We Say: The Axopar 24 is lean, low and rakish with a distinctly sharp-edged military look. The designer clearly drew with Transformer movies in mind, from the plumb stem to the multiple strakes and twin steps underwater. The Axopar 24 TT (T-top) has the shape of a lawn dart: pointy at the front, wide at the back, and just over 8 feet of beam for its 24-foot length overall.
The 24 TT is all about seating: three seats aft with high backrests like amusement park rides, helm and companion singles, and wraparound bowrider seating. Between the bow and helm under the windscreen is a pair of bench-style seats that double as berths if you’re planning to camp under the stars. A head is optional, but it’s parked dead center with no privacy; turn up the stereo and look away when someone needs it. Must be a Finnish thing.
Running? Simply put, this is a great sea boat. All those strakes keep it on track, its hull softened lumpy swells, and that plumb bow diced water and threw it aside. With a couple of big seas at full throttle, I thought uh-oh, but nothing happened — it was smooth.
The power choices are limited: The Axopar is only available with a single Mercury Verado 200 outboard (no options), an engine that helped us top out at just under 45 mph, a respectable speed. The boat looks like it could handle twins, but don’t even think about bolting twins on a big transom bracket and shouting “yeehaw!”
Who’d Want One: Boaters seeking fun, function and unique style.
Another Choice: This is difficult because there’s nothing like the Axopar that we’ve seen, except possibly more-expensive boats designed as yacht tenders.
Bottom Line: $70,000; axoparboats.com
Read Next: Center Console Versus Dual Console
How We Tested
Engine: Mercury 200 hp Verado
Drive/Prop: Outboard/21″ 4-blade
Gear Ratio: 2.08:1
Fuel Load: 40 gal.
Crew Weight: 400 lb.
