Editor’s Note: Today, at the Discover Boating Miami Boat Show, Monterey Boats’ Elite 30 was awarded the Boat of the Year trophy by Editor-in-Chief Kevin Falvey. Look for our video with complete coverage of that event, coming soon.
Boating’s Boat of the Year (BOTY) stands as the most prestigious award in recreational boating. Why? There are many reasons, including the decades-long history of editorial objectivity used to select the BOTY. Boatbuilders do not pay to be considered for the award, nor do advertising dollars sway our Tech Team’s decision. The record stands for itself: Non-advertisers, and those who advertise very little, have both earned the honor of Boat of the Year.
What, then, is the BOTY criteria?
First, it must be a boat we have tested in the preceding year. It must also meet or exceed all ABYC, NMMA, and other industry standards and regulations. The determining factor, though, is that the boat must excel in its category more than any other boat stands out in any other category. Often, and again the record bears this out, the BOTY is copied and sets a trend, advancing the state of the sport.
For 2024, we chose Monterey’s Elite 30 as BOTY by virtue of its layout. It’s the result of a new way of seeing boat design—melding the best features of a dual-console, a center-console and a bowrider. In doing so, it changes the way we think about and use boats. Congratulations, Monterey!
Read our full review of the Monterey Elite 30, here.
