Berlin, 1 December 2023 – On the evening of Thursday, 30 November 2023 amid a festive atmosphere at Messe Berlin’s Marshall Haus, which was illuminated in blue color, the jury at BOAT & FUN BERLIN presented the Best of Boats (BOB) Award for the tenth time.

Daniel Barkowski, project manager for BOAT & FUN BERLIN, welcomed the guests and underlined the significance of the award: “We are very proud of ten years of BOB Award here with us. We are huge fans of the award – especially because we love the different categories. If you have a family, then you will be in search of a family boat. And if you want to have fun, you are looking for a fun boat. That is why we organize trade shows: People come here to find the boat that suits them, and the Best of Boats Award offers orientation and helps them decide. And that is why we consider the BOB Award the best event of its kind.“

In a speech marking the tenth anniversary, Stefan Gerhard, who established the Best of Boats Award, retraced past events: “We have tested thousands of boats over the past years. In the history of the BOB Awards, we've had 211 finalists from 24 nations. Quite a large fleet.” Among the judges presenting the awards were 16 chief editors and head motorboat testers from all over Europe and the US. They had conducted tests of the most fascinating models to be released over the last 12 months in various water sports regions.

For the first time awards were presented in a new category (Best for Electric), honouring the best pure electric and hybrid electric boats. Also for the first time, in the Best for Performance category, awards were presented for superboats – especially luxurious sport boats which impressed the judges with their speed and performance.

Finalists, winners and jurors at the Best of Boats Award 2023

The winners of the Best of Boats Award 2023

Best for Beginners: Beneteau Flyer 8 (France)
Julijan Višnjevec, chief editor of Val Navtika from Slovenia, presented the Best for Beginners award to Marc Averhoff, Beneteau Export area manager, DACH BeNeLux, for the Beneteau Flyer 8. The day cruiser with its savoir vivre flair, cabin and sunloungers “is at once safe and comfortable”, was how the jury described their choice. “We are very happy about the award. Bringing beginners into our world and sharing our passion for water sports and boats is what we all want“, said Marc Averhoff, speaking onstage. “Many thanks for the award which I will gladly take home to our team in France.”

Best for Electric: X-Shore 1 (Sweden)
In the Best for Electric category, awarded for the first time, the X-Shore 1 impressed the jury most. Stefan Gerhard presented the award to Alexander Nelgen, X SHORE’s head of sales, Central Europe. Among the reasons for the choice was its outstanding value for money. “No one expects this kind of performance from an electric boat. It is also very quiet“, said Alexander Nelgen, describing the advantages of the day cruiser.

Best for Family: De Antonio D50 Coupé (Spain)
For Arek Rejs, head motorboat tester at Wiatr magazine from Poland, a good family boat must be easy and safe to handle, roomy and also be fun. He presented the award to Marc De Antonio, CEO of De Antonio Yachts, for the De Antonio D50 Coupé. “The award is a great honour for us. We founded our company in 2012 with lots of passion and a desire to innovate. The award gives us the energy to keep growing“, the winner said.

Best for Travel: Prestige M 48 (France)
Alfred Boer, head motorboat tester of the magazines Nautique from the Netherlands and Varen from Belgium, presented the Best for Travel award to Catina Burchardi of aqua marin – Boote & Yachten, who accepted the prize on behalf of Prestige Yachts. The Prestige M 48, a roomy catamaran, had impressed the jury. “It was time for a catamaran to win in this category”, said a delighted Catina Burchardi.

Best for Fun: AMT 240 DC (Finland)
Giacomo Giulietti, head motorboat tester at pressmare.it from Italy, presented the Best of Fun award to Dominik Entzminger, managing director of AMT importers Boat Solutions, for the AMT 240 DC. “On the water, you need a boat that can be used in different ways, for fun as well as for travelling. The AMT 240 DC fulfils these criteria“, said Dominik Entzminger.

