such brilliancy. And I think even more wonders are bound to be presented out of the company as it explores electric generators and propulsion options, as well as sophisticated software to make on-water trips all the more enjoyable. The firm relayed several times its enthusiasm for CES 2023, which is slated to be one major event made all the more interesting with Brunswick products at the helm of the Las Vegas Convention Center's automotive section.
