Raymarine has been the headline sponsor of the Boat Builder Awards ever since the very first edition in 2015. Raymarine a world leader in marine electronics, develops and manufactures the most comprehensive range of electronic equipment for the recreational, boating and light commercial marine markets.
A total of 36 companies and individuals from 14 countries have been named as winners and finalists for this year’s Boat Builder Awards for Business Achievement 2023, in association with Raymarine.
Entry open to boat builders, shipyards and their official distributors.
Nominees will have developed a strategy, boat model, design feature or marketing initiative specifically to attract newcomers to boating and retain recent converts.
Judges’ summary – Axopar invented a completely new genre in less than a decade with its adventure boats. Many in the industry didn’t understand the launch concept at first – but customers did and demand has been exceptional. Axopar’s strong partnership with an existing boat club is the logical next step, making its market desirable products accessible not just for owners but also experience-seeking boat users wanting lower capital commitment.
Entry open to boat builder and shipyard companies.
Nominees will have created and launched a new class, range or model that is a market disruptor or discernibly drives the development of its yachting or boating sector.
Judges’ summary – it’s hard to create new niche markets in an already busy arena but HH Catamarans is doing just that with its high-performance sailing catamarans. The HH44 brings the company’s genre of fast and comfortable cruising down to its lowest yet size but also incorporating solar power and hybrid propulsion as standard. A strong order book ahead of launch testifies to this being a truly breakthrough launch.
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Entry open to boat builder or shipyard companies and their supply chain partner(s) producing yachts under 24m.
Boat builder and supply chain partner joint nominees will have co-operated closely to improve an aspect of a boat model’s sales potential, performance, or services.
Judges’ summary – Nautique challenged Scanstrut to provide automotive style convenience for mobile phones within a secure magnetic holder integrated into the dynamic and exposed environment of an open ski boat cockpit. After research and testing through 10 iterations Scanstrut produced a highly complementary and effective solution for Nautique’s Helm Command Centre that adds obvious appeal for any would-be purchaser.
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Entry open to boat builder or shipyard companies and their supply chain partner(s) producing yachts over 24m.
Superyacht builder and supply chain partner joint nominees will have co-operated closely to produce an enhancement, solution or service to meet an owner’s needs or to solve other requirements of a new build or substantial refit.
Judges’ summary – This collaboration with fuel cell specialists Weichai-Ballard and certification and quality assurance specialist RINA has provided CRN with authenticated sustainable power architecture for its future superyacht builds. At a time when the environmental credentials of the larger yacht sector are being challenged, objective and quantifiable improvements are a welcome development.
Entry open to boat builder and shipyard companies and design companies.
Nominees will have innovated a specific single new feature or design solution that enhances the appeal to end customers and/or to improve the function or efficiency of a production boat or one-off yacht.
Judges’ summary – the judges admired the developments demonstrated by each of the finalists. However, we could not escape from the fact that The Icon has thrown away the rule book and innovated multiple features that will surely influence thinking about what a leisure focused boat can be. We praised its glazing, flight control, digital helm, safety features and sound system but this award is also for the innovative impact of the whole boat.
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Entry open to boat builder and shipyard companies.
Nominees in this category will have made changes to improve their business and/or production processes that have resulted in objectively measurable reductions in environmental impact.
Judges’ summary – all three finalists are tackling important environmental challenges for the marine sector. However, the judges decided to award the win to the Beneteau Group for its collaboration with Composite Recycling and Chomarat because it provides an answer to one of the largest issues of all – creating a viable second use option within the industry for the millions of GRP hulls manufactured in the last 60 years.
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Entry open to boat builder and shipyard companies.
Nominated boats and yachts will show demonstratable reduction in environmental impacts compared to immediate past practice across development, manufacturing, and lifetime use.
Judges’ summary – IMPACD Boats made it to the finalist stage of this category in 2022 and we’ve watched their progress since as they have taken 3D printed boats into mainstream production and sales. The 570 is IMPACD’s sixth highly practical model, trailblazing the potential for additive manufacturing. Well researched sustainable practices are embedded in this start-up’s activities, making it our stand-out choice this year.
