It is no secret Axopar’s award-winning range is taking over the day-boating game as the fastest growing European boat brand on the market. Now with 100 sold in Australia in just three years, this is definitely a brand you want to be familiar with.
Back in November, Eyachts, the Australian Axopar dealer, handed over a 350HP Axopar 28 T-Top to Gold Coast local, Dave O’Connor. With a life lived in the country, since moving to the Coast three years ago, Dave has found a new-found obsession with boats, immediately getting his boat license and first sports cruiser. Dave loves change, owning 20 to 30 motorbikes and cars over his lifetime. However, boats are his ‘new thing’ and he will soon upgrade to the Axopar 37 Sun Top.
When the family discovered they were not using the cabins in their previous boat, they decided to make the change to a day-boat. Owning a waterfront property, they found it was too easy to just step on board and take off for a few hours, and come back to sleep in their own bed. Dave was immediately drawn to the layout of the Axopar. “With no cabin, it is just so open,” says Dave. His daughters also love the separate bowhead and opting for the aft cabin meant an additional storage and sunlounge. “Being quite fair-skinned, we also decided to get the bow awning so I can hide from the sun.
“What really sold the Axopar was the incredible quality performance, especially in choppy water,” Dave says. “I really don’t have to worry about the weather or conditions. I can take the Axopar out whenever I want. There will never be a change in the quality of performance and even at speed. Everyone is always comfortable on board. As the other boats slow down for the rough waves and wind, I’m able to maintain cruising at 30kts.”
Dave admits that he just loves going really fast, with a max speed of 47kts. The Axopar easily gets from A to B within minutes. Dave also mentions how impressed he is with how economical the boat is, using only 50L an hour while cruising at 28kts. “My previous boat would rob me of about $800-900 every time I filled up fuel. I can’t even remember the last time I filled up my 300 litre tanks.” Dave adds, “Maintenance is also very inexpensive as there aren’t many complex gadgets on-board. One single outboard is much easier to maintain than my previous two inboard engines.”
Dave’s ‘old school’ neighbour was sceptical when he first saw Dave roll up to his dock with the new boat, stating, “You’ll get wet!” After heading out in not-so-ideal conditions, he was in disbelief, unable to fathom the innovative bow and hull design that was about to keep the pair incredibly dry.
“The boat is just so different. It is an attention- grabber. That’s what I love about it,” Dave admits. “Every time I take the boat out, everyone stops and looks amazed thinking, ‘How do they do that’. Sometimes people even take photos and videos.”
Working shifts means that when Dave is home, he can usually go out on the water during the week and often goes alone. However, most of the time his Australian Kelpie, Arthur, barks demanding to be taken, loving the wind in his face. Luna, Dave’s border collie, often gets left behind as she sheds too much.
Being away for two weeks at a time, he daydreams about being out on the water. As soon as he lands back home, he will often immediately head out on his Axopar. Dave describes the feeling of relief and relaxation that he gets from being by the sea, a notion he consistently craves. Although he is not an avid fisherman, Dave recently purchased some rail-blazer equipment, which he finds are less intrusive than other systems and means he can now throw a line out whenever he desires.
Despite spending a lot of his time on the boat alone, Dave really loves entertaining, often going out with his wife Melissa and two daughters on the weekend or taking out friends for a BBQ. They love to zip out to Runaway Bay only taking around 10 minutes, or across to North or South Stradbroke Islands, where there is plenty of protection and opportunities to explore, or grab some food at Tipplers.
They love adventure or tubing, zipping out as far as Peel Island and Southern Norton Bay. These locations were previously not accessible to Dave. However, the Axopar’s high speed and short 0.7 draft means there is no concern about shallow waters. “I also love beaching the boat when the tide is right. It’s a big boat that you can treat like a small boat.”
Dave and Melissa plan to do an overnight trip, at Tipplers Passage, bringing a gas cooker and treating it more like camping. They also plan to go offshore as they want to test the boat in rough conditions, going as far as Aloomer and Tanglers wreck to dive on the artificial reefs. The family also recently purchased a jet ski which they intend to tow out and use once at anchor.
“My most fond memory on the boat so far has to be going out to Paradise Point for the New Year’s Eve fireworks with six of our good friends. We packed picnic style food and drinks and laid it out on the aft cabin top. We listened to the live music from the shore for hours before heading home at 1am.”
Dave concludes, “I’ve had lots of fun toys in the past but the Axopar is no doubt the biggest and best toy I’ve ever had.”
www.eyachts.com.au
