New self-contained air-conditioning takes centre stage
Webasto will put its latest SX-Series and FCF Evo self-contained air-conditioning systems at the centre of its IBEX 2026 display in Tampa from 6 to 8 October. The company says the new units are intended to combine reliable cooling, efficient operation and flexible installation, all important considerations on smaller recreational boats where machinery space and electrical capacity are limited.
The display will extend beyond the newest compact units to Webasto's wider marine HVAC portfolio. VX-Series and V-PRO chiller systems, A-Series air handlers and the Air Top Pro 25 air heater will show how the company scales climate-control equipment from small leisure craft through to larger custom installations.
Roof and shade systems broaden the comfort brief
IBEX visitors will also see the SoLite sunroof and Telescopic Shade 2500. These systems address a different part of onboard comfort by increasing natural light, ventilation and protection from the sun, giving builders more ways to manage the transition between enclosed and open-air spaces.
That combination is particularly relevant to the under-12-metre market, where one structure often has to perform several jobs. A compact roof opening or retractable shade can make a pilothouse, cockpit or day-boat deck more adaptable without demanding the permanent space of a larger superstructure.
Integration matters as much as individual products
For owners, air-conditioning or heating is usually judged by comfort and reliability, but for boatbuilders the installation problem begins much earlier. Equipment must fit around fuel, batteries, tanks, structure and accommodation while remaining serviceable, so compact systems and coordinated component ranges can reduce the compromises required during design.
Webasto is also using the show to emphasise its dealer and distribution network for technical support, servicing and parts. That after-sales infrastructure is significant for leisure boats that may travel between cruising areas, because climate and roof systems need long-term support rather than attention only at the point of sale.
IBEX marks more than two decades in marine
The 2026 appearance comes during Webasto's 125th anniversary year, while the company says it has now spent more than two decades serving the marine sector. Its presence at IBEX reflects the growing importance of comfort systems even on relatively compact boats, where owners increasingly expect automotive-style climate control and flexible outdoor living spaces.
For Leisure Boat Guide, the most relevant development is not simply a larger equipment catalogue but the way these systems are being packaged for a broad range of recreational craft. Better integration of cooling, heating, ventilation and roof functions can materially change how usable a small boat feels across different seasons and climates.