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Home Featured
Favorite Express Cruiser 1st Place, Tiara

Anchoring The Best: 2023’s Readers’ Choice Award Winners

August 30, 2023
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You cast your votes, and here are the Southern Boating’s 2023 Readers’ Choice Award Winners!

Every vote was counted, including the write-in candidates, and tallied in a secure location without any bias…or stuffing of the ballot box.

Readers voted for their preferences in 41 categories from favorite center console to express cruiser and must-have galley item to favorite fishing rod. Safety products, best boatyard, favorite marina (both domestic and international), engines, binoculars, and foul-weather gear are a sampling of what’s included in this year’s choices.

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 readers who participated. Once again, your input made this event a
huge success.

Favorite Boating Resort (U.S.)

1st Place: Hawks Cay Resort

Hawks Cay, 1st place in Favorite Boating Resort (U.S.)

Florida’s 60-acre Hawks Cay Resort, located halfway between Key Largo and Key West, boasts hundreds of guest rooms and villas, a full-service marina, six restaurants, a saltwater lagoon, five swimming pools, a spa, and plenty of water activities.

2nd Place: South Seas Captiva Island

3rd Place: Faro Blanco

Favorite Boating Resort (Non-U.S.)

1st Place: Abaco Beach Resort

With 40-beachfront acres and a prime location within Marsh Harbour, Abaco Beach Resort offers guests access to a variety of activities ranging from island-hopping and diving to shopping and dining. 

2nd Place: Staniel Cay Yacht Club

3rd Place: Resorts World Bimini

Favorite Express Cruiser

1st Place: Tiara

Favorite Express Cruiser 1st Place, Tiara

Tiara’s model lineup, including the 43 LE (below), combines sport styling, luxurious amenities, and thrilling performance in a yacht that is ready to meet the demands of a day cruise. 

2nd Place: Formula

3rd Place: Cruisers

Favorite Boat Insurance

1st Place: Geico

GEICO lets you customize your boat insurance and offers a discount for taking a boating safety course. Customer service is available 24/7 for claims and boat towing assistance. 

2nd Place: Progressive

3rd Place: Chubb

Favorite Stabilizer

1st Place: Seakeeper

Seakeeper gyrostabilizers eliminate up to 95 percent of boat roll on vessels up to 165 feet. The Seakeeper 1 is designed for boats 23-30 feet. 

2nd Place: Smartgyro

3rd Place: Gyro-Gale

Want to vote for 2024? Subscribe below to be informed of when Voting starts!

Favorite Fishing Reel

1st Place: Abu Garcia

Favorite Fishing Reel 1st Place: Abu Garcia

Precision engineering, durability, and pro-level performance make Abu Garcia reels the favorite among anglers. 

2nd Place: Penn

3rd Place: Daiwa

Favorite Inboard Engine

1st Place: Volvo Penta

Favorite Inboard Engine 1st Place: Volvo Penta

Volvo Penta inboard engines deliver powerful acceleration, comfortable cruising speed, and an extended range. 

2nd Place: Catepillar

3rd Place: Cummins

Favorite Boating Navigation

1st Place: Garmin

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. 

2nd Place: Furuno

3rd Place: Simrad

Favorite Marine Audio

1st Place: JL Audio

Favorite Marine Audio 1st Place: JL Audio

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. 

2nd Place: Kicker

3rd Place: Fusion

Favorite Power Catamaran

1st Place: Aquila

With models ranging from 28 to 70 feet, every Aquila Power Catamaran delivers exceptional performance and reliability and offers best-in-class features, such as the expansive fordeck on the Aquila 70. 

2nd Place: Horizon Power Catamarans

3rd Place: Leopard Catamarans

Favorite Marina (U.S.)

1st Place: Longboat Key Moorings

Favorite Marina US-Based 1st Place: Longboat Key Club Moorings

Longboat Key Moorings, the largest resort marina on the west coast of Florida, is a full-service, deep-water marina in Sarasota with 291 slips that can accommodate up to 150-foot vessels. 

2nd Place: Bahia Mar

3rd Place: Marina Jack

Favorite Sunglasses

1st Place: Costa

Favorite Sunglasses 1st Place: Costa

As the first manufacturer of color-enhancing all-polarized lenses, Costa offers a variety of stylish sunglasses with superior lens technology. 