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Entry open to designers and design teams working for boat builders, shipyards and independent agencies.
Nominees will have made a notable, creative and innovative contribution to one or more naval architecture, design or interior design boat or superyacht projects.
Judges’ summary – The valuable work of all finalists was keenly debated by the judges. Our final decision was influenced by our winner’s rise through the ranks of Fairline. In 14 years, he progressed from a boatbuilder apprentice who studied for a design degree on his own initiative to being appointed as Lead Concept Designer. He is now responsible for styling the company’s latest launches – including the impressive Squadron 58.
Entry open to boat builder and shipyard companies, trade associations and dedicated marine training establishments.
Nominees will have created initiatives, formal schemes or informal support practices to improve the skills, knowledge and retention of individuals and teams across any discipline of the boat building workforce.
Judges’ summary – the judges were very impressed by the efforts of all three finalists here and the decision was difficult. However the Australian Marine Jobs Initiative was unanimously decided to be the winner this year. It is a very comprehensive, multi-layered programme that tackles the development, retention and recruitment of skills in an engaging way that also really sells the advantages of a career in the marine sector.
Entry open to individuals aged 35 or under on 15 November 2023 working for a boat builder or shipyard.
Nominees will have been making a growing impact on any aspect of their business, from design and production, to management, buying and any other boat building discipline.
This category celebrates those aged 35 or under, working for a boat builder, making a growing impact on any aspect of their business. The judges’ pick of the global industry’s young talent will be revealed on the evening.
Judges’ summary – This year’s shortlist of boat building professionals aged 35 and under once again featured an impressive array of super talented people that deserve the recognition and the encouragement of everyone gathered here. In the end we selected two people as our Rising Stars for 2023. Žiga Jarc is the founder and CEO of innovative electric jet tender start-up EJET who has driven a remarkable amount of progress in a short time. Josie Maher has, in the words of her nominee, left an indelible mark since being appointed as the general manager of well-established Australian performance trailer boat manufacturer Edencraft.In their relatively short careers, both of our recipients have demonstrated amazing potential and continue to really make a difference in their respective businesses.
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Entries open for individuals working for a boat builder or shipyard.
This hall of fame award is for a person who has made a lifetime’s contribution as a boat builder. Nominees will have made a significant impact on the boat or superyacht building businesses that they have been associated with throughout their careers.
Judges’ summary – the recipient of this year’s Lifetime Achievement award can claim two firsts – he is the youngest person so far to achieve this accolade and the only person to have achieved this status following a career spanning two separate boat building companies.
Our recipient rose rapidly through the ranks of Azimut to become its CEO in just 12 years, aged 36. Eight years later, after driving significant expansion in that business he left to take a majority stake in Sanlorenzo as its CEO and subsequently, its chairman. Under his tenure Sanlorenzo has grown its turnover from €42 million in 2004 to €740 million in 2022 and numbers of among the leading global builders of motor yachts and superyachts today.
Massimo Perotti has made major contributions not only to the companies he has led but also his national marine industry. He continues to drive Sanlorenzo’s innovative product development today and the judges were unanimous in their decision that he should be named this year’s Lifetime Achievement recipient, joining the Boat Builder Awards’ roll call of industry greats.
The awards evening culminates with the much-anticipated Lifetime Achievement Award, presented in the previous eight years to:
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All nomination entries are carefully evaluated by an international panel of 10 judges, chaired by IBI Editorial Director, Ed Slack.
The Jury is supported by a non-voting secretary, Kim Hollamby of the Hollamby Partnership.
Editor Motor Boat and Yachting magazine, UK
Boat and industrial designer, president of yacht design at Centrostiledesign, Italy
Editor Neptune magazine, France
Chief Editor Batliv magazine, Sweden
Editorial Director of IBI Magazine, UK
Marketing and communications consultant
Board member Monte Rosa Sport / Odlo International AG / Henri Lloyd
North America Correspondent, IBI magazine, USA
Yacht designer at Carpe Diem Yacht Design, Germany