Commonly asked questions about the Motor Boat of the Year Award
Who are the judges?
The combined editorial teams of Motor Boat & Yachting and Motor Boats Monthly. Between them these three titles have an unrivalled depth and breadth of experience having tested hundreds of motorboats of all makes and sizes. We don’t believe anybody is better qualified to make accurate, objective judgements on the best boats to buy.
What are the judging criteria?
Each boat will be judged on the criteria which we believe are most important to boat buyers in any given category of boat. You can read more about these criteria in the category summaries but as an example performance is a key criteria for Sportboats and RIBs but not so crucial for Trawler and Aft Cabin boats.
How are boats entered for the awards?
There is no entry procedure as such. Every boat that has been tested by one of the three participating magazines is automatically entered and considered by the judges.
What if my boat hasn’t been tested?
If we haven’t had hands on experience of a particular boat then we can’t include it in the judging process. However, these are an annual event so feel free to contact the magazine and try to arrange a test for next year.
Are older boats eligible?
So long as they are still current models being built today then even boats that we tested some years ago are still eligible. Whether they are still good enough to make the grade is another matter.
How will the service award be judged?
We are asking all our readers to nominate marine companies of any type which they feel have gone above and beyond the normal call of duty to deliver a top quality service. Each nomination must be accompanied by a short run down of the service you received and contact details which the judges can use to cross check the validity of any nomination. Please see the home page for more details on how to make a nomination.
How do I know the judging process is fair?
All the magazines pride themselves on their editorial independence and integrity. These awards have been created specifically to advise readers on what we feel are the best boats in any given sector of the market regardless of advertising spend, country of origin or launch date.
If my boat hasn’t won an award does that mean it’s no good?
Not at all. Clearly every boat owner has different cruising priorities and financial constraints, all of which could and should influence a purchasing decision. There are hundreds of good boats out there, some of which we may not yet have tested, but we had to narrow the choice down to a handful of winners. What we can say for sure is that all the boats we have shortlisted are exceptional boats that we would happily spend our own money on.
Where and when will the results be announced?
The results will be announced in two stages. A initial shortlist of potential winners for each category will be published on this website in December and in the January editions of Motor Boat & Yachting and Motor Boats Monthly. The winners themselves will be announced at a special awards ceremony on 11th January during the London Boat Show.
Can I attend the ceremony?
Due to space limitations at the venue this event will be by invitation only. Representatives of all shortlisted boats should receive at least one invitation.
