The 2026 Motorboat Awards at the Düsseldorf Boat Show.
Winners of the 2026 Motor Boat Awards: the best motorboats of the year revealed.
The Italian shipyard Absolute has just won the MOTORBOAT AWARDS 2026 for the Best Passagemaker category, which is mainly associated here in America with the Trawler category, but this category is also very diverse, as it can also include catamarans. In short, it is a way of including all boats that are more focused on available space (interior and exterior) and which, in most cases, are not very fast.
So it can include Nordhavns, Grand Banks, Marlows, Flemings, as well as Outer Reefs and Beneteau Swift Trawlers. The speeds possible for these trawlers or catamarans (such as Aquila) can vary enormously.
However, a boat (in this case, the Absolute Navetta 62) with Volvo D13-IPS-1350 engines is far from a trawler, which has a maximum speed of 8 to 12 knots. But the criteria for awarding this prize are very broad. Indeed, the Absolute Navetta 62 is capable of reaching speeds of over 30 knots, which is truly impressive.
But what’s particularly interesting about this very fast model is its large fuel capacity, nearly 900 US gallons. So, if the owner doesn’t exceed 10 knots, the cruising range becomes quite substantial.
This award is presented during the Düsseldorf Boat Show. Several manufacturers are in the running, making this award highly significant in the industry.
Here are the boats that competed in this category in 2026:
Best Motor Yachts Passagemaker
Absolute Navetta 62 (winner)
European Hardy 45
Prestige M7
Silent 62 Open
What’s striking about this winning model is its interior volume. The spaciousness makes it seem like a much larger yacht. What’s striking is that you could easily mistake it for two owner’s suites, they’re so spacious and innovative, especially the bathrooms with showers (owner and VIP suites are combined).
The main deck is bright and truly spacious. The cockpit area is also innovative. There’s a crew cabin for two.
Propulsion has always been provided by Volvo for this Italian manufacturer and has been for years. For this model, it’s of course the standard IPS 1200 PODS or, as an option, the IPS 1350, both powered by Volvo D13 engines.
In short, it’s a well-deserved price. The selling price ranges from $2.6 million to $3.2 million USD. With current tariffs, the price in USD is becoming increasingly difficult to determine, especially for American buyers. The manufacturer, Absolute, has a limited production capacity. Generally, you have to wait more than 12 months (sometimes more than 15 months) to receive your new boat, but the wait is worth it. Here are some technical specifications:
NAVETTA ABSOLU 62
Length Overall: 61.3 ft or 18.68 m
Beam: 17.7 ft
Draft: 4.92 ft
Maximum Displacement: 90,000 lbs
Dry Weight: Not available from the manufacturer
Fuel Tank: 898 US gal
Fresh Water Tank: 206 US gal
Toilet (holding) Tank: 112 US gal
Number of Cabins: 3
Number of Bathrooms with showers: 3
Crew cabin: two berths (or crew/guest cabin) with bathroom and shower
CE Class: B
Maximum number of people on board: 14
Engines: 2 x Volvo D13-IPS-1200 or D13-IPS-1350
And here is the photo gallery for Absolute Navetta 62:
Several other categories are in contention for an award that will undoubtedly receive significant media attention from the winner.
Several other categories are also in contention for an award that will undoubtedly be heavily promoted by the winner. Here are the other categories:
Motor Yachts Best Sportsboat up to 30 feet (up to 30 ft)
Aquaspirit 700
Arksen Découverte 8
De Antonio D29
Cap Nord Enduro 830 (winner)
Cabine Ockelbo B25
Venteux 29 Huracan
Motor Yachts Best Weekender up to 40 feet (up to 40 ft)
Aiata Wayfinder 38
Beneteau Antares 9 S2
Delta 33 Coupé
Duché 25
Fjord 39XL
Nava S30 (winner)
Motor Yachts Best Family Cruiser up to 45 feet (up to 45 ft)
Aquador 400HT
Marex 390
Voleur 41
Viknès 10 (winner)
Venteux SR40
Best Sportscruiser Motor Yachts 45ft – Sponsored by JL Audio (45ft and over)
Blue Game BGF45
De Antonio D60
Pardo GT75 (Winner)
SAY 52
Wallywhy100
Best Flybridge Motor Yachts up to 55ft – Sponsored by Garmin (up to 55ft)
Beneteau Swift Trawler 37 Fly (winner)
Greenline 45 Fly
Jeanneau Merry Fisher 1095 Fly S2
Prestige F4.3
Best Flybridge Motor Yachts over 55ft – Sponsored by Lumishore (55ft and over)
Pardo Endurance 72
Pearl 63
Pershing GTX70
Princess F58 (winner)
Best Custom Motor Yachts over 80ft (80ft and over)
Arksen 85
Azimut 82 (winner)
Ferretti Infenito 80
Sanlorenzo SL96A
Sunseeker Ocean 82 Closed
Zeeland 8
Best Technical Development
Integrel E-Power 15
Garmin OnBoard MOB System
SEA.AI Watchdog
Simrad Autopilot
Volvo Hybrid Electric IPS (winner)
Of course, despite these distinctions, you should always keep your criteria in mind before selecting a yacht. There are significant differences between each one, so a thorough analysis is essential.
In addition, when selecting a boat from Europe, be sure to inquire about the warranty offered here in North America. Does the manufacturer have service centers here in Canada and in the United States that you can refer to if necessary (other than your dealer), and does it have spare parts infrastructure here in America (one or more warehouses)?
An experienced broker can be a valuable resource in helping you avoid disappointment. We at Ita Yachts Canada and its ProprioBateau division are at your service.
DISCLAIMER
The boat presented on this page is for information purposes only and is not necessarily available for sale and/or rent. This boat is offered under reserve, availability to be verified. This document or this announcement is not contractual. The boat information displayed in the above results is presented in good faith and, while believed to be correct, is not guaranteed. Ita Yachts Canada Inc. does not offer warranty or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of the information and/or images displayed, as they may not be current or may be images of a comparable boat. All boat information is subject to change without notice and is without warranty. This boat may be offered by another broker open to co-brokerage.
