OPEN TO ADVENTURE
There is a lot to be said for leaving the day’s plans a little open. Head out for a swim, find somewhere sheltered for lunch and, if everyone is comfortable, stay the night. That is the sort of use the Axopar 38 Cross Cabin should lend itself to. It gives you the outdoor areas to enjoy being on the water, with somewhere to retreat when the weather has other ideas.
For Australian and New Zealand owners, I think that flexibility will be a large part of the appeal. This is still primarily a dayboat, but the enclosed cabin and overnight accommodation give it more scope than that description might suggest. You do not have to move into a much larger cruiser just to spend a little longer away.
The 38 effectively takes over from the 37, although the family resemblance that interests me most is to the bigger 45. Many of that boat’s ideas have found their way into this one. At 11.85 metres long and 3.53 metres across the beam, the result feels substantial enough for offshore use while remaining a size that should be easy to live with.
ROOM TO SPEND THE DAY
The cockpit is a good example of how Axopar has approached the available space. At first glance it looks a little tight, particularly with the 45 in mind. Spend more time looking at the arrangement, though, and it starts to make sense. The clever part is the pair of side balconies, which give you more room to spread out once the boat is stopped.
They sit above the water rather than down at the surface. That should help keep the area drier, while still being useful for swimming, diving or getting gear on and off the boat. At anchor, they also make the cockpit a more sociable place to spend time.
There is a fair amount of choice in how the aft deck is set up. The standard arrangement leaves it open, with an aft bench, wet bar or aft cabin available as alternatives. My preference for day boating would be the wet bar. Keeping drinks and food preparation close to where everyone is gathering makes sense, and it doesn’t need to take over the whole boat.
I would also give the optional galley or aft window serious consideration. The connection it creates between the cockpit and the central cabin is particularly worthwhile. People will move between those two areas throughout the day, and opening them up to each other makes the boat feel bigger than its dimensions suggest.
Inside, the redesigned cabin has gained space, with two sofas and a fixed table supplied as standard. Turn the front seats around, and the driver and passenger become part of the conversation. It is a straightforward arrangement that gives the cabin a useful role long after the boat has stopped.
Being able to close everything up is only half the attraction. Large sliding doors and an opening roof let light and air through when conditions suit, while the enclosure provides shelter from wind, rain and sun. For a boat with such an emphasis on outdoor use, that protected space adds a lot to its usability.
Up forward, Axopar has again made good use of an area that can easily be overlooked. The bow is somewhere you would choose to spend time, whether underway or sitting in a bay. Forward-facing seats are one option, along with a U-shaped lounge and table that converts to a sunbed, or a more permanent extended sun lounge. What works best will depend on how the owner plans to use the boat.
Staying a little longer
For anyone tempted to make a weekend of it, the forward cabin is worth a look. More headroom, skylights, and gullwing doors make it brighter and more spacious than before, with the doors also helping ventilation. The bed converts into a lounge, so the space remains useful even when nobody is planning to sleep aboard.
That suits the character of the 38. Overnight accommodation is there when you want it, without changing the boat’s focus on day use. A long afternoon can become a night away, and you still have a manageable boat to bring home afterwards.
The bathroom is another worthwhile improvement. An enclosed toilet with a shower and warm water is available as an option, giving owners a separate bathroom rather than a compromised arrangement within the cabin. After swimming, or simply spending a full day out with family and friends, that is the sort of comfort people will appreciate.
A size that makes sense
What I like about the 38 is how much choice it gives an owner without losing sight of what an Axopar is for. You can set it up for entertaining, use the cockpit and platforms for water sports, or take advantage of the protection and range for a longer coastal trip. There is enough accommodation to stay away, but the emphasis remains on getting outside and enjoying the boat.
It also brings many of the things that appeal in larger models into a size that should be easier to berth, maintain and use regularly. For me, that is the important part. A boat can have plenty of capability, but it needs to be convenient enough that you want to take it out. The Axopar 38 Cross Cabin looks to strike that balance very well.
SPECIFICATIONS
LOA 11.85m
Beam 3.53m
Draft 1.1m
Hull Weight 5300kg excl engines
Construction GRP
Max Power 700hp (2 x 350hp)
Fuel 830L
PERFORMANCE DATA
RPM KNOTS L/NM
1000 5 2.13
2000 8.8 3.11
3000 12 4.22
4000 28.7 2.81
5000 38 3.58
5948 45.9 4.09
