Axopar 38 XC Cross Cabin Review (2026 Edition) by Aquaholic

From a distance, the 38 XC looks exactly as an Axopar should. The reverse bow, upright wheelhouse and almost military stance leave little doubt about its heritage. Park it alongside the outgoing Axopar 37 XC, though, and the differences become much clearer. The new boat is longer, wider, taller and carries noticeably more presence, but Axopar has resisted the temptation to soften the design or chase fashionable curves. It still looks purposeful, but now with a little more confidence. The deeper hull, broader beam and larger glasshouse give it a more substantial feel, while details such as the optional fold-out balconies and integrated bathing platform help the stern look cleaner and more resolved. Under the waterline, the stepped hull is the same, although its benefits become more apparent once you're under way.

The biggest story on deck isn't the styling, though. It's just how many ways you can configure the cockpit. Axopar has treated the aft deck almost like a menu rather than a fixed layout, allowing owners to tailor the boat around the way they actually spend their time afloat. Those who spend weekends diving, fishing or loading paddleboards may prefer the clear working deck, while others will happily sacrifice some open space for the optional aft cabin beneath a generous sunpad. A full-width bench seat and a U-shaped dinette complete the choices, each aimed at a different style of boating rather than simply adding another box to the options list. It's an approach that feels surprisingly honest because there isn't one obvious "best" layout. Each comes with its own strengths.

The boat tested carries the aft cabin arrangement and, for many owners, that will probably prove the sweet spot. It adds another sleeping area without making the cockpit feel cramped, while a large hatch in the transom transforms the cabin into an enormous storage locker. Rather than dragging fenders, covers or watersports equipment through the wheelhouse, everything can be loaded straight from the bathing platform. It's the sort of practical improvement that rarely appears in a brochure headline but soon becomes one of the features owners appreciate most. Optional side balconies widen the cockpit still further at anchor, while a ski tow point, concealed boarding ladder and the option of a compact wet bar reinforce the feeling that this area has been designed around real use rather than one fixed idea of how a boat should look.

The Cross Cabin has always stood apart because of its enclosed wheelhouse, yet the 38 XC avoids the closed-in feel that affects many all-weather cruisers. Large sliding doors on both sides, a powered canvas roof and a lift-up rear window open almost the entire cabin to the cockpit, so on a warm day it feels remarkably close to a centre console with a roof overhead rather than a traditional enclosed cruiser. Shut everything down and you gain genuine shelter from the weather. Open it all up and the distinction between inside and outside almost disappears. It's a simple idea, but one that suits northern European boating particularly well, where conditions often change between breakfast and lunch.

Movement around the boat has received plenty of attention too. Wide side decks, high guardrails and sturdy handholds make the trip forward feel secure, while Axopar's distinctive gullwing side doors do far more than add a little visual drama. Opened at anchor they flood the lower accommodation with fresh air and light, provide another boarding point alongside and make handling lines from inside the cabin much easier. They also help the whole boat feel less enclosed than its wheelhouse rivals, despite offering considerably more protection from the elements.

The foredeck has a forward-facing companion seat that gives passengers somewhere secure to enjoy the ride, while the table can sit low as part of a generous sunpad or move onto a taller leg for alfresco lunches. Clever positioning means it can also slide aft to improve access around the seating, a small detail that makes a noticeable difference in everyday use. Like much of the 38 XC, there is little sense that any one arrangement takes priority over another. Whether you're stretching out in the sun, sharing lunch at anchor or simply looking for somewhere comfortable to sit while under way, the space adapts with very little effort.

Perhaps that's the biggest compliment you can pay the new 38 XC. The previous 37 already had one of the most versatile deck layouts in this sector and since it's launch Axopar has looked at dozens of small frustrations, and produced a boat that feels noticeably more mature without losing any of the character that made the original so successful.

