The readers of Powerboat have spoken. With 20 categories up for grabs, the magazine would like to congratulate the winners and thank the dedicated group of performance-boat enthusiasts who voted loud and clear in Powerboat’s 2010 Readers Choice Awards.

While there were a few obvious choices and a handful of surprising ones, one thing’s for certain—the Midwest made sure its voice was heard. Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks was a popular choice in different categories and the top three states in number of votes were Illinois, Michigan and Missouri.

Now whether or not our first annual Powerboat Readers Choice Awards sparks any debate—that’s what lists like this normally do—the bottom line is the readers voted and we listened. So without further ado, here’s a look at the winners.

Favorite V-Bottom Manufacturer: Cigarette Racing
In the world of go-fast powerboats, there is one brand that stands above the rest—Cigarette Racing. For 40-plus years, the Opa-locka, Fla., company has symbolized the performance lifestyle through captivating marketing, unforgettable V-bottoms and a strong heritage in offshore racing.
www.cigaretteracing.com

Honorable mention
• Sunsation Boats, www.sunsationboats.com
• Fountain Powerboats, www.fountainpowerboats.com

Favorite Catamaran Manufacturer: Marine Technology Inc.
Fueled by the desire to produce race-proven, high-caliber performance boats, Marine Technology Inc. has established itself as a premier builder of offshore catamarans among racers and poker runners. The Wentzville, Mo., company offers one-of-a-kind models ranging from 36 to 55 feet.
www.marinetechnologyinc.com

Honorable mention
• Douglas Marine/Skater Powerboats, www.skaterpowerboats.com
• Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats, www.nor-techboats.com

Favorite Engine Builder: Mercury Racing
By far the largest engine builder, Mercury Racing has been producing reliable, high-performance engines for seven decades, as well as supporting races and other events. Based in Fond du Lac, Wis., the company sells stern-drive and outboard models from 200 to 1,350 hp.
www.mercuryracing.com

Honorable mention
• Teague Custom Marine, www.teaguecustommarine.com
• Ilmor High-Performance Marine, www.ilmor.com

Favorite Boat Dealer: Shipyard Marine
It’s not just the service-with-a-smile attitude at Shipyard Marine that keeps customers coming back, it’s the can-do approach to everything. Based in Green Bay, Wis., it sells new and used performance boats, and offers services ranging from engine and fiberglass repairs to dry storage and detailing.
www.shipyardmarine.com

Honorable mention
• Shogren Performance Marine, www.teamshogren.com
• Pier 57, www.pier57.com

Best Stern Drive Manufacturer: Mercury Marine
Mercury took the cake in this category—not a surprise. The company offers brawny MerCruiser and Mercury Racing drives that are found on the transom of a majority of performance boats across the country, and they keep getting better.
www.mercurymarine.com

Honorable mention
• Arneson Surface Drives, www.arneson-industries.com
• IMCO Marine, www.imcomarine.com

Favorite Boating Destination: Lake of the Ozarks
Whether you have been there or not, you’ve surely heard of Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks. The charming, boater-friendly town has more than 1,100 miles of shoreline and nearly half that many dockside bars—well, maybe not that many. Party Cove certainly helps the destination’s case as well.
www.funlake.com

Honorable mention
• Key West (Fla.), www.fla-keys.com/keywest
• Emerald Coast/Destin (Fla.), www.destin-fwb.com

Best Marina: Kelly’s Port
With a marina, wet/dry storage, a gas dock and new and used boat sales, Kelly’s Port in Osage Beach, Mo., has been a mainstay on Lake of the Ozarks since 1977. The full-service facility even offers seasonal cabin rentals and a swimming pool.
www.kellysport.com

Honorable mention
• Shipyard Marine, www.shipyardmarine.com
• Typhoon Service Center, www.typhoonsc.com

Favorite Bar/Restaurant to Boat to: Blarney Island
One thing’s for sure, the patrons of Blarney Island in Antioch, Ill., are loyal. Located along the Chain O’ Lakes, the establishment claims to be the “Greatest Boating Bar in the World,” and the readers concur. Along with live music, Blarney Island hosts weekend boat races all season from May to September.
www.blarneyisland.com

Honorable mention
• Red-Eyes Dock Bar (Grasonville, Md.), www.redeyedockbar.com
• Dog Days (Lake of the Ozarks, Mo.), www.dogdays.ws

Best Tow Vehicle: Ford
Powerboat readers went all-American in this category, with Ford getting the nod. From its best-selling F-150 to the mighty Super Duty series (F-250 to F-450), the company offers a truck to haul almost any boat. You can even get the extra-large F-650 and set it up for show.
www.fordvehicles.com

Honorable mention
• Ram (aka Dodge), www.ramtrucks.com
• Chevy Silverado, www.chevrolet.com

