The second annual Boat Builder Achievement Awards’ ceremony, held at the National Maritime Museum in Amsterdam during the METSTRADE Show, honoured the best boat builders of 2016.
The Award was first held in 2015 and is managed by a partnership between METS Trade Show and Time Inc. (UK) Ltd., publishers of International Boat Industry magazine. More than 280 people, including several international leaders in the marine industry, attended the event.
Winners in eight award categories, including two new awards for Environmental Initiative and Best Apprenticeship and Training Scheme, and seven honourable mentions were announced.
Robert Braithwaite, Sunseeker International founder and president, received Lifetime Achievement Award. More than 280 people, including several international leaders in the marine industry, attended the event.
Braithwaite brought Sunseeker from a marine dealership called Poole Power Boats in Poole on the southern shore of England into an international brand with annual sales of about $300 million and 2,200 employees, building boats ranging from 55 to 155 feet. Sunseeker’s 100th yacht of more than 100 feet in length was completed last year.
“This award means an enormous amount to me because it shows you have succeeded in what you set out to do. That is very important to me,” Braithwaite commented.
Other award winners:
Best Retail Marketing
Sea Ray, for the introduction of its SLX series of sport boats.
Honourable mention
Quicksilver for its custom price configurator
International Distributor/Dealer Development
Axopar for its boat sales and international dealership growth
Honourable mention
Galeon
Boat Builder & Equipment Manufacturer Collaborative Solution
Azimut Benetti and Rolls-Royce for their development of the AZP C65 lightweight thruster
Honourable mentions
Lewmar, NV Equipment and Beneteau for development of a new sunshade design for Beneteau’s Sense sailboat range
Innovative On-Board Design Solution
Ferretti Yachts for its submersible garage on the Ferretti 850
Honourable mentions
Ski-boat builders MasterCraft. for its DockStar handling system
Malibu Boats for its Surf-Band and Surf Gate
Innovation on a Production Process
Vripak for its virtual prototyping software
Environmental Initiative
Blue Glass Marine for development of natural gas fuel options
Best Apprenticeship and Training Scheme
Berthon
Honourable mentions
Sunseeker and Pendennis
