Brilliant industry and personal achievements celebrated at Boat Builder Awards

The Boat Builder Awards for Business Achievement is jointly organised by IBI and Metstrade and held in association with long-standing partner, Raymarine. This year 68 nominations were accepted for final consideration across six categories that reflect key industry priorities – innovation, customer growth, sustainability and people.

Keeping in step with the evolutionary nature of the boat building and superyacht construction industry, the event was relocated this year right into the heart of Metstrade, just a short step from this globally critical show’s nearly 1,700 exhibitors. Held in the purpose-built restaurant and event space Harbour 8, the evening featured a dinner expertly delivered by Green Michelin star chef and Dutch cuisine pioneer Luc Kusters, alongside the host venue’s own highly rated Basement Chefs. The emphasis for this edition was on more networking time for the 250 industry leaders attending, with a relaxed atmosphere to reflect on achievements of the past and potential for the future.

The full list of winners and finalists, together with judges’ comments, can be seen below and viewed on the Boat Builder Awards website – www.ibinews.com/bba2025

IBI editor in chief and chair of the Boat Builder Awards judges, Ed Slack, commented: “It’s clear from this year’s entries that there is an industry-wide acceleration towards greater levels of product development. Start-up manufacturers are entering the arena, while major players are innovating current and new ranges to address emerging market trends. In parallel, we’re seeing evidence of much more complex approaches to sustainability now involving new technologies and partners. This is enabling companies to move beyond easier initial improvements in environmental impact.

“This year’s Lifetime Achievement and Rising Star recipients provided reason to give thanks for the incredibly gifted and dedicated founders who created much of our modern industry today, while recognising the skills and potential of valued up-and-coming people rising through to become leaders and innovators. The Boat Builder Awards plays an important role in highlighting these often otherwise unheralded vital measures of success.

Metstrade Exhibition Manager, Patricia Becker, continues: “The Boat Builder Awards is a very important part of our week here in Amsterdam. The health of the whole marine industry depends on a successful yacht construction and refit sector. The teams from all the different boat builders come to Metstrade each year to discover and buy new products that will make their next launches great. To have a focused event celebrating their work throughout the year is an honour for our organisation as well as of course IBI.

Our congratulations go to the winners and finalists of this year’s special edition of the Boat Builder Awards.”

Boat Builder Awards 2025 Results 

Breakthrough Launch of the Year

Sponsored by HP Watermakers

• WINNER – X-Yachts – XR 41

Judges’ comments: All our finalists in this category bring something different to the market with the potential to have a disruptive influence in their niches. But one stood out as already making great waves. Despite its 2025 launch date the versatile XR 41 with its switchable sport and racing configurations has already assumed near cult status with its rapidly growing number of owners. A brilliant blend of boundary stretching innovation with commercial success.

FINALISTS

• Evene Tenders – Origin Series
• Lazzara Yachts – LPC 300
• MODX Catamarans – MODX 70
• Omaya Yachts – Omaya 50

Innovative Design Solution

Sponsored by Fusion

• WINNER – MODX Catamarans – MODX 70

Judges’ comments: There’s lots of great design present within each of our finalists, but for this category we’re really focused on trying to identify an incredible standout single feature. On that basis, it was hard to look past the MODX 70’s twin Aeroforce inflatable wings, which transform this hugely accommodating boat from a sailing cat to power catamaran at the touch of a button. The industry needs impetus to open the sustainability benefits of wind power to a wider set of users and we hope the MODX70 serves as a pioneer for more creativity in this area.

FINALISTS

• Amare Group – AMY 330e
• De Antonio Yachts – D60
• Highfield Boats – ADV7
• Lazzara Yachts – LPC 300

Collaborative Solution between a Builder and its Supply Chain Partner

• WINNER – Starcraft with Uflex USA, Axium Group, Rollie Williams, and Williamsburg Marine –Starcraft ’57 Ski Champ

Judges’ comments: Against such a commendable field of finalists in this category with technologically advanced collaborations, the judges chose arguably the simplest boat entered. To understand why, look at the number of bespoke parts created by Starcraft’s suppliers to recreate this top selling model from the 1950s, in a pitch to mirror the upsurge of interest in all things vintage. Thanks to tight collaboration and cost controls, the 57 Ski Champ was resurrected for the 21^st Century with a price tag under $20,000.

