2018 Axopar 37R Sports Cabin review

Northern European influences are very much in vogue these days, from drama-packed film Nordic-noir to understated Scandinavian homewares. We can now add powerboats to the list, given the rise of Axopar in Australia.

Since an initial market raid three years ago the Finland-sourced Axopar range has enjoyed surprising sales success in Australia. It is surprising, because these Nordic fliers are styled very differently to our typical Aussie powerboat; the Axopar is long, lean and low to the water.

Yet with their distinctive axe head bow and boxy hull sections, Axopar’s products have become the latest uber-cool craft for wealthy boaties to moor in front of harbor-side mansions.

Axopar certainly fulfils the role of a getaway craft in true James Bond style. It is super-fast, easy to maneuver and always easy to board with its self-draining walk-around cockpit.

The slim Axopar is also a super stable craft, and incorporates a built-in topside fender so it's just perfect for popping into a marina cafe or rafting alongside the superyacht.

Some reckon the vertically cut bow harkens back to the Viking boats of a millennia ago, but today it is reminiscent of the latest generation of offshore racing yachts. Like those ocean racers, the vertical bow forms a sleek entry with less drag, and delivers a nice ride in bumpy waters.

Sydney International Boat Show this year saw an impressive display of Axopar models. It was also an opportunity for boatsales.com.au to test the brand’s newest model, the Axopar 37 Sports Cabin. Our test boat was the R model, featuring cool grey topsides and twin supercharged Mercury Verado 400R in-line six outboards instead of the usual twin 350s.

These towers of power blast the Axopar to 55 knots – or a fraction faster than 100km/h. At this speed the well-protected and comfortable wheelhouse is appreciated.

Axopar is very much the rich man's toy, yet surprisingly good value for a big sports boat. The entry-level Axopar 37 Sports Cabin with standard twin Mercury XL Verado 200hp supercharged in-line six-cylinder outboards has a ready-to-go price of $399,000. That includes sun deck cushions, saloon dining table, toilet compartment, bar fridge, Garmin instrumentation and a bow thruster.

Our test boat, with all the bells and whistles and those amazing white 400hp Verados, costs $458,187.

Axopar's original design brief was to cater to rich Nordics and Scandinavians needing to zip out to their Baltic island homes in summer. However, over time they've spread to the Med and become popular as speedboats and superyacht tenders to the rich and famous.

Here in Australia, Axopar has secured a niche as a fast day cruiser for the wealthy. However, this enclosed cabin version expands the Axopar's appeal as an overnight cruiser. It also makes the Axopar 37R Sports Cabin more appealing to southern state boaties, especially in Tasmania.

A sophisticated variable 20-degree deep vee hull, combined with the boxy topsides and light displacement, make for a surprisingly stable and fast craft. A key design feature includes two sets of 'steps' or release points on the 20-degree hull that radiate out from the keel to the chines and reduce water friction at speed. It's a similar concept to the stepped bottoms of racing hydroplanes, but modified to better suit all-around boating.

The open rear deck with swim ladder also makes the Axopar 37R Sports Cabin an ideal craft for summer boating. We can add water skiing, too, since an Axopar 37 recently towed an Aussie skier on a marathon 5010km trip in the Med!

Summer boating was far from the mind on our spring test day with a chilly wind making me very glad of the Axopar 37R Sports Cabin’s comfortable wheelhouse.

After throwing off the dock lines, Asxopar importer Peter Hrones and I settled into the comfortable high-back rally seats that are a standout feature of the boat.

These seats have flip-up bum bolsters and folding armrests so you can easily stand up at the helm. The helm also has an impressive black ops-style dashboard with ARES sports steering wheel and twin Garmin GPS map displays. This all provides a wealth of information from fuel flow through to speed and GPS position.

However, the one item winning early points was the bow-thruster, which helped with leaving the very crowded berth.

Clear of the marina at Church Point, we glided along over a light wind chop doing about 30 knots. Immediately you can appreciate how well the Axopar's slim hull tracks through the water, because from the confines of the cabin, this hardly seems fast.

