Southern Boating’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards: Best Boats, Gear, and More
You cast your votes, and the results are in for Southern Boating’s 5th Annual Readers’ Choice Awards. Every vote was counted, including the write-in candidates, and tallied in a secure location. The only input from our team or advertisers was encouraging you, our readers, to vote!
Readers chose their preferences in 32 categories from favorite center console to power catamaran and favorite vacation destination to cruising itinerary. Navigation equipment, engines, safety products, and boat insurance company are a sampling of what’s included in this year’s options.
In some categories, first and second place were separated by only a few percentage points, but overall, there was a definite winner.
Thank you to all our subscribers who participated. Once again, your feedback and input made this event a huge success.
Readers’ Choice TOC
Favorite Motor Yacht
1st place: Marlow
Marlow Yachts, such as the 90V (above), can cross the oceans in luxury, comfort, and reliability. These yachts shine in performance and appearance. marlowyachts.com
2nd place: Grand Banks
3rd place: Azimut
Favorite Vacation Destination
1st place: The Bahamas
With crystal-clear blue waters, gorgeous white-sand beaches that stretch for miles, plenty of islands to explore, and an abundance of water activities all around, it’s no doubt the Bahamas is our readers’ favorite vacation destination! bahamas.com
2nd place: Europe
3rd place: USA
Favorite Marine Generator
1st place: Cummins/Onan
With more than 80 years in the marine market, Cummins/Onan generators offer reliability, optimal performance, and maximum efficiency. Generator power ranges from 4kW to 110kW. cummins.com
2nd place: Rehlko (formerly Kohler)
3rd place: Northern Lights
Favorite Binoculars
1st place: Bushnell
Bushnell has a full lineup of marine binoculars with waterproof construction along with a firm grip, even in wet conditions. The high-quality binoculars deliver bright, clear, HD imagery. bushnell.com
2nd place: Nikon
3rd place: Steiner
Favorite Boat Insurance Company
1st place: Progressive
Progressive lets you customize your boat insurance and offers a discount for taking a boating safety course. progressive.com
2nd place: Chubb
3rd place: Geico
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Favorite Fishing Equipment Brand
1st place: Shimano
Pro-level performance, precision engineering, and durability, make Shimano fishing equipment the favorite among anglers of all skill levels. fish.shimano.com
2nd place: Penn
3rd place: Daiwa
Favorite Express Cruiser
1st place: Tiara
Tiara’s model lineup, including the 56 LS which will debut next month (shown), combines sport styling, luxurious amenities, and thrilling performance in a yacht that is ready to meet the demands of a day cruise. tiarayachts.com
2nd place: Sea Ray
3rd place: Eclipse
Favorite Watch
1st place: Rolex
Rolex watches are crafted from the finest raw materials and assembled with meticulous attention to detail. The Oyster Perpetual Deepsea model (right) sets the standard for luxury sailors’ timepieces. rolex.com
2nd place: Apple
3rd place: Garmin
Favorite Cooler Brand
1st place: YETI
Yeti’s hard- and soft-sided insulated coolers are extremely durable and ready for any outdoor adventure. Available in a variety of sizes and colors, like the Tundra 45 (right), they are built to be by a boater’s side for each catch or cruise. yeti.com
2nd place: Igloo
3rd place: RTIC
Favorite Trawler
1st place: Grand Banks
The unmistakable classic look of a Grand Banks trawler turns heads wherever she goes. She features a raised wheelhouse, high bulwarks, and curved hull lines, as seen on the GB60 (shown). grandbanks.com
2nd place: Nordhavn
3rd place: Outer Reef
Favorite Personal Locator Beacon
1st place: ACR Electronics
ACR Electronics designs and manufactures cutting-edge rescue beacons and survival equipment for the marine market and more. Personal Locator Beacons, such as the new ResQ Flare (left), aid in rapid response. acrartex.com
2nd place: Garmin
3rd place: Ocean Signal
Favorite Power Catamaran
1st place: Horizon Power Catamarans
Every Horizon Power Catamaran delivers exceptional reliability and performance, and offers all the necessary amenities for extended cruising. Each luxury powercat, such as the PC52 (shown), can also be fully customized. horizonpowercatamarans.com
2nd place: Leopard Catamarans
3rd place: Aquila Power Catamarans
Favorite Boating Navigation
1st place: Garmin
Garmin’s easy-to-use navigation equipment lets you pinpoint your location and access data to pilot safely through the water day or night. garmin.com
2nd place: Raymarine
3rd place: Simrad
Favorite Marine Audio
1st place: Garmin/JL Audio
