AXOPAR 29

To say the Axopar 28 is a tough act to follow is an understatement - can the Finnish brand's latest iteration offer genuine improvements on its super popular predecessor?

- Hugo Andreae

AXOPAR 29: SUN TOP + CROSS CABIN

The Axopar 28 hasn't just been the Finnish brand's best selling boat, it has almost certainly been one of Europe's best-selling motor boats too. We don't know for sure, as there is no industry-wide sales register to prove it, but with almost 3,000 units sold worldwide, it has got to be right up there.

It's an extraordinary achievement for a company that has only just turned 10 years old but success has a habit of breeding complacency, not to mention a whole fleet of imitators. Conscious of the danger, Axopar has now launched a brand new replacement to try and stay ahead of the curve.

The new Axopar 29 isn't just a slightly bigger version of the 28, it's a complete reinvention of it.

That said you'd have to be something of an Axopar anorak to spot it because at first glance it looks a lot like its predecessor.

Back in 2014, when the 28 was first revealed to the public, it was a genuine disrupter. Its vertical bow, low freeboard, walkaround decks, outboard-only power and sharp, angular lines were an affront to the senses of some dyed-in-the-wool traditionalists but to everyone else it looked modern, exciting and deeply cool. It wasn't just the looks that excited, it was also fast, fun, practical, surprisingly good in a chop and shockingly good value for money - in 2015 the starting price was a scarcely believable €33,200 (ex engine, delivery and VAT).

Ten years down the line and its rivals have now caught up.