A TURN ON THE AXOPAR 37 SC PROVES THIS FINNISH-BUILT CENTER CONSOLE HAS PERFORMANCE TO SPARE. BY DANIEL HARDING, JR.
YACHTS INTERNATIONAL yachtsinternational. com
I sat in the passenger seat recording rpm and fuel burn as Viitala worked the throttles. Viitala took no issue putting the spurs to the twin 350-horsepower Mercury Verados. The boat cut through the seas well, thanks to a knife-sharp bow, but a tissue-paper-light displacement of 8,300 pounds meant that, at times, the boat was launched airborne. I was thankful I’ve never had a cavity. The hull handled the slamming better than a filling ever could.
When it was my turn at the helm, I found the throttle exceptionally responsive. The boat easily leapt onto plane at 13 knots. There was almost no bow rise when I first powered up. I quickly discovered that, true to Viitala’s claim, the 37 is indeed a performance boat. But I’m not just referring to the 45-knot top end. A lot of boats can go 45 knots with 700 horsepower on the back. I’m talking about its ability to make sharp turns with confidence (no hull slipping here), the ability to track like an arrow and do it all with modest fuel burn. Axopar built the brand around a deep-V (20-degree deadrise at the transom) stepped hull. The hull and the boat’s center of gravity are such that “you can’t get spray on the windshield unless you really do something wrong,” Viitala said.
Challenge accepted. After becoming familiar with handling and responsiveness of the wheel, I realized I was no longer testing the boat but driving, simply, because it was fun and I wanted to see if Viitala’s claim held water. I worked the wheel and chased down multiple boat wakes but couldn’t conjure a speck of spray. Indeed, the boat’s ability to cut corners and turns is only inhibited by the bravery of the driver. The 37’s cabin provides basic amenities such as a comfortable berth with privacy curtain, a head and a minimal galley. The enclosed main deck is a versatile entertaining space.
Axopar has been building boats for four years now, and in that time has gained a growing following in Europe. The company is looking to make a bigger splash in the U.S. market in the months ahead with a large presence around the Florida show circuit.
Fully equipped, the 37 Sports Cabin retails for $250,000.