The long, low, slender Axopar 37 Cabin, along with its smaller sibling, the Axopar 28 Cabin, caught my eye as I was walking down the dock at the recent Maine Boat Show in Rockland. The Axopars are definitely distinctive; they don’t look like any other boat out there. And they did attract a lot of attention, for two obvious reasons: They look like they’re fun, and they’re built for the way a lot of people are using their boats today.
Axopars, it turns out, have impressed a lot of people around the world. Indeed, the 37 was voted Motor Boat of the Year 2017 in the sportboat category by the British magazine. The jury called it “a boat with dazzling performance, effortless seakeeping and cutting-edge style, with a choice of deck layouts at a price that never ceases to amaze us.”
A Finnish yard, Axopar has been building boat since 2014. They have a reputation as well-made, immediately recognizable boats with cool looks and a reasonable price. And they’re said to be fun to drive. So far, Axopar has sold more than 1,000 of them, with 500 orders for 2018 alone.
Powered by twin 350-Mercury outboards, the 37 tops out at 45 knots or so; the company says it has a range of 280 nm at a lower cruising speed. (The 28 is powered by a single 350-hp Merc.)
Much of the appeal of an Axopar, in addition to the looks, lies in its simplicity. It’s fun because it’s functional. You use the boat for a few hours or a day or weekend cruise, you wash it down and you put it away. This is no-fuss, no-muss boating that is gaining in popularity across the United States.
The 37 comes in an open T-Top, Sun-Top or Cabin versions. The cabin boat drew attention in Maine because of the protection it offers from the weather, giving owners a chance to extend their boating seasons. The fully-enclosed cabin, with doors opening to the side decks, can seat four or more adults around a dining table, with an L-shaped settee across the back of the cabin. Two matching seats are at the helm; an optional fridge can be ordered under the co-pilot’s sat. A sunroof can be opened for more fresh air and light.
The forward cabin has a large queen-sized bed and seating, plus an electric-flush toilet with privacy curtains. There’s also a sun-lounge on the foredeck. The company has various interior and cockpit configurations, including room for an aft cabin if you want to go cruising with guests or children.
Specs.: LOA: 36’9”; Beam: 10’10”; Draft: 2’9”; Disp.: 8,310 lbs. plus engines; Fuel: 203 gals.; Water: NA; Power: 2×350-hp Mercury outboards. For more:
