Presentation ceremony at BOAT & FUN BERLIN – award winners in four categories: Parker 630 Sport (Best for Beginners), Axopar 28 (Best for Fun), Boston Whaler 270 Dauntless (Best for Fishing) and Jeanneau Leader 36 (Best for Family), plus the Volvo Penta Forward Drive (Special Award)
On 26 November a ceremony honouring the winners of the Best of Boats Awards 2015 took place at BOAT & FUN BERLIN. Among the guests from all over Europe were representatives of international boat builders and boat designers as well as importers and distributors of the finalists boats. The BOB Awards highlight motorboats from the point of view of users, for example families and beginners. That distinguishes it from other industry awards.
The Best of Boats Awards 2015 were presented in four categories, with an independent jury of 15 international boat magazine journalists from 14 countries in attendance. In this year the members of the Best of Boats jury have tested 260 different new boat models from 19 countries.
The winner of the Best for Beginners category was the Parker 630 Sport. Dominique Salandre, chief editor of the French magazine Youboat explained the jury’s decision: “The Parker 630 Sport is a modern and comfortable boat, very easy to operate and great fun on the water. Furthermore, it is inexpensive, which makes it ideal for beginners.“ Accepting the award, Grzegorz Sikora, area sales manager of the polish shipyard Parker, said: “Many thanks. Receiving a Best of Boats Award is a great achievement for the entire team at Parker. It was our aim to build a boat that is particularly suited to newcomers.”
Winner in the category Best for Fun: Axopar 28. The prize winners Daniel Goertz (2.f.l.) and Jan-Erik Viitala (2.f.r.) and the jury members Stefan Jan Sjölund (1.f.l.) and Kerstin Zillmer (1.f.r.).
The Best for Fun category was won by the Axopar 28, a boat designed as well for active water sports as for great fun on the water. Jan Sjölund, chief editor of the Finnish magazine Venemestari, is fascinated by this boat: “The Axopar 28 features a quality hull plus which five different deck versions are available, making it possible to satisfy a wide range of ways to use on the water. This unique concept combines style, comfort and quality, and offers unbeatable value for money.” Accepting the award, Jan-Erik Viitala, CEO of Axopar Boats, said: “I wasn’t expecting to win a Best of Boats Award. In this industry you don’t take anything for granted. All you can do is your best and be passionate about it.“
Winner in the category Best for Fishing: Boston Whaler 270 Dauntless. Katie Hansen (c.) with the laudatory Julijan Visnjevec (l.) und Stanislaw Iwinski (r.) © Kerstin Zillmer
In the Best for Fishing category the jury chose the Boston Whaler 270 Dauntless. Julijan Višnjevec, chief editor of the Slovenian magazine Val Navtica, explained the decision: ”The Boston Whaler 270 Dauntless combines the traditional characteristics of a fishing boat with comfort and style at a level that has previously not been experienced.“ Katie Hansen, sales manager for Europe, is delighted with the prize: ”We are so happy to be here. Coming from the US, we are particularly pleased that our boat has achieved success in Europe too.”
The Best for Family category was won by the Jeanneau Leader 36. ”The Jeanneau Leader 36 perfectly combines sporting and family attributes. It boasts a modern design, high manoeuvrability and everything you need to spend several days on board“, said Alfred J. Boer, who tested the boat for the Belgian publication Varen and the Dutch online magazine Yacht View. As the representative of a dealership, Martin Brockmann-Rolf of Aquamarin Boote was proud to accept the award for the Leader 36. ”It is a fantastic boat and in view of the stiff competition I think it earned the award.“
Winner of the special award: Volvo Penta Forward Drive. The prize winner Fredrik Celander (2.f.l.) and the jury members Anton Cherkasov (1.f.l.); Bernhard Fründt (2.f.r.) and Gerasimos Gerolimatos ( 1.f.r.)
The Volvo Penta Forward Drive received the Special Award for its innovative boat engine technology. Anton Cherkasov, chief editor of the Russian edition of Motorboat & Yachting: “We should not forget those people who create the crucial technologies and equipment that give boat builders the ability to implement their vision. That’s why we have added one more award this year for a really special product. The Volvo Penta Forward Drive has the intrinsic potential to refine the behavior of almost any small planing boat. Initially targeted for a niche market, this product can significantly change the rules of the whole leisure boat industry.”
Group picture with the winners of the Award (l.t.r.) Daniel Barkowski, Project Director BOAT & FUN BERLIN; Katie Hansen, Winner in the category Best for Fishing: Boston Whaler 270 Dauntless; Dominik Entzminger, Geschäftsführer Boat Solutions; Christoffer Wallgren, Export Director Silver Boats; Jan-Erik Viitala, Winner in the category Best for Fun: Axopar 28; Fredrik Celander, Winner of the special award: Volvo Penta Forward Drive; Bernhard Fründt, Area Manager at Volvo Penta North Europe; Grzegorz Sikora, Winner in the category Best for Beginners: Parker 630 Sport; Thomas Lahtz and Martin Brockmann-Rolf, Winners in the category Best for Family: Jeanneau Leader 36; Moderator Thomas Sauermann; Coordinator Stefan Gerhard, Bootshandel-Magazin
THE WINNERS---------------------------------------------------------------------
Best for Beginners: Parker 630 Sport
Best for Fun: Axopar 28
Best for Fishing: Boston Whaler 270 Dauntless
Best for Family: Jeanneau Leader 36
Special Award: Volvo Penta Forward Drive
ALL THE FINALIST HERE || http://www.bestofboats.com/finalists2015/
