Nicholas Braun and his family aboard their new Grady-White Freedom 215 boat

SPRINGFIELD, Va. – August 18, 2026 – BoatUS, the nation's largest advocacy, services and safety organization for recreational boaters, today named Nicholas Braun of Vandalia, Ohio, the grand prize winner of its 60th Anniversary Sweepstakes, awarding him a Grady-White Freedom 215 boat, sponsored by GEICO to help continue a family tradition of making memories on the water. 

Launched in April to commemorate BoatUS' 60th anniversary, the nationwide sweepstakes drew more than 165,000 entries from across the country, celebrating six decades of helping make recreational boating safer, more accessible and more affordable. 

For Braun, the prize represents far more than a new boat. His wife Megan's family has gathered for generations at their lake house on Kentucky's Lake Cumberland, where the new Grady-White will be kept. Now, the high school sweethearts and their two young children, ages 5 and 3, are continuing that tradition while creating new memories of their own.  

“It was pure disbelief. Even now, it still feels unreal,” said Braun, referring to the moment he realized he was the giveaway winner. “When I told my wife, her first reaction was, ‘Are you serious, or are you messing with me?’ It took some time for the news to sink in, but it's been exciting to know we’ve won a boat.” 

Braun continued, “When we told our daughter we were getting a boat, her first question was, ‘Can we go on it now?’ Our son is especially excited and ready to get out on the water immediately. We showed the kids a video of what the boat looks like, and they haven't stopped talking about it since. Seeing their excitement has made this experience even more special for our family.” 

Braun discovered the sweepstakes while researching a boat to buy for his family. The Freedom 215 is the ideal fit for how his family wants to spend time on the water, whether cruising together or enjoying watersports like tubing.  

"For 60 years, BoatUS has been dedicated to helping families enjoy the water safely while protecting the future of recreational boating," said Heather Lougheed, Vice President of the BoatUS Association. "Nicholas and his family embody what boating is all about—creating lasting memories and bringing people together. We couldn't imagine a better way to celebrate this milestone than helping them continue that legacy aboard their new Grady-White." 

In addition to the grand prize, the 60th Anniversary Sweepstakes rewarded boaters nationwide with a collection of boating and travel prizes, including a Star Clippers cruise, a $3,000 West Marine gift card, a five-year BoatUS Towing Membership, and two ACR ResQLink 400 Personal Locator Beacon Survival Kits. 

Founded in 1966, BoatUS remains the nation's largest advocacy, services and safety organization for recreational boaters, serving more than 740,000 members while championing boater rights, promoting boating safety, and providing on-water assistance across North America. 

For more information about BoatUS, visit BoatUS.com. 

About Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS):  

Celebrating 60 years, BoatUS is the nation’s largest advocacy, services and safety group with more than 740,000 dues-paying members. BoatUS is the boat owners’ voice on Capitol Hill, fighting for their rights. The TowBoatUS® fleet is available 24/7 to assist our members on the water when boats break down or run aground with some 660 vessels and 330-plus locations across North America, bringing our members safely back to the launch ramp, marina or dock. On the road, we are The Boat Owners Auto Club™, helping ensure roadside trailer and tow vehicle breakdowns won’t slow you down. BoatUS offers GEICO boat insurance policies that give boat owners affordable, specialized coverage and the superior service they need. Award-winning BoatUS Magazine is the largest circulation recreational marine publication in the U.S. with engaging content that speaks to the passion for boat ownership, while our 501(c)(3) nonprofit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water offers the nation’s only free online boating safety course and many other programs that keep boaters safe, and our waters clean. For more information, visit BoatUS.com.