Boston Whaler® 350 Realm wins 2018 Innovation Award

Boston Whaler® 350 Realm wins 2018 Innovation Award © Boston Whaler

Boston Whaler's new 350 Realm won a coveted 2018 Innovation Award from the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). The Realm was awarded in the Cabin Cruisers category, a win that was announced on Friday morning during the NMMA's annual Innovation Breakfast at the Miami International Boat Show.

"It's an honour to receive this Innovation Award from the NMMA," said Boston Whaler President Nick Stickler. "As the first in a new family of boats from Boston Whaler, joined here in Miami by the new 380 Realm, the 350 Realm demonstrates our 60-year commitment to innovation and excellence. We're proud of the Realm's many revolutionary features and excited for our customers to experience it."

The 350 Realm marries the conveniences of a modern cabin cruiser with the space and versatility of an open center console layout, achieving a balance that makes it perfectly suited to a wide range of activities. A consummate entertaining platform, the Realm is loaded with features that ensure all-day comfort, including versatile seating solutions throughout — from the open bow's wide lounge and forward deck seating opposite, to the cockpit's two full rows of convertible seating and additional fold-away aft seating.

One of the boat's notable innovations is a massive insulated cooler, housed within the cockpit's mezzanine row, with capacity for days' worth of beverages and snacks. This cooler is available fully refrigerated, and can be accessed in two ways: with the seat lifted (handy for loading ice) or through a clear access door (so drinks can be reached without displacing passengers seated above). Adjacent to this cooler, a convenient prep station features a sink and grill, with a pop-up cover that swivels to form a large work surface when cooking.

For active boaters, purposeful features in the cockpit include large in-floor fish boxes and optional rod holders; a standard transom livewell; and a convenient portside dive door. And if the weather conditions take a turn, the boat's canvas weather curtains go up effortlessly.

Below deck, the 350 Realm's cabin delivers considerable comfort. The V-berth dining area converts into a double berth to accommodate overnight stays. Boaters will appreciate the ease and privacy of the fully enclosed, stand-up VacuFlush head system and vanity sink. Other amenities include a flatscreen TV, a microwave and ample cabinet storage.

Performance and handling reflect Boston Whaler's unrivaled construction and engineering. The 350 Realm's precision-crafted V-hull includes Variable Running Surface for a remarkably soft, safe, dry ride, no matter the conditions. The helm features an elegant console design, with state-of-the-art dual Raymarine® widescreen displays. Triple Mercury® Verado outboards provide reliable, efficient power, and are available with Joystick Piloting for effortless docking. The boat is also available with WHALER WATCH featuring Mercury's Theft Deterrent System, an advanced telematics tracking system with GeoFence immobilization and remote boat monitoring.

"The 350 Realm provides an ideal mix of capability and comfort to empower and share the joy of discovery," said Boston Whaler Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Customer Service Jeff Vaughn. "As we celebrate our 60th anniversary this year, the Realm is a great reflection of our heritage and values. This Innovation Award win speaks to the passion and dedication of our team, and our commitment to continually seeking new ways to improve on the boating experience."

The Innovation Awards program, organized by the NMMA and judged by Boating Writers International (BWI), recognizes exceptionally groundbreaking new consumer marine products. This year's program evaluated 62 products across 19 categories featuring an outstanding pool of entries, according to the NMMA. The judges ultimately selected 17 winners and two honourable mentions.

The 350 Realm is the seventh Boston Whaler model to win an NMMA Innovation Award in the last ten years.