Axopar 38 Cross Top Features: The Ultimate Crossover Adventure Boat
Is The Axopar 38 Cross Top Built for the Way Australians and Kiwis Boat?
The Axopar 38 Cross Top feels like the boat Australia has been waiting for.
Combining the protection of an enclosed helm with the freedom and versatility of an open walkaround boat, the Cross Top brings together many of the features Australian boaters look for in one highly configurable platform.
Whether you’re spending the day swimming and entertaining, heading offshore, loading up the water toys or turning a day on the water into a weekend away, the new Axopar 38 has been designed to adapt.
We stepped aboard the new model in the South of France to explore the Axopar 38 Cross Top features, layouts and innovations that set this new-generation Axopar apart.
What Is the Axopar 38 Cross Top?
The Axopar 38 Cross Top sits between the open Axopar 38 Sun Top and fully enclosed Axopar 38 XC Cross Cabin.
That makes the Cross Top an interesting proposition for Australian and New Zealand boating.
A large wraparound windscreen and covered helm provide protection for the driver and passengers while underway, without enclosing the entire cockpit. Once you arrive at your destination, you still have the open-air experience of a day boat.
Open the roof, drop the activity platforms and make use of the bow and aft entertaining areas, and the character of the boat completely changes.
It is this ability to move between protection and openness that makes the Axopar 38 a true crossover boat.
A Bow Designed Around How You Use Your Boat
Starting forward, the Axopar 38 Cross Top features several different bow configurations depending on how you plan to use the boat.
One option is the U-shaped bow seating arrangement with a movable table, creating a large social area for relaxing or entertaining.
Drop the table and add the cushion infill, and the entire area transforms into a generous sun lounge.
Alternatively, owners can choose a more open arrangement with forward seating and an extended sun lounge. Integrated storage throughout the bow provides space for the equipment that inevitably comes with a full day on the water.
Optional cushions can even be added above the signature gullwing doors, creating another lounging position at anchor.
It means the bow isn’t simply somewhere to sit while underway. It becomes another usable zone of the boat.
A More Refined Walkaround Boat
Moving aft, one of the most noticeable changes is how clean the side decks feel.
Axopar has moved away from high rails along the entire length of the boat, instead integrating handholds into the structure. High rails remain around the bow where additional security is valuable.
There are also integrated steps on both port and starboard sides for stepping onto a dock or across to another boat. In true Axopar style, the fuel fill is within reach of the helm for easy refuelling.
Overhead, an integrated handrail runs around the roofline and doubles as a gutter. Roof racks provide additional carrying capacity for paddleboards, kayaks and other equipment.
These details reinforce what makes a good walkaround boat. Movement around the boat feels natural, with handholds and access points positioned where you actually need them.
A Helm Designed Around the Driver
The helm has taken another step forward on the Axopar 38.
The steering wheel, engine controls, trim tabs and bow thruster controls are positioned within easy reach, while the main dash brings together navigation and onboard systems in a clean layout.
Even smaller details have been reconsidered.
The VHF speaker has been repositioned closer to the driver, making communications easier to hear while travelling at speed. An integrated magnetic phone charger keeps your phone secure and charging, while upgraded speakers throughout the cockpit improve the onboard audio experience.
Mercury Joystick Piloting can be integrated with the bow thruster to provide greater control when manoeuvring in wind, tide or tight marina environments.
It is an ergonomic helm that feels designed to make boating easier, not simply to look impressive at the boat show.
The Social Heart of the Axopar 38
Behind the helm is where the flexibility of the Axopar 38 really becomes apparent.
The Axopar 38 Cross Top features multiple layouts, including the U-shaped cockpit lounge, creating a large social area around the table.
The table can lower and take an infill cushion to create an expansive lounge. Cleverly, the helm seat backrests are split, allowing one section to move forward without disturbing the driver.
The reversible aft backrest provides another useful detail. Turn it around at anchor and passengers can sit facing aft towards the water, sunset or swimmers behind the boat.
Underneath, large lockers provide deep, dry storage.
Alternatively, the traditional straight aft seating comes as standard, or two straight lounges in an L-shape is another new option to look at.
For owners searching for a family boat for sale, this configurability matters. Instead of designing the cockpit around one specific activity, Axopar allows families to create a layout around how they actually spend their time on the water.
