Boat Show Awards for Classic and Wooden Boat Shows

Short answer

A judged boat show usually gives a best in show, a people’s choice award, best restoration and best original awards, and first, second and third in each class, with classes set by boat type, era or hull material. Many shows add judges’ choice, longest distance traveled and a few specialty awards. We design the set around your show logo, cut and printed in acrylic and wood, so an award can take the outline of a runabout, a launch or your club burgee. There is no minimum order, and you approve a design proof before anything is produced.

Set of layered acrylic hexagonal awards with gold artwork on mirrored black bases, engraved for Lamborghini Club America Monterey Car Week 2025

Built like a car show, judged on the water

Classic and wooden boat shows work much like car shows: owners display their boats, judges walk the docks with score sheets, visitors vote for a favorite, and the awards are presented at the end of the show. The difference is the field. A boat show may put a varnished mahogany runabout next to a restored outboard and a small sailboat, so the class list matters even more.

The awards also live in a different place. Many winners display them aboard, in a boathouse or at the marina, so a shaped acrylic award that reads well from a distance suits the setting better than a small engraved plate.

Our car show awards page covers the same kind of judged program for cars, and car show award categories explains how to size a category list. For other boating events, see boating event awards.

What a boat show awards

Best in show

The highest award of the show. Define the standard before judging: restoration quality, originality, presentation, or a combination.

People’s choice

Voted by visitors. Keep it separate from best in show, because the crowd and the judges often pick different boats.

Best restoration

For the boat brought back with the most skill and care, often with the before photographs on display.

Best original

For the boat that is closest to how it left the builder, with original finish, hardware and engine.

Class awards

First, second and third in each class, by boat type, era or hull material. A class list to copy is below.

Specialty awards

Judges’ choice, longest distance traveled, best youth-restored boat and an award for the show’s volunteers.

A class list you can copy

Choose classes that split your expected field into groups of similar boats. A small show can use broad classes; a large one can split by era within each type.

Common boat show classes
Class	Usually includes
Runabouts	Inboard runabouts and utilities, often split by era
Launches and cruisers	Larger inboard boats with cabins or long cockpits
Outboards	Outboard boats and vintage outboard motors on display
Sail	Small sailboats, daysailers and classic sailing yachts
Canoes, rowing and paddle craft	Wooden canoes, guideboats and rowing boats
By hull material	Wood, fiberglass and metal hulls judged apart
By era	For example pre-war, post-war and classic fiberglass
Work and race boats	Restored work boats and vintage race boats

Publish the classes and the judging standard with registration, so owners know where their boat belongs and what the judges are looking for.

How many awards to order

Count classes times places, then add the overall and specialty awards. A typical small show with six classes and three places in each needs eighteen class awards, plus best in show, people’s choice, best restoration, best original and two or three specialty awards.

Many shows also give every entrant a dash-plaque-style keepsake with the show name and year. It thanks the owners who trailered their boats in, and it is often the piece they keep.

If the show is run by a club that meets all year, car club awards covers year-round club recognition that works just as well for a boat club.

Wording for boat show awards

Put the show name and year on every award, and the award or class on the line below. Owners like the boat’s name on the award, so leave room for it if you will add names after judging.

Lakeside Classic Boat Show
2026
Best in Show

Lakeside Classic Boat Show
2026
Runabouts, 1st Place

More examples are in plaque wording.

What to send us

The show logo and any club or sponsor logos.
Your class list and how many places you award in each.
The overall and specialty awards you give.
Expected entries, if you want an entrant keepsake.
The date of the show.

We send a design proof before anything is produced. For timing, work back from the show date and contact us for the current lead time; how far in advance to order explains how to plan it.

Boat Show Awards FAQs

What awards does a classic boat show give?

Best in show, people’s choice, best restoration, best original, class awards by boat type, era or hull material, and a few specialty awards such as judges’ choice and longest distance traveled.

How should a boat show set its classes?

By boat type first, such as runabouts, launches, outboards and sail, then split by era or hull material if a class is large.

Should people’s choice be separate from best in show?

Yes. Visitors and judges often pick different boats, and keeping the awards separate lets both choices be recognized.

Can the award be shaped like a boat?

Yes. Acrylic can be cut to the outline of a runabout, a launch, a sailboat or your club burgee and printed in full color.

Do you make keepsakes for every entrant?

Yes. A small plaque with the show name and year is a common thank-you for every owner who displayed a boat.

Is there a minimum order?

No. A single best in show award and a full class program go through the same process, with a design proof before production.

Racer in a helmet raising both arms as gold confetti falls under stage lights

PLANNING NEXT SEASON’S SHOW?

Send your class list and award list

Send your show logo, the classes and the overall and specialty awards. We design the set and send a proof before anything is produced.

There is no minimum order. Tell us the date of your show when you ask for a quote.

Request a Quote

Boat Show Awards