Buizen Yachts’ impressive Buizen 48 offshore cruiser has been named Boat of the Year (Sail) in the 2008 Australian Marine Awards.

The honour was awarded to the Australian pilothouse yacht marque’s flagship vessel ahead of solid competition from local and international vessels, each evaluated against an exhaustive checklist by a team of independent judges.

Buizen Yachts director Steve Howe said the Buizen 48 was a product of decades of development, experience and boatbuilding expertise.

“The painstaking craftsmanship that goes into each and every Buizen yacht is immediately apparent as soon as you set foot onboard one,” Mr Howe said.

“Over 10,000 man hours, over 10 months, go into building just one Buizen 48!

“These yachts are built without compromise – their timeless design, strength, build quality and standard of finish making them the benchmark by which other handcrafted yachts are judged.”

Founded by famous shipwright brothers Eddy and Frits Buizen, Buizen Yachts is globally-acclaimed not only for its high build quality and finish, but is recognised as one of the world’s finest names in offshore cruising. The Buizen 48 has achieved second in its division of a Sydney to Hobart race and outright first in the inaugural running of the Round the World Millennium Odyssey race.

Buizen's luxurious pilothouse yachts are available throughout Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia via exclusive Melbourne-based agent Aussie Boat Sales, while the rest of the country is currently served directly by the manufacturer, Sydney-based Mastercraft Marine.