TOMA-TOP has another reason to celebrate: our innovative retractable flybridge windshield has won The Best Catch Award, the top honor presented at the Marine Industries Association of South Florida’s (MIASF) Big Fish Showcase.
Held in Fort Lauderdale, the Big Fish Showcase brought together nine marine industry companies to pitch the ideas, products and solutions they believe are making a difference in recreational boating. Each company had just two minutes to explain the problem it was solving, what made its approach different and the impact it could have on customers and the marine industry.
For TOMA-TOP, that meant answering a simple question:
Why should boaters have to choose between the protection of an enclosed flybridge and the freedom of an open one?
Solving a Familiar Flybridge Problem
Anyone who spends time operating a yacht from the flybridge understands the tradeoff.
An open flybridge offers excellent visibility, fresh air and the feeling of being connected to the water. But conditions can change quickly. Wind, salt spray and rain can turn an enjoyable ride into a much less comfortable experience.
Traditional fixed windshields provide protection but don’t offer the flexibility of completely opening the helm area. Bimini tops and soft vinyl enclosures provide another alternative, but can require additional handling, storage and setup.
TOMA-TOP was designed to offer another option.
The TOMA-TOP retractable hardtop windshield system allows boaters to transition between a protected helm and an open-air flybridge as conditions change. Raise the windshield when protection from wind and spray is needed. Retract it when conditions are right for an open-air experience.
That combination of functionality and flexibility is at the heart of TOMA-TOP’s approach to the modern flybridge.
Protection when you want it. Open air when you don’t.
Two Minutes to Make the Case
Representing TOMA-TOP at the Big Fish Showcase was Rob Widak, U.S. Sales Manager, who had just two minutes to demonstrate what makes the system different and why it matters to today’s boaters.
The competition wasn’t designed as a traditional sales presentation. Participants were specifically challenged to focus on innovation and tell their story around the challenge being addressed, the solution and its impact.
TOMA-TOP was evaluated alongside eight other Featured Pitch Participants on four criteria: innovation, impact, presentation and industry value.
When the results were announced, TOMA-TOP came away with one of the evening’s top honor: The Best Catch Award for Overall Standout Exhibitor.
The judging panel included Megan Lagasse Washington, Marine Director at Pier Sixty Six; Captain Kerry Titheradge of Below Deck; and Paige Aldred, Miss Fort Lauderdale.
Why the Award Matters
The Best Catch Award recognizes more than an interesting new marine product. According to the competition criteria, the overall winner must demonstrate innovation, impact, industry value and a standout solution.
That’s particularly meaningful for TOMA-TOP as we continue introducing this Japanese-engineered technology to the U.S. boating market.
Developed by Japan-based Marubishi Company, TOMA-TOP brings a different approach to flybridge yacht weather protection. Instead of permanently choosing between an open or enclosed helm, the retractable system gives owners greater flexibility to adapt the flybridge experience to the conditions around them.
The result is a solution that combines weather protection, visibility and open-air boating in one integrated design.
A Smarter Solution for the Modern Flybridge
Winning The Best Catch Award is an important milestone for TOMA-TOP, but it’s also validation of the idea behind the product.
Today’s yacht owners expect more flexibility from the equipment aboard their boats. They want comfort without unnecessarily sacrificing the experience that drew them to boating in the first place.
That’s exactly the problem TOMA-TOP was created to solve.
Whether you’re looking for an alternative to a traditional Bimini top or soft flybridge enclosure, exploring a hardtop enclosure for a flybridge yacht, or simply looking for a better way to protect the helm from changing conditions, TOMA-TOP offers a different approach.
And now that approach has caught the attention of the South Florida marine industry.
One windshield. Two experiences. And now, one Big Fish Award.
Learn more about how the TOMA-TOP retractable flybridge windshield combines protection, visibility and open-air freedom to create a smarter solution for the modern flybridge.
