Axopar for the course

“Jan-Erik is a very passionate man. Dedicated to this brand, he predominantly spends his time on the production floor finessing things,” says Rowan McMahon, Eyachts Queensland Manager. “He also asks his production managers to come each week with a production upgrade, which could be something as simple as a new light or handle. There’s an expectation of his team that they’re always moving forward, and they’ve never rested on their laurels – they’re always looking for the next step.”

It’s McMahon who meets me at Runaway Bay Marina on the Gold Coast for my meeting with the new Axopar 45 Sun Top, and it’s an impressively big boat, one unashamedly ready for adventure. That’s not to say it’s hard-edged – the factory team also works on providing plenty of comfort and a luxe feel. There’s room for at least 15 people on the aft deck when the balconies fold out to reveal more seating while at anchor. Silver Tex upholstery comes as standard, and there are still more seats both further aft and on the foredeck.

Awnings are available to shade all three areas, and those who plan on cruising to land-based adventures can pop a couple of mountain bikes on the roof racks – unless they’re taken up with SUPs and surfboards.

Below (with access via port and starboard gull-wing doors) is a space that can be configured into either a roomy sleeping cabin or more areas for seating – a sunken lounge, if you will, with a super-cool feature where the double bed can be converted into a couch for daytime use. There’s also a head/shower combo. “Axopars are known as dayboats, with the occasional overnighter,” says McMahon.

“The 45 is the first model with full standing height below, making the area incredibly usable, so perhaps more people will now spend the night on board.

“Four 45s have already sold off the plan,’ he continues. “Three have been sold to previous Axopar 37 owners, and one is to a new owner who wanted to wait for the 45-foot model. Axopar 45 customers are a diverse group – these four owners are all based in different cities in Australia, from Sydney and Brisbane to Perth and Hobart.”

The same can be said for Axopar owners more generally. McMahon confirms, “There’s no real demographic, although those buying 37s and larger Axopars are typically higher-net-worth individuals who are looking for a cool toy for their collection.

“Many Axopars are purchased as superyacht tenders,” he adds, “but some clients just want an awesome dayboat to spend time on board with friends and family, with the option for an overnighter. They appeal to a wide range of people.”

There are plenty of options available for the niceties of life – cooktops, fridges, a rear day bed or wet bar, barbecues, extra heads, loads of storage and, of course, a cabin if you’re after something for cooler climes or fancy overnighting on your adventure travels.

This year marks Axopar’s 10th anniversary, which makes it a young company, albeit with plenty of prior boatbuilding experience. A few years ago, they were the fastest-growing company in Europe and they’re now doing well in America, Asia and Australia.

McMahon suggests Axopar created the genre of adventure boating and has cornered the dayboat market. Indeed, in Düsseldorf this year at the Motor Boat Awards, Viitala received a Judges’ Special Award, which recognises the achievements of an individual who has made an exceptional contribution to the industry.

“The kudos behind that is putting everything into boating from a 22-footer to a 45-footer, which has really opened the marque to everyone,” says McMahon.

“It has been incredibly successful. The design caught on because it was unlike anything else – it has that distinctive sharp bow – and it’s a cabin boat that works in all climates.

“Axopar might have been a Finnish company designing for Baltic conditions, but it has taken off in all regions.”

So, what’s the Axopar 45 like to drive? I can sum it up in three words – fast, fun and fantastic! The 45 is a real statement of a vessel and drives like a scene from a Bond movie, commanding full concentration at a top speed of 46 knots. The bow is bluff, slimming down to a fine entry as it takes another 45-degree angle aft toward the waterline. There are multiple chines, and a hard chine that punctuates the bottom of the freeboard seems to run back all the way to the Portofino stern. This boat means business.

It’s all about thrill and adventure topside – with three 300-horsepower engines easily kicking you past 40 knots, they’re fun on a stick when you’re flat out at 46 knots across the Pacific. The helm has a clean layout, with the control panel in glass and illuminated push switches with a utilitarian style.

Sure, it has the glamourous Simrad twin 12-inch glass bridge displays carved into the dashboard, but it’s the cheeky Bond-style buttons that give you a sense of its architect’s fanciful vision.

Meanwhile, the Intelligent Steering Module steering wheel in leather with integrated controls for audio, trim tabs and bow thruster is a very handy unit with everything seakeeping in the one place – fore, aft and athwartships levelling and close-quarters manoeuvring.

I consider myself a good boatman, but there’s nothing like leaping over 3-metre hollow-backed swells at 40-plus knots on a huge tender in a stiff southerly to make you question your abilities.

Still, this hull handled everything we could throw at it with grace and ease. And the one time I did pull the speed off, mostly because my feet were starting to float, we hit the next breaker head-on, but again, it was no problem at all.

Back on the Broadwater, the cut-through on the 45 really shines. Throwing the helm down at 46 knots on most vessels can create an unsafe dig-in in many scenarios, but I felt as if she had a cushion of air under her port side as I locked into a port turn with no issues.

Inclusions are the hand-laminated hull in GRP with vinylester resin, vacuum-infused stringers, a 45-foot twin-stepped hull, bow thruster and integrated engine brackets for triple Mercury V8 300 outboard engines. Then there are trim tabs and underwater lights on the transom, the Axopar 3D signature chrome logo, opening balcony wings on both sides of the hull, and the self-draining walkaround deck with anti-skid finishing and deck lights.

All hardware, pulpit, side rails, high-handled bathing ladder, telescopic bathing ladder, locks, hinges, filler caps, eight cleats and cockpit grab rail come in 316 stainless steel, and there are hooking points for safety harnesses plus two large fender storages on the open aft deck and battery/electrical compartment underneath.

There’s a shower on the aft deck, LED navigation lights in the bow and an anchor hatch with dual shore-power inlets connected to a battery charger. The lounge on the foredeck is in Silvertex Petrol with Seine piping upholstery and a harbour cover. Finally, there are three starting batteries, one bow- thruster battery and four service batteries. The boat comes in Axopar white gelcoat.

The 45 Sun Top is an adventure-seeking dayboat that will appeal to and suit a wide array of people and, I’ll be honest, I wouldn’t mind glamping at a few spots around the region in one of these. It’s a great entertainer, will get you where you want to go quickly and then provide the perfect spot to relax and chill with friends and family. Plus, if you really want to channel those subliminal Viitala ripples, this is a boat that will let you free-ride to your heart’s content. And you can guarantee he’ll be wearing an approving smile when you do …

axopar.com
eyachts.com.au