2nd Place: Maui Jim

3rd Place: Ray-Ban

Favorite VHF Radio

1st Place: ICOM

Favorite VHF Radio 1st Place: ICOM

Boating enthusiasts choose ICOM VHF marine radios for their durability and ease of use. 

2nd Place: Garmin

3rd Place: Standard Horizon

Favorite Cruising Itinerary

1st Place: Bahamas

From fishing to diving to ecotourism, the Bahamas is still 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. 

2nd Place: Florida Keys

3rd Place: BVIs

Favorite Watch

1st Place: Rolex

Rolex watches are crafted from the finest raw materials and assembled with meticulous attention to detail. The Yacht-Master model (right) sets the standard for luxury sailors’ timepieces. 

2nd Place: Breitling

3rd Place: Apple

Favorite Cooler Brand

1st Place: YETI

Favorite Cooler 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 Hopper M20 Backpack (right), they are built to be by a boater’s side for each catch or cruise. 

2nd Place: Orca

3rd Place: Igloo

Favorite Outboard Power Cat

1st Place: World Cat

Favorite Outboard Power Cat 1st Place: World Cat

World Cat boats, like the 260CC-X (shown), deliver a smoother, softer, faster, and drier catamaran ride in even the roughest conditions. worldcat.com

2nd Place: Invincible

3rd Place: Aspen

Favorite Boatyard

1st Place: Lauderdale Marine Center

Lauderdale Marine Center, recently acquired by Safe Harbor, is the largest recreational yacht service facility in the U.S. The 60-plus-acre complex can handle vessels up to 200 feet with a maximum hauling capacity of 485 tons. 

2nd Place: Cable Marine

3rd Place: Safe Harbor Rybovich

Favorite Charter Company

1st Place: The Moorings

With a fleet of more than 400 yachts in 20 destinations worldwide, The Moorings creates unforgettable charter vacations ideal for boaters of all skill levels. 

2nd Place: MarineMax

3rd Place: Le Boat

Favorite Water Toy

1st Place: Jet Ski/WaveRunner

It’s no surprise that a Jet Ski/WaveRunner is the favorite water toy. These very reliable personal watercraft offer hours of fun and the ability to reach high speeds while remaining very easy
to control.

2nd Place: Stand-Up Paddle Board

3rd Place: AquaBana Cabana

Favorite Marine Generator

1st Place: Kohler

Kohler marine generators provide backup, prime, and continuous power solutions, available in diesel, gas, and LP configurations. 

2nd Place: Onan

3rd Place: Northern Lights

Favorite Binoculars

1st Place: Bushnell

Favorite Binoculars 1st Place: Bushnell

Bushnell has a full lineup of marine binoculars with 100 percent watertight construction and designs guaranteed to have a firm grip, even in wet conditions. The high-quality binoculars deliver bright, clear, HD imagery. 

2nd Place: Steiner

3rd Place: Fujinon

Favorite Long-Range Cruiser

1st Place: Marlow

Favorite Long Range Cruiser 1st Place: Marlow

Marlow Yachts, such as the 70E MKII (below), can cross the oceans in luxury, comfort, and reliability. These yachts shine in performance and appearance. 

2nd Place: Grand Banks

3rd Place: Ferretti

Favorite Marina (non-U.S.)

1st Place: Highbourne Cay

Favorite Marina Non-US 1st Place: Highbourne Cay

Highbourne Cay features 750 feet of face dock for yachts up to 180 feet and 16 back-in slips for boats up to 75 feet. Amenities include fuel, water, ice, Wi-Fi, and more. 

2nd Place: Resorts World Bimini

3rd Place: Atlantis

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 ResQLink AIS (right), aid in rapid response. 

2nd Place: Garmin

3rd Place: Datrex

Favorite Boating Snack

1st Place: Beef jerky

Relaxing on your boat can give you the munchies. From salty to sweet, there are many types of snacks, but our readers chose beef jerky as their favorite treat.

2nd Place: Chips

3rd Place: Pretzels

Favorite Life Raft

1st Place: Viking

Favorite Life Raft 1st Place: Viking

Viking life rafts of the throw overboard type, like the 25DK+ (above), are essential when it comes to safety at sea. 

