Saxdor vs Axopar
These two brands get cross-shopped more than any other pair we see, and for good reason — they are close in size, both outboard-powered, both built in Europe around a stepped hull. Below they are compared strictly on what each builder publishes about its own boats, with the figures MYA can verify.
On the published numbers
We sell Saxdor. We have tried to write this so that an Axopar owner would still call it fair — where Axopar publishes a better number, it is in the table.
The closest like-for-like pairing: both are enclosed-wheelhouse cabin boats on a stepped hull.
| Specification | Saxdor 320 GTC | Axopar 29 XC Cross Cabin |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 10.28 m | 9.31 m (excl. engine) |
| Beam | 3.10 m | 3.00 m |
| Draft | 0.49 m (excl. engines) | 1.05 m (to props) |
| Weight | not published | 2,900 kg (excl. engine) |
| Outboard power | 400–600 hp | 300–500 hp |
| Fuel | 428 L | 400 L |
| Fresh water | 117 L | not published |
| Berths | 2 | 2 (+2) |
| Hull | Twin-stepped V21° | Twin-stepped 22° V, sharp entry |
| Construction | Vacuum-infused GRP | Hand laminated, vinylester first coat |
| CE category | B (6 persons) / C (9) | B (6 persons) / C (9) |
On beam the Axopar 38 (3.53 m) is a far closer match to the Saxdor 400 (3.55 m) than the Axopar 37 is — which is why the 38 is used here rather than the 37.
| Specification | Saxdor 400 GTC | Axopar 38 XC Cross Cabin |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 12.4 m | 11.85 m (excl. engine) |
| Beam | 3.55 m | 3.53 m |
| Draft | 0.64 m (excl. engines) | 1.1 m (to props) |
| Weight | not published | 5,300 kg (excl. engine) |
| Outboard power | 700–850 hp | 2 × 300 to 2 × 350 hp |
| Fuel | 1,000 L | 830 L |
| Fresh water | 210 L | not published |
| Berths | not published | 2+2+1 |
| Max speed | 35–45 knots | 45+ knots |
| Hull | Twin-stepped V21°, vacuum-infused GRP | Twin-stepped 20° V, sharp entry, GRP |
| CE category | B (12 persons) | B (10) / C (12) |
The shared history
The two brands are related, and it is worth stating precisely how. Saxdor's own launch release describes its founder, Sakari Mattila, as “the original designer and founder of award winning boat brands Axopar, Paragon, Aquador and XO.” That is Saxdor's wording on Saxdor's own site.
Axopar's company page tells its story differently — it names Jan-Erik Viitala as Founding Partner and does not mention Mattila. We are not going to adjudicate that here. What matters to a buyer is that the design language, the stepped hull and the walkaround layout have a common ancestry, which is exactly why the two end up on the same shortlist.
Axopar launched the 28 in 2014 and says it has since delivered more than 7,500 boats — a decade of head start and a much larger fleet on the water. Saxdor was created in 2019 and was acquired by Malibu Boats in March 2026, continuing as a subsidiary with Mattila as Head Designer.
Where the hulls actually differ
A claim we hear often is that Axopar uses a stepped hull and Saxdor does not. That is simply wrong: Saxdor publishes a “Twin-stepped V21° Hull” for the 320 GTO, 320 GTC, 400 GTC and 400 GTO. Both brands step their hulls.
The real difference is deadrise and entry geometry. Saxdor runs 21°; Axopar publishes 22° on the 29 and 20° on the 37 and 38. Those are small numbers with real consequences in a Fremantle Doctor chop, and neither is universally better — more deadrise generally softens the ride and costs some stability at rest.
Construction is the clearer difference, and it is officially published by both. Saxdor states vacuum-infused GRP across the range. Axopar states hand lamination with a vinylester first coat for osmosis prevention on the 29 and 37. Infusion gives tighter control of resin-to-glass ratio and generally a lighter, more consistent laminate; hand lamination is a long-proven method and Axopar has 7,500 hulls behind it. Note that Axopar lists the 38's construction simply as “GRP”, so we do not claim hand lamination for that model.
Buying either one in Perth
Both brands are properly represented in Western Australia, and they are close neighbours. Axopar's Australian and New Zealand dealer is Eyachts, whose WA location is on Preston Point Road, Bicton — about five kilometres up the Swan from our base at Rous Head. You can genuinely see both in an afternoon, and we would encourage it.
Neither builder publishes an Australian dollar price; every Australian source is price-on-application, so any figure you see quoted online should be treated with suspicion. What we would say is that the comparison that matters is not the sticker — it is what happens in year three. Ask both dealers who services the boat, where, and how quickly a warranty claim gets resolved. Our own answer is on our after-sales page: our office is attached to the SFM Marine facility at Rous Head, where the hardstand and the trades are a short walk from the service desk.
Saxdor vs Axopar
Is Saxdor made by the same people as Axopar?
Not the same company. Saxdor's own launch release describes its founder, Sakari Mattila, as the original designer and founder of Axopar, Paragon, Aquador and XO. Axopar's company page names Jan-Erik Viitala as Founding Partner and does not mention Mattila. The two brands are separate businesses today — Saxdor was created in 2019 and became a Malibu Boats subsidiary in March 2026, while Axopar launched its first boat, the 28, in 2014.
Does Axopar use a stepped hull and Saxdor not?
No — both use twin-stepped hulls. Saxdor publishes a Twin-stepped V21 degree hull for the 320 GTO, 320 GTC, 400 GTC and 400 GTO. Axopar publishes a twin-stepped 22 degree V on the 29 and a twin-stepped 20 degree V on the 37 and 38. The difference between them is deadrise angle and entry geometry, not the presence of steps.
Why does the Saxdor look like it has half the draft of the Axopar?
Because the two builders measure different things. Saxdor publishes draft excluding engines — 0.49 m on the 320 GTC. Axopar publishes draft to the propellers — 1.05 m on the 29. Those figures are not comparable. If you need real draft for a shallow mooring, ask for the measurement with the engines trimmed down, in writing, from whichever dealer you are speaking to.
Which Axopar competes with the Saxdor 400?
On beam, the Axopar 38 XC Cross Cabin at 3.53 m is the closest match to the Saxdor 400 at 3.55 m, rather than the Axopar 37 at 3.35 m. Comparisons that pit a Saxdor 400 against an Axopar 37 are comparing across roughly half a metre of beam, which is a meaningful difference in interior volume and stability.
Where can I see a Saxdor in Perth?
At Motoryachts Australasia, 26 Rous Head Road, North Fremantle WA 6159. MYA is the official Saxdor dealer for Western Australia and carries the range from the 205 day boat to the 460 GTC flagship. Weekday hours are 7:00am to 4:00pm, with after-hours and weekend viewings by appointment.
Every figure above, and where it came from
Taken from each manufacturer's own current specification pages. Builders revise specifications without notice — check with the relevant dealer before making a decision on a number.
- Saxdor 320 GTO — official specifications
- Saxdor 320 GTC — official specifications
- Saxdor 400 GTC — official specifications
- Saxdor — founding press release
- Saxdor — Malibu Boats acquisition, March 2026
- Axopar 29 XC Cross Cabin — official specifications
- Axopar 38 XC Cross Cabin — official specifications
- Axopar — company history
- Axopar — Australian dealer locator
See a Saxdor on the water
Weekdays 7:00am–4:00pm at Rous Head, or by appointment at the weekend. We are happy to talk through the Axopar comparison honestly — including the cases where it is the better boat for how you plan to use it.