The Arksen 85 Explorer Series flagship and Arksen 8 Discovery Series RIB have both been shortlisted for this year’s Motor Boat Awards , hosted by Motor Boat & Yachting. 

These highly-respected awards are judged purely on design, ability and value for money in their chosen market place. All boats have to be thoroughly sea trialled by Motor Boat & Yachting’s team of judges and in a statement, the organisers said the candidates for the 2026 competition “looks like being one of the strongest shortlists ever assembled” with boats selected from as far afield as China, Turkey, Finland and Ukraine as well as Europe and the UK. 

Arksen has been shortlisted in two of the eight boat categories, while there are also awards for Technical Development of the Year and the Customer Service Award, the latter being selected through a public vote. 

Best Sportsboat motor yachts up to 30ft

The Arksen Discovery 8 has been selected within the category of  Best Sportsboat for motor yachts up to 30ft and faces competition from five other manufacturers. Motor Boat & Yachting said the launch of the vessel, at the Southampton Boat Show in October 2025, caused “significant buzz.”

The magazine took the boat for an exclusive rough-weather test drive soon after and described it as a “compelling blend of rugged, SUV-style aesthetics and serious offshore capability” which “immediately signals its intent as a proper offshore boat.”

It concluded: “Combining its strong performance, high-quality finish and multi-purpose, robust aesthetic, the Arksen Discovery 8 is a very compelling package… It truly feels like a premium, British-built adventure boat.”

The vessel uses state-of-the-art hydrodynamic design principles to offer confidence-inspiring offshore performance and steadfast stability at rest, maximising security and comfort and promising to be the next generation in premium leisure RIB design.

Other category contenders are: Aquaspirit 700, De Antonio D29, Nordkapp Enduro 830, Ockelbo B25 Cabin, Windy 29 Huracan.

Best Custom motor yachts over 80ft

The flagship Arksen 85 is in the running for the  Best Custom motor yachts over 80ft and also faces competition from five other manufacturers. In a comprehensive review of the vessel, Motor Boat & Yachting described it as “an excellent long-range cruiser” that is “engineered for remote waters.”

The magazine noted that the brand is “not your typical boat builder” – with a mix of boats, overland vehicles, apparel and adventures – and added that “the build specification certainly goes some way to backing up” the claim of it being ‘the ultimate long-range explorer.’

Designed beyond industry standards with a focus on four key design pillars – capability, refinement, efficiency and safety – it offers class-leading range and exceptional seakeeping, enabling users to go beyond the ordinary to discover the most pristine places on Earth. 

Other category contenders are: Azimut 82, Ferretti Infynito 80, Sanlorenzo SL96A, Sunseeker Ocean 82 Enclosed, Zeelander 8

The Awards ceremony will take place in Dusseldorf on the evening of Tuesday 20 January where the winners will be revealed.