Before the cabins, the biggest thing you notice is that the wheelhouse simply feels nicer to spend time in. The old 37 always did this part well, but the 38 has moved it on without throwing everything away. The view out is still excellent through the big wraparound windows, the driving position still feels spot on, and everything falls naturally to hand. What has changed is the atmosphere. Better trim, smarter detailing and a little more room to move take the edge off the slightly utilitarian feel of the old boat. It still feels like an Axopar - hard-wearing, practical and ready to be used - but it all feels just a little bit nicer.

One of the biggest improvements is immediately behind the helm. The old 37 mixed forward and side-facing seating, whereas the 38 XC gives you three proper rows that all face ahead. It doesn't sound like much on paper, but it makes a real difference once you're under way because everyone gets the same view rather than half the crew staring across the cabin. Buyers can still choose between individual helm seats or a bench, while the folding table continues to earn its keep as somewhere to eat, work or simply dump everything you've brought aboard for the weekend. It feels less like a driver's station with a few seats behind it and more like somewhere four or five people will naturally spend time, whatever the weather decides to do.

That versatility is helped by the way the wheelhouse opens up. Slide both side doors back, open the roof and lift the rear window, and the whole cabin becomes part of the cockpit. Close everything again and it's warm, quiet and properly sheltered. Plenty of enclosed wheelhouse boats still leave you feeling shut away from the outside. The Axopar never really does. It always feels connected to the deck, which is one of the reasons the Cross Cabin has always had such broad appeal.

Axopar has also made much better use of the space below. On the old boat, you reached the forward cabin by walking through the heads. This time the heads moves to port, leaving a proper walkway straight into the accommodation. It sounds like a small alteration, but it changes the feel of the lower deck completely. The heads itself has everything you'd expect for a weekend away - electric toilet, pull-out shower, useful storage and enough room to get changed without turning it into a gymnastics exercise - while a simple door arrangement gives the forward cabin a surprising amount of privacy when guests use the aft cabin.

Opposite sits a compact galley with a sink, hob, fridge drawer and the option of a microwave. Nobody buys an Axopar because they want a floating kitchen, but this one has everything needed for a few days aboard without wasting valuable space. There are drawers and lockers tucked into almost every available corner, and that's something you appreciate after a couple of nights away when bags, food and waterproofs all need somewhere to live.

The 38 XC has grown in almost every direction. It's longer, wider, taller and carries more weight than the old 37, so simply bolting on the same engines and expecting the same results was never really an option. Mercury's twin 300hp Verado V8s remain the standard fit, but the boat we tested carried the new 350hp V10s and, if it were my order form, that's where my money would probably go. The 300s will undoubtedly do the job, but the extra horsepower feels like a sensible match for a boat that's become more capable in almost every other respect.

Axopar has stuck with its stepped design, which introduces air beneath the hull to reduce drag as speed builds. The science behind it is interesting enough, but what matters is the end result. The boat gets onto the plane cleanly, cruises happily in the low to mid-30-knot range and should top out somewhere in the high 40s with the V10s, although official figures were still to come when we looked around the boat. It's quick, but it's the sort of quick you can use all day rather than save for showing off on a flat morning.

One thing Axopars have always done well is make you want to drive them, and there's nothing here to suggest the 38 has lost that. You sit high with an excellent view through the big windscreen, there's plenty of glass down the sides when you're picking your way into a berth, and the boat never feels bigger than it really is. Quite the opposite, in fact. It shrinks around you after a few minutes at the helm, which is exactly what you want from something that can cover this sort of ground.

The test boat also had Mercury's joystick system, and it's one of those options that's very easy to dismiss until you've used it. For anyone moving up into a boat of this size, it takes much of the stress out of marina manoeuvres, while experienced owners will probably appreciate how accurately it places the boat when the wind starts to get involved. It's no substitute for good boat handling, but it certainly makes life easier.

Outboards still suit the Axopar better than almost anything else. They're easy to service, easy to get at and they leave the whole of the aft end of the boat free for the different cockpit layouts that are such a big part of the 38 XC's appeal. Stick a pair of inboards under the deck and half of that flexibility disappears overnight.