After an intensive season with hundreds of boat tests, the 18 finalists of the Best of Boats Award 2022 in the categories Best for Beginners, Best for Family, Best for Fun and Best for Travel have now been chosen. These best powerboats of the 2022 model year prevailed after numerous test runs over the past twelve months.

The 16-member expert jury, consisting of editors-in-chief and motorboat test directors from all over Europe and the USA, thoroughly tested the most interesting international motorboat innovations in numerous cruising spots.

The decision of the jury is based – as an essential criterion – on the needs of the user. This is how the jury has kept its selection for the past nine years.

These are the finalists:

BEST FOR BEGINNERS

Alfastreet 21 Open (Slovenia)
Jeanneau Cap Camarat 7.5 (France)
Quicksilver 625 Pilothouse (USA)
Ryck 280 (Germany)

BEST FOR FAMILY

Axopar 45 XC (Finland)
Bavaria SR 36 (Germany)
Beneteau Gran Turismo 45 (France)
Jeanneau DB/43 (France)
Delphia 11 Sedan Electric (Poland)

BEST FOR FUN

Axopar 25 Cross Bow (Finland)
Fiart Seawalker 35 (Italy)
Rand Source 22 (Denmark)
Tecnorib Pirelli 50 (Italy)
Wellcraft 355 (USA)

BEST FOR TRAVEL

Absolute 56 Fly (Italy)
Balt 37 Grand (Poland)
Beneteau Swift Trawler 48 (France)
Leopard 46 Powercat (South Africa)

How do we select?

What are actually the best boats of a year? Certainly those that are deliverable – and that could actually be tested extensively. Only boats that have been tested by several jurors are considered for selection. Novelties that are still in the planning or construction stage are therefore not eligible for the Best of Boats Award.

The scope and professional depth of the test runs distinguish the campaign and make the BOB Award a seal of approval for the special quality of the selected boats. Nationally and internationally, the award is one of the most prestigious awards in the boating industry.

Voting for the shortlist is secret: 16 professional boating journalists from all over Europe and the USA make the pre-selection. For the past eight years, the expert jury has selected the finalists in categories that correspond to user types – such as beginners, families and long-distance travelers.

Cross-section of boat development

The selection for the 2022 Best of Boats Award reflects the full range of the current model year. This year, almost all popular boat types are represented in the Best of Boats Award 2022: from RIBs to family cruisers and pure sport boats to displacement boats and motor catamarans. Only the Best for Fishing category is taking a break this year.

Newly launched brands such as Ryck from Hanse Yachts are among them, as is Delphia Yachts with its electric Mindful Cruising concept. Back on the European market is the Wellcraft brand from the USA with a Jeep on the water. Strong boatbuilding nations such as France, Italy, Finland and Poland are naturally very well represented. But also countries less known for boatbuilding like South Africa and Denmark are present.

Boot & Fun is premium partner and host

The Best of Boats Award will be presented on the first evening of Boot & Fun Berlin. The #2 water sports show in Germany will take place from November 24-27, 2022. The announcement of the winners with the judges, international representatives of the boating industry and shipyard bosses will be on Thursday, November 24, 2022, starting at 6:30 pm.

BOB winners 2021 shipyard boss Bernhard van Oranje, juror Alfred Boer and Teun Enklaar (from left) © Messe Berlin

The Berlin-based company has been a premium partner of the Best of Boats Award since 2014 and will again host the festive Winner Party this year. One winner will be selected per category. Four times it is then „And the winner is …“ in the exhibition hall, before the creators of the best powerboats of the current model year 2022 take to the big stage..