Garmin/JL Audio, manufacturer of high-performance marine audio systems, develops innovative products that are engineered to reproduce the finest audio experience in open-air boating environments. jlaudio.com
2nd place: Fusion
3rd place: Clarion
Favorite VHF Radio
1st place: Garmin
Boating enthusiasts choose Garmin VHF marine radios for their durability and ease of use. garmin.com
2nd place: ICOM
3rd place: Raymarine
Favorite Sunglasses
1st place: Costa
Costa offers a variety of stylish sunglasses with superior lens technology. costadelmar.com
2nd place: Maui Jim
3rd place: Ray-Ban
Favorite Picnic/Downeast-style Boat
1st place: Palm Beach
Palm Beach Motor Yachts’ proprietary V-Warp Technology incorporates a warped, semi-displacement hull form and extensive use of carbon fiber, resulting in class-leading speed and performance, as seen in the PB55 (shown). palmbeachmotoryachts.com
2nd place: Hinckley
3rd place: Sabre
Favorite Charter Company
1st place: The Moorings
With a fleet of more than 400 yachts in over 20 destinations worldwide, The Moorings creates unforgettable charter vacations ideal for boaters of all skill levels. moorings.com
2nd place: MarineMax Vacations
3rd place: Private Yacht Broker
Favorite Connectivity Provider
1st place: Starlink
Starlink delivers high-speed, low-latency Internet both in-motion and while anchored. Enjoy streaming movies, making video calls, and more on board. starlink.com
2nd place: KVH
3rd place: Globalstar
Favorite Life Raft
1st place: Viking
Viking life rafts of the throw overboard type, like the 25DK+ (shown), are essential when it comes to safety at sea. viking-life.com
2nd place: Winslow LifeRaft
3rd place: Revere Survival
Favorite Boating Stabilizer
1st place: Seakeeper
Seakeeper gyrostabilizers eliminate up to 95 percent of boat roll on vessels up to 165 feet. The new Seakeeper 14 is designed for boats 55-68 feet. seakeeper.com
2nd place: Naiad
3rd place: Seakeeper Ride
Favorite Inboard Engine
1st place: Volvo Penta
Volvo Penta inboard engines deliver comfortable cruising speed, powerful acceleration, and an extended range. volvopenta.com
2nd place: Caterpillar
3rd place: Cummins
Favorite Center Console
1st place: Grady-White
Grady-White Boats builds ruggedly elegant outboard powerboats ranging from 18-45 feet, such as the Canyon 306 center console (shown). gradywhite.com
2nd place: Boston Whaler
3rd place: Valhalla
Favorite Cruising Itinerary
1st place: The Bahamas
From diving to fishing to ecotourism, the Bahamas remains a fan favorite. Comprising 700 islands and more than 2,000 rocks and cays, the archipelago is easy to reach from the East Coast. There are plenty of places to explore, so boaters can make a cruising itinerary for a few days or a few weeks. bahamas.com
2nd place: Caribbean
3rd place: BVIs
Favorite Inflatable
1st place: Zodiac
Zodiac rigid inflatable boats, like the Medline 9 (shown), provide the ultimate on-the-water experience for any water sport. Benefits include stress-free docking, lightweight towing, reduced drag, and better fuel efficiency. zodiac-nautic.com
2nd place: Highfield
3rd place: AB Inflatables
Favorite Foul-Weather Gear
1st place: Helly Hansen
From versatile coastal jackets to professional-grade offshore sailing jackets, Helly Hansen gear is perfect for coastal cruising, high-speed racing, or enjoying long days on the water. hellyhansen.com
2nd place: Columbia
3rd place: Grundéns
Favorite Outboard Engine
1st place: Yamaha
Yamaha offers a full lineup of four-stroke outboard engines that provide excellent fuel economy and cleaner emissions in a lightweight, compact design. yamahaoutboards.com
2nd place: Mercury
3rd place: Suzuki
Favorite Sportfisherman
1st place: Viking
Viking sportfishers, like the 90 (shown), are designed for the ultimate luxury tournament fishing and yachting experience. vikingyachts.com
2nd place: Hatteras
3rd place: Rybovich
Favorite Green Boat
1st place: Greenline
Greenline are the only yachts to offer H-Drive as well as full E-Drive. Their models, such as the 58 Fly (shown), include solar panels, recycling garbage cans, and the use of eco-friendly fabrics on board. greenlinehybrid.com
2nd place: Silent Yachts
3rd place: Axopar 25 Electric
Favorite Marine Paint
1st place: Awlgrip
Awlgrip products provide a wide range of colors and effects, combined with high gloss and proven durability. awlgrip.com
2nd place: Interlux
3rd place: Pettit
Favorite Alcohol
1st place: Beer
After a long day of cleaning the boat or out trying to catch the night’s dinner, our readers like to sit back on the aft deck and enjoy their favorite alcholic beverage, a cold beer.
2nd place: Vodka
3rd place: Rum
Favorite Outboard Catamaran
1st place: World Cat
World Cat boats, like the 260DC-X (shown), deliver a smoother, softer, faster, and drier catamaran ride in even the roughest conditions. worldcat.com
2nd place: Aquila
3rd place: Freeman
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