MBM, MBY and ShoreGuard bring you the shortlist for the 2007 Motor Boat of the year awards
After intense debate, the technical teams of Motor Boats Monthly, Motor Boat & Yachting and Custom Yachting have narrowed down the thousands of eligible boats to a handful of potential category winners.
RIBs and Sportsboats
These are the drivers’ boats par excellence, combining high speed, great handling, dazzling looks and solid build. Whether solid or inflatable, the judges wanted a boat that was fun, and built to take a hammering.
Chaparral 256 SSi
Chris Craft Speedster
Flipper 605
Goldfish 25
Hydrolift S24
Mark Pascoe SY 10
Regal 2250 Cuddy
Windy 25 Mirage
Wheelhouse and Walkaround
Time to cut away the airs and graces to leave the essence of boating: vessels that are utterly at home on the sea while keeping their crew safe and comfortable in any conditions.
Aquador 28 C
Boston Whaler 270 Outrage
Botnia Targa 31
Jeanneau Merry Fisher 655
Nimbus 42 Nova
Rhéa 850
Rodman 1250
Trawlers and Aft Cabins
Discerning, well-informed buyers of trawlers and aft-cabin boats seek reliability, quality build and solid sea-keeping, for a final package that encapsulates the long-legged philosophy of serious cruising.
Broom 450
Corvette 320
Fleming 55
Grand Banks 46 Classic
Hardy Commodore 42
Lagoon Power 43
Nordhavn 47
Traditional and Retro
These emotive boats draw on style and elegance above all, but they are not just toys – they must still be great performers on the water, drawing on the traditional qualities that made these designs successful in the first place.
Apreamare 40 Dongiovanni
Dale Classic 45
Hinckley Picnic
Kral Classic 700
Menorquin MY160
Mochi 51 Dolphin
Riva Aquariva
Swordsman 30
Steel and Inland
These buyers spend long periods of time onboard and want to enjoy it. Quality of fitout, comfortable interiors and comprehensive inventories are the elements that stand out above all.
Aquanaut Privilege 1250 AK
Haines 320AC
Linssen 299 Grand Sturdy
Linssen 500 Variotop
Stevens Vlet 1200
Wim Van der Valk 1750
Sportscruisers below 45ft
The combination of fun, style, practicality and price is a difficult one to get right, but that is what discerning families and individuals are looking for in this hotly contested area of the market.
Bavaria 32 Hard Top
Beneteau Flyer 12
Fairline Targa 38
Four Winns 258 Vista
Hunton 43
Jeanneau Prestige 34 Open
Sealine SC29
Windy 42 Grand Bora
Sportscruisers above 45ft
For motorboats that are the epitome of glamour, the judges rewarded brave design and the new ideas that will filter right through the marketplace. Performance is important for excitement that matches the appearance.
Azimut 62S
Absolute 45
Fairline Targa 47
Jeanneau Prestige 50 S
Pershing 56
Princess V65
Sessa C52
Windy 52 Xanthos
Flybridge below 50ft
These are the vessels that represent an aspiration for so many boaters. They can be expected to cover an abundance of sea miles, combining the needs of a family or couple onboard with a touch of glamour – and all at the right price.
Beneteau Antares 9.80
Beneteau Antares 13.80
Fairline Phantom 48
Nimbus 340 Commander
Nord West 420
Princess 42
Sealine F34
Flybridge above 50ft
For these luxury cruisers, the judges were looking for a high-end feel coupled with the ‘home from home’ elements that make staying on board a genuine pleasure. Has the space been used to sumptuous, jaw-dropping effect?
Azimut 50
Fairline Squadron 68
Pearl 60
Princess 54
Sealine T50
Sunseeker Manhattan 50
Custom Yacht
Apreamare Maestro 65
Aqua-Star Explorer 65
Azimut 85
Ferretti Altura 690
Fleming 75
Mochi 74 MaxiDolphin
Pershing 115
Sunseeker Predator 108
Service Award
Good personal service creates a bond between a boater and the hobby; bad service can destroy it in an instant. The winner must show commitment to customer satisfaction, not just the minimum that is expected.
Nominations to follow from readers
