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Grady-White Boats Won 2026 EPIC Top Award

Soundings Trade Only Group honored industry leaders at the International BoatBuilders Exhibition and Conference.

Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Fishing

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Grady-White Boats was named the top honoree at the 2026 EPIC Awards, recognizing the company's innovation and leadership in the marine industry. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Soundings Trade Only Group has announced the 2026 EPIC Award winners, recognizing organizations that have made significant impacts on the boating industry. Grady-White Boats received the Top Award honoree designation during the event in Tampa.

Why it matters

The awards serve to highlight entities that drive innovation, leadership, and positive change within the maritime sector. These honors provide a benchmark for excellence as companies shape the future of recreational boating.

The 2026 EPIC Award program recognized category winners such as Garmin, Brunswick Corp., Correct Craft, Smoker Craft, Volvo Penta, the National Marine Electronics Association, and Sharrow Marine.

The players

Grady-White Boats

This manufacturer is a prominent builder of saltwater fishing boats based in Greenville, North Carolina.

Soundings Trade Only

This media organization provides news and analysis for the marine industry and hosts the annual EPIC Awards.

Eddie Smith

He is the leader behind Grady-White Boats who announced the creation of a new purpose trust.

The details

Selected by a panel of four judges, the recipients were chosen for their commitment to innovation and leadership within the boating field. Alongside the awards, Grady-White Boats announced plans for a new purpose trust and nonprofit organization, which is projected to become the second-largest of its kind in the United States.

Timeline

  1. October 7, 2026: Soundings Trade Only announced the 2026 EPIC Award winners.

  2. September 2026: Eddie Smith announced plans for a purpose trust.

  3. November 2026: Soundings Trade Only will profile winners and the Top 10 list.

  4. June 2027: Submissions for the 2027 awards program will open.

Culture Shift

The awards reflect a broader movement toward corporate social responsibility and legacy planning within the marine industry. This shift underscores how major manufacturers are increasingly prioritizing long-term stability and purpose-driven structures over traditional ownership models.

The establishment of the Grady-White Boats purpose trust represents a significant shift in corporate governance that may influence long-term brand stability for boat owners. Consumers can expect the company to maintain its focus on its specific manufacturing standards and innovation commitments.

The takeaway

The recognition of these companies highlights the ongoing evolution of innovation and legacy planning in the marine sector. Readers interested in the industry should look toward upcoming profiles to see how these winning organizations are shaping future boating technology.

What happens next

Soundings Trade Only will reveal the complete ranked Top 10 list in their November 2026 issue.

Further reading

For more on industry developments, visit the Fishing section.

More information

Read the full EPIC Awards program information regarding the 2026 winners.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Trade Only Today.

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