Indiana-based Starcraft Marine won the Collaborative Solution award at the 2025 Boat Builder Awards for Business Achievement for relaunching its iconic, 1956 Chevrolet-inspired 1957 Ski Champ. Created alongside supply partners Uflex USA, Axium Group, Rollie Williams, and Williamsburg Marine, the replica combines retro 1950s style with modern performance.
Indiana-based Starcraft Marine took top honours in the Collaborative Solution between a Boat Builder and its Supply Chain Partner category at last November's Boat Builder Awards for Business Achievement, presented by IBI and Metstrade. The win recognised the company's relaunch of its 1957 Ski Champ, achieved through close work with supply partners Uflex USA, Axium Group, Rollie Williams, and Williamsburg Marine.
The Ski Champ is a fully period-correct re-release of the original model, offered in three 1950s colour options. Details include treated mahogany components, retro seat cushions, classic cleats, navigation lights, iconic stern wings, and a colour-matched engine. Recreating those details meant vendors had to faithfully reproduce bespoke components that hadn't been manufactured in decades, all while meeting current quality and safety standards.
The judging panel noted contributions from more than seven supply chain partners in total. Starcraft and its suppliers brought the boat to market at a retail price of US$20,499, a figure described as comparable to the affordability of the original 1957 model.
"The Ski Champ has been a runaway success and is now among the top-selling models in our aluminium boat line," said Nate Barrett, sales and marketing representative for Starcraft Boats parent, Smoker Craft Inc. "Affordability is part of the appeal, but so is authenticity. The number of Ski Champs seen on our production line today reflects just how strongly the design resonates across generations.
"Baby Boomers enjoy the chance to reconnect with a lifestyle they once knew so well. For younger generations, it stands out as a striking throwback design that aligns perfectly with today's resurgence of retro trends.
"The result transcends age and appeals to a wide spectrum of boaters, and especially with its affordable price tag. The Ski Champ opens the door for newcomers and seasoned boaters alike to enjoy the water without breaking the bank.
"When we initially showed the Ski Champ at boat shows it drew a lot of interest and people just gravitated to it like nothing else. I think that speaks to the hard work of our suppliers who went above and beyond the call to focus on fine details and keep this vessel as authentic as possible."
Interest has held well beyond the winter show season, with two special trim packages now available. "The year 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of American independence," Barrett explains. "So, we felt it was appropriate to offer the boat with a special red, white and blue colour package that celebrates the US semiquincentennial. We're also offering a 'True North' edition in red and white, recognising our 250 years of friendship and partnership with Canada."
The Collaborative Solution between a Boat Builder and its Supply Chain Partner category, sponsored by Flexiteek, returns for the 12th annual Boat Builder Awards for Business Achievement, with winners to be announced at a gala ceremony during Metstrade on 18 November 2026.
