NMEA ConnectFest comes to Toronto International Boat Show

For the first time, the popular NMEA ConnectFest, which is an annual highlight at METS Amsterdam, will be held at one of North America’s premier boating events.

ConnectFest is a free-to-attend ‘live’ demonstration of the NMEA 2000® in full operation, and is hosted by the NMEA in conjunction with industry leaders, including Raymarine, Garmin and Actisense, with a host of NMEA 2000 certified products on display. The event will take place at location G138 for the full duration of the Boat Show.

Robin Martel, president of Northport Systems, manufacturers of the leading Fugawi software commented, “Given how popular the Toronto International Boat Show (TIBS) is with buyers from across Canada and the northern USA border regions, we believe bringing the ConnectFest educational element to the show would be of huge benefit in terms of helping highlight the more technical aspects of marine electronics. We are delighted that NMEA have decided to hold a ConnectFest at TIBS, following another successful showing at METS in 2014.”

An industry-wide group of experts organised by the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) developed the NMEA 2000 network standard. Visitors to the show will be able to learn more from the manufacturers who have built and certified products using the NMEA 2000 protocol.

Phil Whitehurst, managing director of Active Research Limited manufacturers of Actisense said, “We are fully behind the team at Fugawi, who always do a great job in representing Actisense in Canada. We have seen the first-hand benefit of taking part in ConnectFest every year at METS, so it is an important step for NMEA to decide to take the sessions to another venue – perhaps a sign of things to come in more locations around the world in the months and years ahead!”

For more information visit Toronto International Boat Show or Actisense