With the success of the Finnish designs from Axopar and several others, it is not surprising that an enterprising Turkish builder would enter the fray, given their countrymen’s boat-building skills and their cost advantages.
A new company called Aita has done just that. They hired a a Fiinnish yacht designer and have launched the new Wayfarer 38, which is n outboard-powered, center console walk-around with a large forward cockpit, a spacious aft cockpit, and a comfortable double cabin and head.
As a new brand, Aita made the choice to offer the 38 in a wide range of configurations. This will allow the builder to appeal to the widest possible audience and, from a marketing point of view, will be able to measure where the boat is most successful.
For the aft cockpit area, you can choose to leave the space open as you would for sport fishing. Or , you can build in benches, a barbecue and even a wet bar. Up front, the large sunken cockpit can be left fairly spartan or upgraded with sofa benches and a dining table.
The immutable areas of the new Wayfarer are the salon, galley and the sleeping cabin. But that said, the salon can be an open T-Top style or enclosed with large windows and a door. And, the cabin top can be left empty or you can opt for a large retracting sunroof or a solar panel array.
With twin 350 Honda’s as standard, the 38 will have a spritely turn of speed and, given the Finnish V-and step hull design, will provide a soft and stable ride. You can opt to upgrade to either 350 or 400-horsepower Mercury Verados.
Aita has stated that their initial market will be the Mediterranean and Southern Europe. But, with the success of the Finnish boats in the States well established, we can expect the Aita team to bring a boat to America in the not-too-distant future.
