Fische frenzy
Owners Polly and Fred Cole collected the award last week at a ceremony hosted by BBC presenter Natasha Kaplinksy in the festival venue Spiegeltent on Old Steine Lawns, Brighton.
The display, entitled Retired on the River, had also earned the former Nato minesweeper a nomination in the best venue category, but it did not win.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe award for best exhibition was presented to Fred and Polly by Changing Rooms presenter Oliver Heath.
Polly told the Herald: "The awards were judged by the people who ran the fringe and also by word of mouth. We had a five star review."
Fred added: "It was a complete surprise. We did not expect to win."
The exhibition is open from 11am to 5pm on Friday (tomorrow), Saturday and Sunday and again next weekend as part of the Adur Festival.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdIt features press cuttings on the Beach's houseboat community over the last 50 years taken from the Herald and other publications including the Radio Times and the Independent on Sunday.
Among the many artefacts is a letter sent to the owner of the Samichon in 1984, Ken Upperton, from the King of Norway, offering to buy his boat.
The planning inquiry into the Fische houseboat finished in April. A decision is not expect for several months.