2nd Place: Winslow LifeRaft

3rd Place: Revere Survival

Must-Have Boating Item

1st Place: Sunglasses

Don’t get onboard without your sunglasses! They are the best protection for your eyes from sun glare. Polarized lenses can help when identifying shallows, reefs, and hazardous objects.

2nd Place: GPS/Fish Finder

3rd Place: VHF Radio

Favorite Center Console

1st Place: Pursuit

Favorite Center Console 1st Place: Pursuit

Pursuit Boats is the leader in center console boats designed with yacht-quality amenities that withstand the extremes of offshore boating conditions, such as the S358 (shown). 

2nd Place: Boston Whaler

3rd Place: Grady-White

Favorite Green Boat

1st Place: Silent-Yachts

Favorite Green Boat 1st Place: Silent Yachts

Silent-Yachts are the first ocean-going production solar yachts in the world exclusively powered by the sun’s energy. Advantages include noiseless cruising, unlimited range,
and zero emissions. 

2nd Place: Greenline

3rd Place: Axopar 25 Electric

Favorite Inflatable

1st Place: Zodiac

Favorite Inflatable 1st Place: Zodiac

Zodiac inflatable boats, like the Medline 6.8 (left), provide the ultimate on-the-water experience for any water sport. Benefits include stress-free docking, lightweight towing, reduced drag, and better fuel efficiency. 

2nd Place: Highfield

3rd Place: AB Inflatables

Must-Have Galley Items

1st Place: Coffee Maker

Must-Have Galley item 1st Place: Coffee Maker

That cup of joe is important any time of the day, so a coffee maker is most definitely a must-have galley item!

2nd Place: Blender

3rd Place: Microwave

Favorite Outboard Engine

1st Place: Yamaha

Favorite Outboard Engine 1st Place: Yamaha

Yamaha offers a full lineup of outboard engines that provide excellent fuel efficiency and cleaner emissions in a lightweight, compact design. 

2nd Place: Mercury

3rd Place: Suzuki

Favorite Fishing Rod

1st Place: Penn

Favorite Fishign Rod 1st Place: Penn

Anglers choose Penn fishing rods for their high-tech style, precision, reliability, and corrosion-resistance in saltwater. 

2nd Place: Shimano

3rd Place: Ugly Stik

Favorite Alcohol

1st Place: Tito's Vodka

Tito’s Vodka is America’s original craft vodka. Produced in Austin at Texas’ oldest legal distillery by Fifth Generation Inc., it is distilled from corn using old-fashioned pot stills. Tito’s Vodka is naturally gluten-free. 

2nd Place: Bud Light

3rd Place: Bacardi

Favorite Boat Security System

1st Place: Garmin

Favorite Boating Security System 1st Place: Garmin

Garmin products, such as its OnDeck System (above), let boaters monitor and control their vessel from a distance. 

2nd Place: Raymarine

3rd Place: Siren Marine

Favorite Sportfisherman

1st Place: Viking

Viking sportfishers, like the 64 Convertible (above), are designed for the ultimate luxury tournament fishing and yachting experience. 

2nd Place: Bertram

3rd Place: Hatteras

Favorite Foul-Weather Gear

1st Place: Helly Hansen

From professional-grade offshore sailing jackets to versatile coastal jackets, Helly Hansen gear is perfect for coastal cruising, high-speed racing, or enjoying long days on the water.

2nd Place: Columbia

3rd Place: Grundens

Favorite Motor Yacht

1st Place: Hinckley

With more than 90 years of yachting excellence, every Hinckley is the perfect composition of epoxy-infused carbon, exquisite detailing, and refined performance. The Hinckley Talaria 57 (below) delivers ease of operation, style, and innovation. 

2nd Place: Maritimo

3rd Place: Marlow

Favorite Fishing Lures

1st Place: Rapala

Favorite Fishing Lure 1st: Rapala

Rapala fishing lures are made with meticulous precision, so they swim perfectly, right out of the box. 

2nd Place: Strike King

3rd Place: Yo-Zuri

Favorite Vacation Destination

1st Place: Bahamas

The Bahamas Ocean Shot and Island

With crystal-clear blue waters, gorgeous white-sand beaches, and plenty of islands to explore, there’s no doubt the Bahamas is the No. 1 vacation destination! 

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2nd Place: Florida Keys

3rd Place: BVIs

Want to vote for 2024? Subscribe below to be informed of when Voting starts!

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