IBEX 365 News
CLiX: The One-Click Solution Revolutionizing Fuel Spill Prevention for Boats
2024 IBEX Innovation Award Interview with Arthur Edison
Sometimes innovation is as simple as a click. Arthur Edison’s CLiX, the portable, one-piece fuel-spill prevention system is a clever, simple and inexpensive solution to a common problem. The fuel-spill prevention system fits all sizes and types of boats with no need for tools or adapters. It’s an excellent example of how an innovative approach can eliminate a complicated problem, and it’s a win for the environment.
What problem was CLiX designed to solve?
It’s an all-too-common problem for boaters: Fuel spurts and splashes during a fill-up, then overflows and spits out of a fuel tube. The spilled fuel splashes onto the boat and the boater, and possibly into the water. CLiX is designed to eliminate these issues by keeping the fuel in the fuel tube where it belongs.
Could you describe the innovation and advances featured in CLiX?
No one has been able to solve this issue as simply as CLiX does. Its ground-breaking, one-piece design allows it to be used on virtually any boat with a standard fill tube (1.5′, 1.75′, or 2′) by simply putting the CLiX in the fill tube and gently pressing it down to ensure a good fit. It requires no tools to install and adapts easily to existing chain and wire cap holders. The design is so simple that it takes only seconds to put in place. CLiX’s patented material eliminates static discharge, alleviating concerns about sparking fuel. CLiX is biodegradable and virtually unbreakable.
Who is the target market for CLiX?
No matter how hard they try, every boater still seems to experience the stress and frustration of trying to fill their boat without spilling fuel. In other words, CLiX is ideal for pretty much every boater.
Who is currently using CLiX?
Primarily boaters in the Northeast who have been part of the product’s pilot program and are early adapters.
What feedback have you received?
Feedback has been tremendously positive. Comments such as, “I no longer have to stress about fueling my boat,” are the most common.
What kind of boats is CLiX being used on?
Any boat with a standard fill tube (1.5′, 1.75′, or 2’). There are models for gasoline and diesel.
Which builders/installers are using CLiX?
Builders and installers have asked if they could supply a CLiX with new boats on delivery.
Why do you think no one has designed a successful product like CLiX before?
People spend a lot of time trying to come up with fancy, complicated solutions to problems. Our goal is to find the simplest, most cost-effective way to solve an issue without making the “solution” more stressful than the problem. Our engineering is based on years of experience spent simplifying complex problems by looking at them in novel ways. While many thought the fuel-spill issue was caused by the boats, we quickly realized the problem was that the fueling nozzles were not able to function as designed. Once we determined the cause of the problem, the solution to us was obvious!
What obstacles arose during the R&D process?
During the development of the CLiX, we tried several designs to determine which had the best results, but the final design is basically almost exactly where we started. While we did have a few less-than-successful trials, the results have been remarkably good almost from the start.
What plans are in place for the future of CLiX?
We will develop new variations and uses for CLiX. Our goal is to make fueling as easy, safe and environmentally friendly as possible. We will continue to improve CLiX and expand its use.
What impact do you see CLiX having on the boating industry?
CLiX will make boaters’ lives much less stressful and help them enjoy boating that much more! Boaters will also know that they are helping to protect our environment while using this fuel-spill solution. We all love being on the water and want to protect the environment and help keep it clean for generations to come. We hope this product will inspire others to think along the same lines and work toward a cleaner tomorrow.
What plans do you have for the future of this design?
We will work to make CLiX as effective as possible and continue to support its development as its use grows.
Theresa Nicholson is an award-winning journalist who’s covered the marine industry for 25 years. She is the former senior editor of Cruising World, a judge for Newport for New Products, and a judge for the IBEX 2024 Innovation Awards program. She’s covered past IBEX shows for Soundings Trade Only, Practical Sailor, and Cruising World. Nicholson lived aboard her 31-foot ketch for 11 years and sailed from Miami to Malaysia. Her work currently focuses on weather, marine safety, risk analysis, and high latitude sailing.
