Boating’s Boat of the Year (BOTY) ranks as the most prestigious honor a recreational boatbuilder can be awarded. BOTY is announced annually during an event at February’s Miami International Boat Show, and in our March issue.
From the 100 or so boats tested by each year’s end, we select those that stand out the most in their category. Ongoing debate and discussion keep the contenders list fluid. The boats presented here are the results of all that on-water testing and all that team deliberation. From this select group, Boat of the Year 2025 will be chosen.
Congratulations, Boat of the Year category winners!
Fishing—Small: Yamaha CrossWave
With the CrossWave, Yamaha just may have created a new category of boat. The CrossWave combines the shallow draft, capacity and speed of a fishing skiff while delivering the maneuverability, handling and sporty fun of a personal watercraft such as its WaveRunner cousins. Our team applauded this plunge into new territory, the feature set and also couldn’t ignore the ability to deliver a boat that can do so much for a low price.
Watersports: Tigé Ultré 23ZX
Pronounced “Ultra,” this boat is just that according to Boating’s Tech Team. Features such as its FastFlip co-captain’s chair, which deploys to face forward or aft, and the built-in UltréChill upholstered electric cooler raise the luxury bar. Its cockpit is deeper than most tow boats, adding comfort and storage. The wakes and waves? We were blown away. Kudos to Tigé for edging-out other boats in a category known for implementing high luxury and top technology.
Adventure Boat: Regal 43 SAV
Many boats claim to be the “Swiss Army Knife of the water,” but Regal’s 43 SAV has an edge on all the others. You can safely wakesurf behind this boat: It’s fitted with the first-ever Twin Forward Drive by Volvo Penta. It is also equipped to fish, offers a great cabin for weekend cruising and its deck expands like that of a superyacht. The “Garm-Rests” (personal MFDs) at the helm impressed us, too, as did the fit, finish and build quality.
Sport Yacht: Scout 670 LXS
Scout pushed the envelope on the 670 LXS, melding the latest in systems, propulsion and design to achieve the world’s largest outboard-powered sport yacht. This boat impresses with features such as screens at multiple seating locations throughout, a retractable rocket launcher, and a layout that is as versatile as it is luxurious. Three staterooms, five mega outboards and 100 reasons to say “wow!
Electric: Arc Sport
A boat must do more than simply utilize electric propulsion to earn top honors in this category. It must also stand-out in the growing category of boats it competes against. It happens that the Arc Sport is one of the best watersports boats we tested this year. It delivered excellent wakes and waves—as we recorded on video—utilizes two huge screens for boat and systems control, and it looks great and provides comfortable amenities at the highest quality.
Center-Console: Wellcraft 38 T-Top
The 38 T-Top is a boat we had discussed as a team long before we saw it. “When,” we pondered, “will a center-console builder leave behind its fishing roots, keeping the bluewater-capable hull and build, and then fully embracing the comforts and features of a dayboat?” Wellcraft answered our question with the 38 T-Top, the aft cockpit of which could be dropped into a luxury bowrider. With an overnighting cabin below, multiple outboards, and Nordic lines, it is hot.
Dayboat: Everglades 367CX
This boat caused a stir at its Palm Beach Boat Show debut in March 2025, drawing such a crowd that shooting our preliminary video proved hard to arrange. With its rotating cockpit module, the 367CX goes from all-out angling to all-out socializing without missing a beat. Head belowdecks and the comforts rival a cruiser. Head to the bow, via a unique portside door, and the sun lounge rivals a sport yacht. Throughout Everglades’ first-ever crossover model, excellence is evident.
Pontoon: Godfrey Sanpan 2500 ULW
This Sanpan’s unique design delivers demonstrably better response to engine trim than other pontoons we’ve tested, enhancing comfort, efficiency and the driving experience. Also, the outboard tilts clear of the water, an advantage for coastal boaters most pontoons do not provide. It boasts a special outer rail to which SUP boards, BBQ grills, flags and more can be carried. Its windshield and UltraLounge are so much icing on this pontoon’s cake.
Why Boating Awards the Boat of the Year
Boating’s Boat of the Year (BOTY) honors the most remarkable new vessel introduced to the market. This boat excels in design, innovation, performance, and value, chosen from all models tested by Boating’s Tech Team in a calendar year.
The guiding principle for selecting Boat of the Year—indeed an important element of every boat test—is the comparison to other boats with the same mission. A flats boat can’t compare to a wakeboat and a cruiser has little in common with a PWC. For this reason, Boat of the Year is the boat that excels in its category more than any other boat excels in any other category.
This judgement is made by our editorial staff who are boat owners with over 200 years of combined boating experience, plus nearly 100 combined years professionally employed in evaluating boats of all types.
Read Next: Boat of the Year Category Winners 2024
First and foremost, the award celebrates excellence in marine design by acknowledging builders who push design, engineering, and construction-quality boundaries. These vessels are not just products; they are advancements in safety, handling, efficiency, and user experience.
The BOTY award also serves as a valuable guide for consumers, particularly boat buyers, by highlighting boats that genuinely deliver on their promises. Rigorous testing ensures that each winner has been objectively assessed and verified for real-world performance, providing an authoritative signal to the market.
Additionally, the award seeks to foster innovation within the industry. It encourages boatbuilders to refine their boats and embrace new technologies. This progress spans propulsion, materials, ergonomics, and environmental efficiency—helping, we believe, to drive the industry forward.
Editorial integrity and leadership are cornerstones of BOTY. As a respected authority in marine journalism, Boating leverages the award to cement its role as an independent leader and consumer advocate, one committed to expert testing backed by honest, data-driven evaluations.
Finally, the award announcement itself is a catalyst for public interest and engagement. It sparks excitement and conversation while showcasing the best of the best.
Boating’s Boat of the Year celebrates excellence, guiding buyers, and spurring boatbuilding innovation. These are things worth championing and we are honored to bestow this eminent award.
