Garmin Named NMEA Manufacturer of the Year for Record 12th Consecutive Year
Garmin has once again been recognized for its leadership in marine electronics, earning the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) Manufacturer of the Year award for a record 12th consecutive year.
The annual recognition highlights Garmin’s continued focus on marine technology, product quality, customer support and innovation. In addition to receiving the association’s top manufacturer honor, Garmin earned six NMEA Product of Excellence awards across a range of marine electronics categories.
The awards are selected by NMEA dealers, certified installers and other marine industry professionals, making the recognition a reflection of the products and technologies these professionals use, sell and support in real-world boating environments.
“Winning this award once is an achievement. Earning it 12 years in a row speaks to the trust dealers, installers and boaters place in Garmin products and service,” said Dave Dunn, Garmin Senior Director of Marine & RV Sales.
“It’s especially meaningful because it comes from the marine industry professionals who install, sell and support our products and see firsthand how they perform on the water. We’re grateful to the NMEA membership for this recognition and remain committed to supporting the dealers, installers and boaters who rely on Garmin every day.”
A 12-year record of marine innovation
Garmin first received the NMEA Manufacturer of the Year award in 2015. Since then, the company has continued to expand its portfolio of marine electronics and connected technologies.
Its product range now covers a broad spectrum of boating applications, including navigation, chartplotters, sonar, trolling motors, autopilots, communications, safety systems, marine audio, lighting and connected boating solutions.
The company’s latest NMEA recognition reflects its continued investment in technologies designed to help anglers, sailors, commercial and recreational mariners and boat owners navigate, communicate and operate their vessels more effectively.
Garmin’s Product of Excellence awards also demonstrate the breadth of its current marine portfolio, with winning products spanning navigation, autopilot, safety, sonar, AIS and satellite communications.
Six products recognized for excellence
Garmin received six Product of Excellence awards in 2026, with several categories extending the company’s existing winning streaks.
GPSMAP 9227 — MFD
The GPSMAP 9227 earned the Product of Excellence award in the multifunction display (MFD) category.
Featuring a 27-inch display and 4K resolution, the GPSMAP 9227 is designed to provide a large, integrated touchscreen interface for marine navigation and vessel information.
The award also extends Garmin’s winning streak in the MFD category to 12 consecutive years, matching the company’s Manufacturer of the Year recognition streak.
Large-format displays are increasingly important on modern vessels, where boaters need to monitor navigation information, charts, sonar and other systems from a central interface. The GPSMAP 9227 is designed to bring these capabilities together in a high-resolution display.
Reactor 40 Hydraulic Autopilot with SmartPump v2 — Autopilot
Garmin’s Reactor 40 Hydraulic Autopilot with SmartPump v2 received the Product of Excellence award in the autopilot category.
The recreational autopilot system uses an attitude heading reference system (AHRS) to help maintain vessel heading and support automated steering.
The recognition extends Garmin’s winning streak in the autopilot category to 14 consecutive years, underscoring the company’s long-running presence in this segment of marine electronics.
Garmin OnBoard System — Marine Safety Device
The Garmin OnBoard System was recognized in the Marine Safety Device category for the second consecutive year.
The wireless system is designed to provide man-overboard detection and an engine cutoff capability. By connecting safety functionality with the vessel’s systems, it is designed to provide an additional layer of protection for people on board.
Safety technology remains an important part of modern marine electronics, particularly as manufacturers develop increasingly connected systems that can monitor vessel and passenger conditions.
LiveScope Plus System — Live Sonar
Garmin’s LiveScope Plus System earned recognition in the Live Sonar category.
The system is designed to provide anglers with real-time sonar imagery, with improvements focused on resolution, noise reduction, image clarity and target separation.
Live sonar has become an increasingly important technology for anglers because it allows them to observe underwater environments in real time and gain a more detailed understanding of fish and structure.
The award reflects Garmin’s continued development of sonar technologies designed to provide anglers with more information while they are on the water.
Cortex M1 Hub — AIS
The Cortex M1 Hub received the Product of Excellence award in the AIS category.
The communications hub combines a smartAIS transponder with remote vessel monitoring capabilities, helping provide boaters with additional information about surrounding vessels and their own boat.
The recognition marks Garmin’s third consecutive year winning the AIS category.
As connected boating becomes more widespread, technologies that combine communication, identification and remote monitoring are becoming increasingly important for recreational and professional mariners.
inReach Mini 3 — Satellite Communication Antenna
The inReach Mini 3 was recognized in the Satellite Communication Antenna category, marking Garmin’s third consecutive win in the category.
The compact satellite communicator features a color touchscreen and provides satellite-based communication capabilities, including SOS functionality when paired with an active satellite subscription.
For boaters traveling beyond traditional cellular coverage, satellite communication can provide an additional way to stay connected and access emergency assistance when needed.
Recognition from marine professionals
The NMEA awards are particularly significant because they are determined by professionals working directly within the marine electronics industry.
Dealers and certified installers have hands-on experience specifying, installing and supporting marine electronics, while industry professionals interact with these technologies throughout the boating ecosystem.
“These awards showcase the very best in marine electronics technology,” said Mark Reedenauer, NMEA President and Executive Director. “Every year, our members and certified installers select products that they trust and rely on to deliver performance, safety, and innovation on the water.”
That industry perspective provides an important measure of how marine electronics perform beyond the laboratory and in the demanding conditions of everyday boating.
Technology designed for life on the water
Garmin’s marine portfolio is built around the company’s broader philosophy of developing technology that combines functionality, reliability and ease of use.
For anglers, that can mean advanced sonar and navigation tools. For sailors and boat owners, it can include autopilot, communications, safety and vessel-monitoring systems. Across these applications, Garmin continues to integrate individual technologies into increasingly connected marine ecosystems.
The company’s approach is also centered on continuous innovation, with new products and capabilities designed to address changing expectations among boaters and marine professionals.
The 2026 NMEA recognition adds another milestone to that development. With its 12th consecutive Manufacturer of the Year award and six Product of Excellence honors, Garmin continues to expand its presence across key areas of marine technology.
For the company, the recognition also reinforces its focus on the people who rely on these products — from dealers and installers to anglers, sailors and boaters — and its commitment to developing technology that helps them make the most of their time on the water.
Garmin says its goal remains consistent: to engineer technology that performs reliably in real-world environments while making marine electronics more capable, connected and accessible to the people who use them.
Source Link: https://www.garmin.com/