Best Trailer Manufacturer: Myco Trailers
Underneath many of the coolest go-fast boats from Fountain, MTI, Outerlimits and others, you’re sure to find custom-designed trailers from Myco Trailers. Located in Bradenton, Fla., Myco has been building high-quality, all-welded trailers since 1974 and has the customer support to show for it.
www.mycotrailers.com

Honorable mention
• Eagle Trailer, www.eagletrailer.com
• Heritage Custom Trailers, www.heritagetrailers.com

Favorite Race or Shootout: Lake of the Ozarks Shootout
Now in its 22nd year, the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout is an event on most performance boaters’ bucket list. Not only can you watch some of the world’s fastest boats, but you can enjoy other events and parties on the popular Missouri lake.
www.lakeoftheozarksshootout.org

Honorable mention
• Key West World Championships, www.superboat.com
• Desert Storm Poker Run, www.lakeracerllc.com

Favorite Poker Run: Florida Powerboat Club Key West Poker Run
Not shocking at all, the Florida Powerboat Club’s multiple-day poker run from Miami to Key West for the offshore racing world championships in November has become the perfect way to close out the boating season. It’s all about fun stops, beautiful scenery, good friends and running fast.
www.flpowerboat.com

Honorable mention
• New Jersey Performance Powerboat Club Atlantic City, www.njppc.com
• Midwest Boat Party Support the Troops, www.midwestboatparty.com

Best Boat Painter: The Art of Design
A few years ago, Powerboat featured a Top 10 list of our favorite boat paint jobs, and The Art of Design (TAOD) was responsible for many of them. It’s no wonder Dean Loucks and crew earned this award as Elkhart, Ind.-based TAOD produces some of the most stunning paint jobs in the industry on boats, trucks, trailers and more.
www.taod.org

Honorable mention
• Mitcher T, www.mitchertcustompainting.com
• Visual Imagination, www.visualimaginationinc.com

Best Place to Buy Parts/Accessories: Teague Custom Marine
From sea strainers to superchargers, the friendly and knowledgeable staff at Teague Custom Marine in Valencia, Calif., can always find the part you need. Along with products manufactured in house, the company is one of the largest distributors for many leading performance aftermarket manufacturers.
www.teaguecustommarine.com

Honorable mention
• West Marine, www.westmarine.com
• Eddie Marine, www.eddiemarine.com

Favorite Propeller Manufacturer: Hering Propellers
With a reputation for manufacturing top-of-the-line, high-performance props, Hering Propellers has remained at the forefront of propeller technology for more than 40 years. The company prides itself in its attention to detail and personalized customer service to create the most efficient prop for a certain application.
www.heringpropellers.com

Honorable mention
• Mercury Racing, www.mercuryracing.com
• Hydromotive, www.hydromotive.com

Best Poker Run Club: Florida Powerboat Club
With a full schedule of poker runs all season, as well as some of the most exotic locations, it’s easy to understand why the Florida Powerboat Club earned the most votes. Founded in 1993, the club invites beginning boaters to seasoned veterans to join the fun.
www.flpowerboat.com

Honorable mention
• New Jersey Performance Powerboat Club, www.njppc.com
• Midwest Boat Party, www.midwestboatparty.com

Favorite Boat Cleaning Product: Meguiar’s
A leader in car, boat, motorcycle and RV care products, Irvine, Calif.-based Meguiar’s provides a variety of specialized formulations for the marine market. From boat cleaners and waxes to water spot removers and vinyl cleaners, the 100-plus-year-old company offers a product for every objective.
www.meguiars.com

Honorable mention
• Leverage, www.leveragepolish.com
• Bio-Kleen, www.biokleen.com

Favorite GPS System: Garmin
A clear-cut winner in this category, Garmin is arguably the most trusted name in GPS technology with a full lineup of marine-specific instruments. From handhelds with color displays to 15-inch touch-screen chartplotters, the Olathe, Kan.-based company has led the way since 1989.
www.garmin.com

Honorable mention
• Lowrance, www.lowrance.us
• Raymarine, www.raymarine.com

Favorite Stereo Manufacturer: Alpine
When it comes to stereo systems, boaters can be very particular. That’s why Alpine developed a marine-specific lineup of speakers, amplifiers, receivers, remotes and more. The company specializes in system integration, and it shows within its award-winning line of marine products.
www.alpine-usa.com

Honorable mention
• Sony, www.sony.com
• Kenwood, www.kenwoodusa.com

Builder that Does the Best Gelcoat: Eliminator Boats
There’s no surprise here as Eliminator Boats has been creating some of the coolest works of art in the gelcoat for decades. Whether it’s a V-bottom or a catamaran, the Southern California builder’s boats always feature incredible, multicolor graphics created by talented artists in the gelcoat.
www.eliminatorboat.com

Honorable mention
• Dave’s Custom Boats, www.dcbracing.com
• Nordic Boats, www.nordicboatsusa.com