Axopar 38 Cross TopVisit AxoparBuild a BoatFind a DealerThe Cannes Yachting Festival has long been the place where European builders pull the covers off their newest models, and the docks this year were packed with debuts vying for attention. One stood out for its versatility rather than its size. The Axopar 38 Cross Top made its world premiere here, and it arrived with a clear mission: give boaters shelter without taking away the open-air experience. A sports boat for all seasons, if you will.The Cross Top is the third and final member of the Finnish builder's all-new 38 range. The XC Cross Cabin bowed at boot Düsseldorf in January, and the open Sun Top followed in May. Axopar has come a long way since launching its first model, the Axopar 28, in 2014, with more than 7,600 boats now sold worldwide. The company calls the 38 its most ambitious range to date, and the Cross Top makes a convincing case for that claim.The Cross Top splits the difference between its two siblings. A forward-tilting wraparound windshield shelters the helm from wind, spray and glare, while everything aft of the helm seats stays open to the sky. Overhead, a large canvas roof opens when the sun cooperates. It's a smart arrangement, and one that should earn fans in any climate where the weather can't make up its mind.Boarding is made easier by integrated steps on both sides of the helm, which double as maintenance access. It's a subtle touch that owners will appreciate every time they climb aboard from a floating dock. The helm takes its cues from the automotive world, with a glass switch panel, illuminated push buttons and a wireless phone charger with a magnetic hold.Aft, the modularity is almost dizzying. The standard layout features seven sports seats and a fixed table, but buyers can swap in a wet bar, a U-sofa with sunbed infill, a dinette and sun lounge, or even a small aft cabin. Forward, Axopar's signature gullwing doors open the cabin to the foredeck. Inside is an L-shaped lounge, a queen berth and a pantry with a sink, with an electric head tucked under the sofa. With berths listed at two plus two, this is a weekender for a couple rather than a family cruiser, a fair tradeoff for a boat that devotes so much space to entertaining.Underneath it all is Axopar's latest twin-stepped, sharp-entry hull with 20 degrees of deadrise. Twin outboards from 300 to 350 hp each are on offer, and Axopar claims a 45-plus-knot top end. The fuel figure is equally impressive: with twin V8 300s, the builder quotes 3.0 liters per nautical mile at a 20- to 34-knot cruise, roughly 1.26 nautical miles per gallon.A proper sea trial will tell the full story. But at Cannes, the Cross Top made a strong first impression, and it may prove to be the most versatile member of the 38 family.Axopar 38 Cross Top Specifications:LOA (excl. engines): 38'11"Beam: 11'7″Draft (to props): 3'7″Displ. (excl. engines): 11,244 lb.Fuel: 219 gal. (264 gal. optional)Power: 2/300-hp to 2/350-hp outboardsInfo: axopar.comThe post Axopar 38 Cross Top appeared first on Yachting.
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