With this slim deep vee hull running like it is on rails, you hardly need to adjust, or correct the helm as you fly along. The helm’s response is so precise even while hooking the Axopar 37R Sports Cabin through a fast turn.

Pushing past 40 knots, the Axopar 37R Sports Cabin needed only a few degrees of up-trim to get it running at its best. Meanwhile, those big Verado 400 four-strokes were humming away and delivering power in a smooth flow.

A clear run ahead invited us to hit the afterburners, and the big boat easily leapt to 50 knots. A little more tickling of the up-trim soon had us low-flying at 55 knots.

About the only concession made to speed was to shut the electric sunroof to improve aerodynamics and make it easier to read the digital displays.

So the Axopar 37R Sports Cabin is a craft that's both fast and reasonably economical to run. What the numbers don't tell you is just how smooth the ride is, even when hitting the open water of Broken Bay and still holding 40 knots without drama.

Offshore, you rarely get the chance to do maximum speeds. The Axopar 37R Sports Cabin, though, is one craft where you can confidently do the big hops knowing you will get there much faster than your mates.

Axopar is all about pleasure boating. Up front, the Axopar 37R Sports Cabin has a social seating area with a pop-in table to enjoy meals or a drink. There are also sun awnings in the lockers for hot days.

Also up front is a big sun lounge over the cabin roof. When it is too hot outside, the wheelhouse saloon is a good space for lunch; here, the wrap-around dining area seats six people.

Down aft is a third social zone with plenty of open deck space and an optional wet bar fitted with an outdoor galley featuring a big icebox/freezer, sink and barbecue. Slot-in seats create a summer beach club experience.

In milder weather, the sunroof provides an open-air, sports car-like feel without getting cold.

The Axopar 37R Sports Cabin provides a comfortable double-berth cabin up for'ard that includes a toilet and wash basin. European customers like to have this cabin area open, however, Australian tastes are somewhat different and most craft here are fitted with a privacy wall around the loo.

There's the option of a second double-berth cabin aft in lieu of the deck wet bar, but the dinette can transform to a double berth for occasional use.

Our test boat featured an attractive walnut timber trim and flooring that adds a warm nautical feel. Other wood and fabric finishes are available, but I thought the mushroom grey upholstery and walnut matched the black trim nicely. Overall, it's stylish yet casual and … very Nordic!

Less is more could be the Axopar credo! The Axopar 37R Sports Cabin is a sports boat with a small volume hull but with all the features to have fun on the water. Best of all, the Axopar 37R Sports Cabin is fast and fun to drive in much the same way as a top-level European sports car.

The automotive analogy is quite apt. Only last year specialist European car group Brabus worked with Axopar to create 20 special editions based on the Axopar 37 Tee Top. The result was a nautical vision of speed with black hull, red racecar upholstery and a mean pair of Mercury 400hp Verado outboards.

These limited editions never made it here. However, you can capture some of the Brabus spirit in the Axopar 37R Sports Cabin via the twin 400hp supercharged inline six-cylinder Verados.

An enclosed cabin certainly opens up the Axopar’s cruising potential, even if the space is compact. But just like an SUV has the potential to reach more places than a traditional passenger, the Axopar 37 gives the freedom to go further than a conventional motor cruiser and explore more places. Thanks to full tilt-up motors, the Axopar 37R Sports Cabin also suits water mooring or dry-stack stowage.

Our test boat came with a few handy options such as a fridge under the settee seats, sundeck cushions and electric anchor windlass. Her Fusion four-speaker sound system is also top draw. However, the small details make you appreciate the logic behind this Finnish flier. My favorites are the soft suede pockets under the helm, ideal for stowing mobile phones and car keys.

Specifications
Model: Axopar 37R Sports Cabin
Length: 11.2m
Beam: 3.3m
Draught: 0.85m
Deadrise: 20 degrees
Displacement: 3500-3800kg
Construction: GRP composite
Fuel: 730L
Recommended power: 2 x 350hp
Power on test: 2 x 400hp Mercury Verado
Cruise speed: 35-40kt
Top speed: 50kt
Passenger capacity: 10 persons
Supplied by:  Eyachts, Church Point, NSW, 02 9979 6612, www.eyachts.com.au