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With more than 11 million boats registered and an estimated 100 million Americans who go boating every year in the U.S. alone, it's no surprise that our members have captured photos of so many special memories aboard.
Every two years, we invite you to submit your best photos to the BoatUS Photo Contest, which is back from its pandemic-induced hiatus. And, boy, did you deliver! We sorted through nearly 1,000 entries this year. It took seven judges three rounds of judging plus additional deliberation to choose our favorites. We hope you'll agree that those that rose to the top are pretty spectacular.
The winner from each category received a great prize pack that included a ResQLink View Survival Kit from our generous partner ACR, a one-year BoatUS Unlimited Towing Membership, and fun BoatUS swag. Winners and finalists alike also enjoy bragging rights for having their photos published in a magazine issue seen by well over 700,000 people.
To all who entered, thank you. We were inspired by every one of your entries! And even if your photo didn't make the magazine, be sure to follow our social media channels where we will be featuring many more favorite submissions.
Action & Watersports
Winner | The Mystery Of The Ocean
George Detrio of Florida took this stunning underwater photo at Molasses Reef in the upper Florida Keys as his wife descended from their boat in silhouette.
Finalist | Back Stage Pass
When the fireworks start erupting, there's no better place to view them than from a boat. "It's like having a back-stage pass!"" says Doris Allen of Illinois.
Finalist | Air Chair
Discovery Bay's motto is "Live Where You Play." Along the area's some 1,000 miles of waterways in the Northern California Delta, Bill Klipp of Florida found plenty of opportunities to confirm that. Fun fact: Bill was also a finalist in our 2019 BoatUS Photo Contest!
Finalist | Catching Air
While this photo was captured by Dennis Raulin of Maryland a decade ago, some subjects stand the test of time. ";About 10 years ago my son was practicing jumping over the wake. He forgot to remove his sunglasses, but he made his jump and managed not to lose them!"
Boating LifeStyle
Winner | Double Reflection
On a routine dinghy trip taking their dog to shore, Shelley Christy of Washington took this photo of her fiancé, Mark, with their Nauticat 44, High Hopes, in the background. "How stunning the photo turned out when I took it without the filter!"
Finalist | Beach At Sunset
The beach along the Chesapeake Bay in Norfolk, Virginia, bustles with activity as the sun sets. Albert Butzer of Virginia forever captured this moment in time in July 2020.
Finalist | My Loves
Steve Berube of Connecticut captured this photo of his two loves — Trish and their Back Cove 34, Elixer.
Scenic
Winner | Fog Catcher
Jonathan Packard of California weaved a spell over our judges with this photo of a spider web with water droplets taken from the top of the gangway at Long Beach Pilot Station, while a pilotboat waited for the fog to clear.
Finalist | Heaven On Earth
David Sites, whose photo graced the cover of our September/October 2022 issue of BoatUS Magazine, took this photo in October 2022 near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in Annapolis, Maryland. "I was relaxing on the water when I saw the perfect opportunity to include the beautiful sunset, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, and my boat in the photo. Autumn colors on the water are amazing!"
Finalist | The Goddess Athena
Albert Butzer of Virginia was vacationing in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, in 2015 when he captured this alluring slow-shutter photo of waves breaking on shore at sunset.
Artistic
Winner | Flying Rays
Larry Tibbe of Florida captured this unaltered image in Atlantis Marina in March 2022. He and his wife were relaxing in their cockpit when these two spotted eagle rays drifted by just off the stern. The brilliant blue Bahamian sky reflecting off the calm waters of the marina make it appear as though they're flying.
Finalist | Wavelength
Fascinating textures and patterns can be found in the simple image of a boat’s wake. Past BoatUS Photo Contest winner Dawn Umstot of Washington says, "Puget Sound was calm on a foggy August morning creating a mesmerizing black-and-white wavy pattern on the seas behind our sailboat."
Finalist | Headed To The Lighthouse
Wick Smith of North Carolina captured this dreamy drone shot of a boat heading through the channels out to Cape Lookout Lighthouse on the Outer Banks.
Finalist | Shades Of Blue
This shimmering close-up image of a false albacore was caught by Charles Doucot of Massachusetts during an annual fishing trip to Atlantic Beach, North Carolina.
Covers
Winner | Irish Wake
Doug Heussler of Maryland captured this drone shot of the boat Irish Wake as it was coming up Ridout Creek near Annapolis, with the confluence of Whitehall Creek in the background. "The pattern of the wake seemed fitting given the boat's name."
Finalist | Boat Relaxation Time
"I took this photo when we were anchored off Chamber's Island near Door County, Wisconsin," says Christine Dannhausen Brun of Illinois. "Everyone else was in the water, but my daughter volunteered to stay on the boat to relax."
Finalist | Sunset View
In another of his top-ranked entries in this year's contest, Bill Klipp found this great spot to anchor and have a quiet sunset just outside of Discovery Bay, California.
Finalist | Raven At Anchor
This photo was taken in July 2022 while the photographer's boat, Raven, was at anchor in Fossil Bay, Sucia Island State Park, in Washington's San Juan islands. Marty Loken of Washington explains that the boat was designed in 1930 by John G. Alden and built in 1933 at Todd Shipyards in Seattle. He spent the last two years restoring the 29-footer motorsailer. Marty and his partner, Tina, live aboard and cruise Puget Sound, San Juan Islands, and Gulf Islands of British Columbia.