FINALISTS

• Azimut Yachts and WATCHIT – WATCHIT EYE marine safety
• Frauscher × Porsche 850 Fantom
• Sanlorenzo and Volvo Penta – SX Line integration of IPS Professional Platform
• irena Yachts, Vanemar, EmpirBus by Garmin – voice-controlled automation and AI-assisted owner experience 

Sustainability Project of the Year

Sponsored by ePropulsion

• WINNER – Groupe Beneteau with Veolia, Composite Recycling, Arkema, Owens Corning and Chomarat – circular economy model for composite manufacturing

Judges’ comments: The finalists in this category each demonstrate encouraging and inspiring examples of how the whole industry can authentically drive sustainability objectives forward. However, the judges decided to name the latest evolution of Groupe Beneteau’s composite recycling initiative as this year’s winner. We already recognised one element of this circular economy model in the 2023 awards, but the eco system has now been completed by harnessing powerhouses in the worlds of composites and material recycling. Arguably one of the most important sustainability projects we have seen in the history of the awards.

SPECIAL COMMENDATION

• TU Delft Hydro Motion Team – Mira hydrogen powered boat

Judges’ comments: The judges were very impressed with the progress made with this project and hope that many of the contributing team members will soon be bringing all of their hard-won knowledge to bear across global boat builders and superyacht constructors by taking up careers within our friendly and progressive industry.

FINALISTS

• Evene Tenders – integrated sustainability programme
• Ferretti Group – Ravenna Shipyard environmental management
• Thunderjet with Supersede – adoption of Supersede plywood replacement recycled plastic board

Rising Star

Sponsored by Lumishore

• Kevin Fehrenbach, Industrial Designer, Brunswick Boat Group
• Vittorio Bichurcher, General Manager, NAVAN Boats

Judges’ comments: in a first for the Boat Builder Awards both Rising Stars this year work for the same company and have been key contributors to the same project.

Vittorio Bichurcher serves as general manager of NAVAN Boats, an up-and-coming brand within Brunswick. Qualified in naval architecture and marine engineering, Vittorio has driven the launch of a completely new range of boats across EMEA and North American markets. He also serves as Senior Director of Strategy for the parent company’s global boat business.

Kevin Fehrenbach is a young entry-level industrial designer with a fast-growing reputation. He has made important contributions across Brunswick’s boat brands and his designs for the S30 and C30 NAVAN models have significantly assisted this young brand’s launch success.

Lifetime Achievement

Sponsored by Sleipner

• Johan and Britt-Marie Carpelan, co-founders, Targa Boats

Judges’ comments: 

Our Lifetime Achievement hall of fame includes some illustrious individuals and, in one case, a pair of brothers. But this is the first time that we have named a husband-and-wife team. This is a long overdue recognition not only for our recipients this evening, but also for the many partners out there to big industry names who often silently play such a significant part in the running and development of boat builders and other marine businesses. 

Johan and Britt-Marie Carpelan founded their Finnish boat building company in 1976. It focused at first on the production of their H-Boat one-design keelboat, of which more than 1,000 examples went on to be built by them. When the market slowed down for that sector, they made a significant shift. In conjunction with one of their Swedish dealers at the time they decided to start building fast cabin cruisers in 1984. 

Not for them a me-too type of boat though. While the adventure boat genre is a relatively new trend, our Lifetime Award winners got ahead of that concept 30 years in advance with the Targa 25. This newcomer soon gained attention beyond its local markets and comparisons made between this go anywhere concept and the growing number of 4x4 cars entering the automotive market. 

Fast, capable, tough and suitable for many roles, that initial timeless design cemented a highly recognisable brand look, thanks to its distinctive wheelhouse and muscular flared bow. It fuelled the creation of a big and healthy boat building company employing 300 people on two sites. 

Today, eight different Targa models are offered in several variations up to 46ft in length, sold to markets across Europe, North America and further afield. The company’s most recent launch, a 41-footer, sold more than 50 units after its world premiere at boot Düsseldorf in 2024. After many years with mainly diesel inboard engines as its powertrain, the range also caters for the latest move towards outboard power. 

The Carpelans’ children have taken on much of the day-to-day work but Johan, who celebrated his 80^th birthday in September, is still working as chairman of the board. Both are adored by staff and customers alike for their ongoing enthusiasm and dedication to the iconic brand they created.

Lifetime Achievement previous recipients 

• Paolo Vitelli ­– Azimut Benetti (2015)
• Robert Braithwaite, CBE – Sunseeker International (2016)
• David King ­­­– Princess Yachts (2017)
• Annette Roux – Beneteau Group (2018)
• Robert T Healey Sr and William J Healey – Viking Yachts (2019)
• Christoph Rassy – Hallberg-Rassy (2020)
• Leon Slikkers – Slickcraft, S2, Tiara and Pursuit (2021)
• John Lu – Horizon Yachts (2022)
• Massimo Perotti – Sanlorenzo (2023)
• Mohammed Hussein AlShaali – Gulf Craft (2024)