focused on the boater’s point of view.
The Best of Boats Award was launched in 2014 by boat journalists from many countries and different editorial offices with two things in common: Very large experience as boat testers and particular interest in the practical needs of boaters.
The Best of Boats Award is the largest annual award for motorboats in Europe, assuming the number of participating countries, magazines and boat tests. As the only motorboat award worldwide, the BOB Award is at home in all important european water-sports regions.
The Best of Boats Award is focused on the boaters point of view. All categories are defined by real-life use cases and correspond to target groups, not to boat lengths or marketing bling.
Who is BOB
The Jury
The Best of Boats Award was launched in 2014 by boat journalists from many countries and different editorial houses. All were united by two things: Their profound experience as boat testers and a strong interest in the practical needs of active boaters. From all over Europe and the USA, these professional boat journalists are currently members of the Jury.
KERSTIN ZILLMER
GermanyFounder and editor in chief of float, Germany’s leading online magazine for everything that moves on the water. Based in Berlin.
ZUZANA PROCHAZKA
USAContributing to 18+ boating publications, Award-winning freelance writer and photographer Zuzana also leads the Board of Directors for Boating Writers International.
JAN SJÖLUND
FinlandEditor in chief of two finnish boat magazines in Helsinki, Jan is also chairman of the Finnish Boating Journalists Association.
ALFRED J. BOER
The Netherlands / BelgiumTesting for BeNeLux boating mags such as Nautique and Varen, the former commercial pilot and long-time tester is based near Amsterdam.
STANISLAW IWINSKI
PolandFounder of the online magazine yachtsmen.eu, sport sailor by passion since 55+ years, journalist by profession since 45+ years, based in Warsaw.
ENRIQUE CURT IBORRA
SpainOwner and editor in chief of Mares boating magazine. Long-time boating media entrepreneur Siga is based in Barcelona.
JULIJAN VISNJEVEC
SloveniaOwner and editor in chief of Slovenian leading boat magazine, based in Ljubljana.
BERND HOFSTÄTTER
AustriaChief motorboat tester and long time contributor of Austria’s classic Ocean7, Bernd is based in Klagenfurt.
KRUNOSLAV MIHIC
CROATIAEditor in Chief of the leading Croatian Boat Magazine, Kruno is based in Rijeka.
AREK REJS
PolandCorrespondent for Wiatr and int’l boat magazines, Poznan-based Arek almost always on the water, if not in the air.
LOUIS TAUREL
SwitzerlandWith lakes and oceans as his daily playground, the Geneva-based boat tester and watch lover thrives on human contact and being on the water.
TROELS LYKKE
DenmarkFounder and editor in chief of Motorbaads Nyt, Denmark’s leading online magazine for motorboats. Based in Odense.
GERASIMOS GEROLIMATOS
GreeceFounder and Director of the leading publishing Company Ondeck Group and head of Skipper Ondeck, the authority for yachting in Greece. Principal of the Olympic Yachting Show.
GEOFFROY LANGLADE
FranceEditor-in-chief of Boat Heroes magazine, TV host and consultant for several nautical mediaq, Geoffroy has been testing boats for 30 years. Based between Paris and Nice.
STEFAN GERHARD
Founder and ChairmanKeeps the friends of BOB together as founder and chairman of the Best of Boats Award.
How to BOB
Tests, Categories & Ceremony
Future-bound categories show the full range of boating based on the user’s point of view. Currently it consists of the categories best for beginners, best for family, best for fun, best for performance, best for travel, best for future and, introducing, best of electric.
The ceremony of the Best of Boats Award is held every year in November in Berlin, Germany’s vibrant capital,
on the first day of the Boat & Fun Berlin boat show, the long-time partner of the award.
Hundreds of new boat models from all leading boat-building countries get tested each year by the Best of Boats Award jury members in confirmed full-scale boat tests.
Best for Beginners
A beginners boat should be, according to the Best of Boats jury, a ship easy to use, safe to travel with, made by a service-driven shipyard plus economically favorable regarding purchase price, fuel consumption and costs for maintenance.
Best for Family
A boat suitable for families should be, according to the Best of Boats jury, a ship with enough space for all generations aboard, safety features for kids plus facilities and amenities for a longer stay on the ship.
Best Electric
A boat "Best of Electric" is up-to-date regarding performance, usability and system security, keeping sustainability in mind, no matter if e-only or hybrid.
Best for Fun
A boat is “Best for Fun”, according to the Best of Boats jury, if the ship is versatile for many kinds of watersports, adaptable to the needs of different crews and – of course – fun to drive with to experience nature, water and power equally.
Best for Performance
A boat is “Best for Performance”, according to the Best of Boats jury, if the ship matches and exceeds the qualities of a fun boat, being equally seaworthy and safe to the max, equipped with the best-performing hull plus a touch of luxury.
Best Big Boats
A boat suitable for the category “Best Big Boats“, according to the Best of Boats jury, offers – in a length from 40 feet up – all amendments to live onboard permanently.
Best for Future
A motorboat is “Best for Future”, according to the Best of Boats jury, a blend of new and groundbreaking technologies and concepts, combined
with the awareness regarding sustainability and the responsible use of our resources.