VIDEO: Axopar 28 makes mincemeat of the Solent chop

Sporting a knife-like bow and a smooth-riding hull, the Axopar 28 makes an ideal Solent day-trip companion, as Jack Haines finds out in this video

The Scandinavian boat-building scene has produced some excellent sportboats over the past few years, and it’s reached something of a zenith with the Axopar 28.

This stylish day boat appears to be the ideal Solent companion, with its punchy 250hp Mercury Verado outboard engine, smooth-riding hull and practical layout.

So we sent boat test editor Jack Haines down to Lymington to take this new arrival out on the water for its first sea trial.

Slicing through the Solent chop with its knife-like bow, the Axopar 28 returned a top speed of just over 40 knots and made it from 0-30 knots in a little over ten seconds on our timed run.

However, it’s just as practical as it is powerful, with a well thought-out helm, compact heads compartment and even a two-berth cabin tucked underneath the sun pad.

It may not be a fully blown live-aboard cruiser, but it does exactly what it sets out to do – and at £76,400 on the water, the Axopar 28 represents truly excellent value for money.

To watch Jack’s sea trial of the Axopar 28, click on the video above. But it doesn’t end there – in the May edition of MBY (out April 2), we pit the Axopar against three of its main rivals: the Paragon 25 Ranger; XO 250; and Draco 27RS. Don’t miss it.