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BOOT & FUN presents: The finalists of the ‘Best of Boats Award 2025’
‘And the Winner is ...’ will be said five times on the evening of 27 November 2025, when the winners of the ‘Best of Boats Award’ – or BOB Award for short – will be announced at the award ceremony during BOOT & FUN at OutVenture Berlin. This is the 12th time that Europe's best motorboats will be honoured with this important industry award in Berlin.
The award honours the most impressive new boat models of 2025, which have prevailed after numerous tests over the past twelve months. The 16-member expert jury, consisting of editors-in-chief and head motorboat test from all over Europe and the USA, thoroughly scrutinised the most interesting international motorboat innovations during test drives in numerous water sports regions.
New to the jury this year were Terje Bjørnsen (Norway), Chiara Riveruzzi (Italy) and Geoffroy Langlade (France), who have strengthened the team in important regions.
What makes the Best of Boats Award special is that the jury's verdict is based directly on the perspective of future boat users, rather than on boat length. Only boats that have been tested by at least four jury members are considered for selection. New products that are still under development therefore are not eligible for the BOB Award. The intensity and scope of the test runs characterise the competition and make the Best of Boats Award a seal of approval for the special quality of the selected boats. Both nationally and internationally, the award is one of the most prestigious honours in the boating industry.
After an intensive season with almost 300 boat tests, the 22 finalists for the Best of Boats Award 2025 have now been announced. In addition to the traditional categories Best for Beginners, Best for Family and Best for Fun, boats will be honoured for the first time in the category Best for Adventure, which is dedicated to closed sport boats. Introduced in 2024 and back again is the category Best Big Boats, which is dedicated to luxury motor yachts for long-distance cruising up to 60 feet in length.
The finalists of the Best of Boats Award 2025 are:
BEST FOR BEGINNERS
Bayliner C21, USA
Highfield ADV 7, China
Quicksilver 705 Open, USA
Roto / River Hydra 530, Slowenien / Norwegen
BEST FOR FUN
De Antonio D29, Spanien
Four Winns H9, USA
Nordkapp Enduro 830, Norwegen
Sea Ray SDX 270 Surf, USA
Wellcraft 38 T-Top, USA
BEST FOR ADVENTURE
Aiata Wayfinder 38 Cabin, Türkei
Max 108 Pro, Finnland
Saxdor 340 GTWA, Finnland
Silver Condor Cabin, Finnland
Virtue V10 Cabin, Polen
BEST FOR FAMILY
Aquador 400 HT, Schweden
Makai M37, Kroatien
Northman Trawler 1300, Polen
Tuccoli T 295 SF, Italien
Viknes 10, Norwegen
BEST BIG BOATS
Beneteau Swift Trawler 54, Frankreich
Prestige M7, Frankreich
XO EXPLR 44, Finnland
BOB 2025: Model diversity and a wide-ranging spectrum of boats
The selection for the finalists of Best of Boats Award 2025 reflects the entire range of the current model year. Innovative concepts such as the environmentally friendly Hydra 530, made from PE, are just as much a part of it as modern interpretations of classic US day cruisers such as the Sea Ray SDX 270 Surf, a combination of family boat and wakeboard sports boat.
Well-known boatbuilding nations such as Finland and Poland are much better represented this year than last year. From beginner sports boats and family cruisers to long-range big boats and exciting adventure boats – all common boat types are represented at the Best of Boats Award 2025.
BOOT & FUN: Premium partner and host of the BOB Award
The Best of Boats Award will be presented at BOOT & FUN at OutVenture Berlin, which will take place from 27 to 30 November at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds. The award ceremony together with the jurors, representatives of international shipyards, their CEOs and international members of the boat industry will take place on Thursday, 27 November 2025, from 6.30 pm in the exclusive ambience of the Marshall House.
BOOT & FUN at OutVenture Berlin
27 to 30 November 2025
10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.
Berlin Exhibition Grounds
Further information about BOOT & FUN can be found online at BOOT & FUN - OutVenture Berlin, on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
Press accreditation will be available online on the press page from October 2025.
Printable photos of BOOT & FUN for editorial reporting are available in our image database. Printable images of all finalist boats and current logos of the Best of Boats Award 2025 are available for download in the media kit ‘Best of Boats Award 2025’.
Logos for use can also be found on the press page of OutVenture Berlin.
About BOOT & FUN at OutVenture Berlin
Under the motto ‘Everything – except indoors!’, OutVenture Berlin brings together all facets of outdoor life for the first time – from water sports and camping to fishing and off-roading. Under the new umbrella brand, the established sub-brands BOOT & FUN, ANGELWELT, CARAVAN & CAMPING (in cooperation with Auto Camping Caravan) and OFFROAD & NATURE (in cooperation with Offroad Berlin) present a joint concept that combines trade fair, community event and world of experience.
BOOT & FUN is the leading platform for inland water sports: over 600 motorboats, electric boats, houseboats and sailing yachts traditionally make the Berlin exhibition grounds the meeting place for water sports fans at the end of the season in November. The offering is complemented by BOOT & FUN INWATER in Werder (Havel), which invites water sports enthusiasts to test drives and an open-air atmosphere right on the water at Marina Havelauen every year in late summer.
Further information is available at www.outventure-berlin.de and on Instagram @outventure.berlin
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.