Canoe & Kayak magazine named Perception Kayaks, its “2003 Boat Manufacturer of the Year”. Perception Kayaks is a member of the WaterMark family of paddling and recreation equipment. This annual award honors excellence and outstanding achievements voted on by retailers in the paddlesports industry. The awards ceremony took place the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market in Salt Lake City.

“Our goals this year were to provide innovative product, first class service and on-time delivery,” said Jim Clark, CEO of WaterMark. “We worked hard at accomplishing these objectives and took a number of steps within the company to achieve these milestones. The entire Perception team is to be congratulated for their hard work and dedication. We thank our retailers for their continuing partnership. It is a great tribute to receive this award.”

Winners were determined through a ballot sent to 700 retailers throughout the country. Criteria included: overall promotion of paddlesports, innovation in product development and design, retailer support, on-time delivery, and providing service and support.

“This award is a vote of confidence from the retail community,” said Robin Stanton, Canoe & Kayak's managing editor. “Retailers choose their preferred manufacturer based on their day-to-day interaction. Congratulations to Perception, a respected leader in the industry.”