Glydus Wins IBEX Award for Adjustable Marine Helm Steering

Award-winning adjustment for marine helms

Glydus has won the 2026 International BoatBuilders' Exhibition and Conference Innovation Award in the propulsion-equipment-and-parts category for a steering-wheel adjustment mechanism that combines telescopic reach with tilt. The award, presented in Tampa on 6 October, singles out a mechanical detail that can substantially affect how comfortably different people operate the same boat. Glydus says its integrated unit provides two inches of fore-and-aft travel and multiple fixed settings so the wheel position can be repeated between operators.

The competition was judged by Boating Writers International and managed by the National Marine Manufacturers Association. Judges identified the mechanism's two-inch telescopic range across 34 locking positions and its tilt adjustment as noteworthy features. The recognition is for the steering-column mechanism, not a complete autonomous navigation system, powered helm or new vessel launch. The distinction matters when evaluating what a yachtbuilder or refit manager would actually specify and install.

Dimensions, movement and installation checks

The manufacturer's description gives the mechanism approximately 51mm of telescopic adjustment, divided into 34 positions, together with 60 degrees of tilt across nine positions. Its construction is described as using SS316L stainless steel. Those are engineering and positioning claims provided by Glydus, rather than independently measured performance figures from a yacht installation. Matching the assembly to an existing wheel, steering drive and helm station still requires a dimensional and compatibility review.

Good helm ergonomics require more than a steering wheel that moves. Seat height, leg clearance, sightlines, instrument placement, throttle reach and room to stand while manoeuvring all influence whether an operator can work safely. An adjustable wheel can make a shared helm easier to use, but its range needs to be tested with the intended seat positions, instrument panels and surrounding cabinetry, including the most forward and aft positions.

For a retrofit, technicians also have to inspect steering-system manufacturer approvals, shaft coupling details, alignment, locking forces, access for periodic inspection and the treatment of moving components around wiring. A straightforward mechanical idea can be valuable precisely because it addresses daily use, but it still sits inside a safety-critical control station rather than being a decorative fit-out accessory.

Relevance to yacht tenders and support craft

Smaller craft associated with a superyacht may have a succession of helmspeople with noticeably different heights and preferred operating postures. RIBs, harbour tenders, utility boats and fast chase craft can also demand rapid transitions between seated cruising and a more elevated view during close-quarters operation. In these settings, the ability to return a steering wheel to a familiar position can be useful when paired with appropriate seating and approved steering hardware.

The product is not evidence that a particular superyacht builder has adopted Glydus equipment. Its immediate market is wider recreational and commercial boating, and the application to a superyacht's tender fleet would be subject to technical suitability. For larger central-helm installations, builders may already employ different hydraulic, electronic or electrically adjustable arrangements with their own interface and redundancy requirements.

Glydus and the broader steering market

Glydus develops hydraulic and power-assisted marine steering products for outboard and inboard applications. The company describes engineering operations rooted in India and an expanding international distribution network. The new tilt-and-telescopic mechanism fits within that wider portfolio rather than creating a wholly new category of steering control, and its compatibility claims should be reviewed at model and boat level.

The IBEX award provides trade recognition for a product that tackles an often overlooked issue: physical access to a control. Boatbuilders choosing new equipment, and yacht crews replacing tired tender systems, may benefit from examining the locking mechanism and trying the available adjustments in person. Longevity, ease of service and operator feedback will ultimately determine whether the development becomes widely specified beyond the show floor.