The 2026 Boaters' Choice Awards results are announced in December. Reviews you earn between now and then count. Here's how to make the most of the time left.
The 2026 Boaters' Choice Awards are determined entirely by verified reviews on Marinas.com, with no judging panel, no application, and no fee. This year marks ten years of the program. Results come out in December, which means marinas that act now still have a real shot at qualifying or moving up a tier.
BrightLocal's research puts the stakes plainly: 96% of consumers use online reviews to inform their decisions. 74% check more than one platform before choosing. Boaters are no different. When they're planning a trip, your Marinas.com profile is part of the research, whether your team is paying attention to it or not. Two tiers, entirely driven by real, verified boater reviews:
Boaters' Choice: 4.0 or higher rating, at least three reviews
Elite Fleet: 4.7 or higher, at least ten reviews
Results come out in December.
The whole playbook
The consistent pattern among award-winning marinas: they ask for reviews at checkout, every time, and they respond to what comes in. That's the whole playbook.
A few practical steps:
Encourage guests at checkout to leave a quick note on Marinas.com
Display a "Review Us" card at the fuel dock or office counter
Include a review link on your departure email
Ask your staff to request feedback at natural service touch points
The marinas that do this consistently are the ones that build the kind of reputation that earns loyalty and awards. The off-season is also when boaters have time to write. Make it easy for them.
Every boater who books through Dockwa already receives an automatic review prompt after checkout. But there's still time to go further: reach back out to guests from this season, add a review link to your departure email, put a card at the fuel dock. The window for 2026 is open. Not for long.
Team Dockwa