Best for Performance: Frauscher 1212 Ghost Air (Austria)
Stanislaw Iwinski, chief editor of Yachtsmen from Poland, underlined the importance of this new category: “Many potential buyers focus primarily on the performance of a boat – but this must be combined with safety, comfort and usability." What sets the winning Frauscher 1212 Ghost Air apart is its outstanding performance and build quality. During the ten years of the BOB Award, Stefan Frauscher, CEO of Frauscher Bootswerft, has received honours several times. “We are always excited and very grateful to receive this award“, he said.

Best for Future: Volvo Penta & Beneteau Hybrid Concept Boat (Sweden/France)
In the Best for Future category, first presented in 2019, the focus is not on individual boats but on forward-looking technology, said Stefan Gerhard. In 2023 the Best for Future award was won by Volvo Penta and the Beneteau Group, for their collaboration in designing a hybrid concept boat.

This boat has completed 200 hours of tests – with outstanding results, according to Nicola Pomi, Yacht Sales director, Volvo Penta: “It’s extraordinary that so many people have been able to test the boat.“ Martin Schemkes, CEO of Delphia Yachts for Beneteau, sees hybrid engines as the technology of the future: "The fact that we are responsible for the environment was the starting point for this project." Its initiators regard their concept creation as a milestone on the way to more sustainable motorboats.

Photos of the winning boats can be found here:
Best for Beginners: Beneteau Flyer 8 (France)
Best for Electric: X-Shore 1 (Sweden)
Best for Family: De Antonio D50 Coupé (Spain)
Best for Travel: Prestige M 48 (France)
Best for Fun: AMT 240 DC (Finland)
Best for Performance: Frauscher 1212 Ghost Air (Austria)

Images of the presentation of the Best of Boats Award on 30 November 2023 are available in our media archive.

BOAT & FUN BERLIN
30 November to 3 December 2023 | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Berlin Exhibition Grounds | south entrance (Jafféstraße) and north entrance (Masurenallee)

AUTO CAMPING CARAVAN | 30 November to 3 December 2023
ANGLING WORLD BERLIN| 1 to 3 December 2023
BERLIN TRAVEL FESTIVAL | 1 to 3 December 2023

Press accreditation for BOAT & FUN BERLIN can be obtained online from October 2023 in the press section of BOAT & FUN.

The latest print-quality images of BOAT & FUN BERLIN are available in ourphoto archive.

You can find logos for your own use in the press section of BOAT & FUN.

Additional information on BOAT & FUN BERLIN, the joint events, opening times, how to get there, entrances, and a current map of the grounds at BOAT& FUN BERLIN 2023 can be found online at www.boot-berlin.de/en/berlin/. For a current list of exhibitors please visit www.boot-berlin.de/en/berlin/exhibitor-list/.

About BOAT & FUN BERLIN

Every year during four days in November at BOAT & FUN BERLIN the focus is on leisure, adventure and mobility in, on and around water. The boating and leisure exhibition displays an impressive range of models and brands for boating and outdoor activities in the heart of Europe's largest region for water sports. This is an end-of-season event on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds for water sport enthusiasts to enjoy, where they can find out about the latest trends for next year and try out the hottest new water sports. The comprehensive displays of BOAT & FUN BERLIN are augmented by parallel joint events: in addition to Germany’s largest trade fair on the popular sport of fishing – ANGLINGWORLD BERLIN – AUTO CAMPING CARAVAN, TRANSPORTER DAYS BERLIN and – for the first time this year – the BERLIN TRAVEL FESTIVAL are all taking place under the same roof as BOAT & FUN BERLIN. www.boot-berlin.com

About Messe Berlin

Berlin has been a trade fair destination for 200 years, and has been one of the most important such hubs for many decades. Messe Berlin – the state’s own trade fair company – conceives, markets and organizes hundreds of live events every year. It strives to be an outstanding host for visitors at all events, generate optimal business stimuli, and provide fair conditions for everyone. This concept is reflected in the company slogan: Messe Berlin – Hosting the World.