One Boat, Multiple Aft Layouts
The aft deck can be configured with traditional bench seating, a wet bar with refrigeration and food preparation facilities, another U-shaped seating area, or an aft cabin.
Choose the aft cabin and the Axopar 38 becomes an even more capable weekender boat.
Combined with the forward double berth, the additional aft accommodation creates separate sleeping areas for a family of four. Above the aft cabin is a large sun lounge, meaning the additional accommodation doesn’t eliminate the outdoor space.
For owners who prioritise entertaining instead, the wet bar configuration provides refrigeration, storage and preparation space within the cockpit.
For fishing, diving or carrying equipment, a more open arrangement may make more sense.
The point is that there isn’t one Axopar 38 layout everyone has to accept.
Activity Platforms Change the Way You Use the Boat
One of the standout Axopar 38 Cross Top features is the optional activity platforms.
Rather than trying to create enormous fold-down terraces at water level, Axopar has taken a more practical approach.
Release the platform manually, and it folds outward from the side of the boat, creating a dedicated space for accessing the water.
There are no complicated hydraulic systems or actuators required to deploy them, meaning less maintenance or risk of mechanical failure.
Importantly, the platforms sit above the water rather than acting as extensions of the cockpit floor. That makes them ideal launching points for paddleboards, foiling, swimming, fishing, or simply sitting with your feet over the water. The ocean is unpredictable, and waves or passing wake can slam into water-level platforms, increasing the risk of damage and creating potential safety concerns.
Both sides can be opened, dramatically changing the experience at anchor.
For an adventure-focused crossover boat, they are a feature that has genuine purpose rather than simply creating visual impact.
Wet Bar, Refrigeration and Outdoor Living
The Cross Top can be configured with fender lockers as standard, or you can opt for a seat on either side or a wet bar on the port side, all without sacrificing the activity platform. The bench seats hold storage while the wetbar offers a deep refrigerator, sink and bin.
Additional drawer refrigeration can be installed beneath the helm on both sides, while another refrigerator can be added to the galley in the forward cabin.
At anchor, optional Euro awnings can extend protection over the bow and stern.
For Australian conditions, this ability to create shade throughout the boat is particularly valuable. You can have extensive weather protection while underway, then create shaded outdoor living areas once you reach your destination.
Designed for Swimming, Fishing and Watersports
Axopar hasn’t forgotten it’s core DNA of adventure boating.
A swim ladder comes standard on the port side, while an optional comfort swim ladder can be installed to starboard.
The optional ski bar provides a tow point for watersports while doubling as a useful handhold when boarding from the stern.
For fishing, overhead storage can accommodate up to six rods without taking over the cockpit.
The optional roof racks expand the possibilities further, allowing paddleboards, kayaks and other adventure equipment to travel overhead rather than consuming valuable deck space.
This ability to move between entertaining, fishing, swimming, watersports and overnighting is central to the Axopar adventure boat concept.
The Signature Gullwing Doors Return
Open the gullwing doors and the connection between the outdoor and interior spaces becomes immediately apparent.
First introduced on the Axopar 37 and subsequently developed further across the range, the doors have become one of Axopar’s most recognisable design features.
On the 38 they provide additional access, natural light and ventilation to the forward cabin.
From Lounge to Double Bed
The interior itself has evolved and has been designed to serve more than one purpose.
There is more space, increased headroom and additional natural light, helping the cabin feel considerably more usable than you might expect beneath the bow of an open boat.
During the day, it can function as an interior lounge and dining space. When it’s time to sleep, the seating converts into a large double berth.
A table can also be fitted, creating somewhere protected to sit, eat or relax if the weather changes.
This flexibility is important because the Axopar 38 isn’t trying to become a conventional enclosed cruiser.
Instead, it gives you the interior amenities needed to make an open adventure boat substantially more capable.
A Proper Galley Below Deck
The optional downstairs galley takes the weekender capability another step further.
There is a sink, single-burner hob, storage for cookware and crockery, power for appliances such as a microwave, and the option to add additional refrigeration.
Air conditioning can also be fitted and powered by the boat’s lithium battery bank.
For couples or families looking to extend a day trip into an overnight stay, these features significantly change what is possible aboard the 38.
A Full-Height Private Bathroom
Perhaps one of the most important changes below deck is the dedicated bathroom.
Despite the Axopar 38 retaining the character of a day boat, the interior can include a private, full-height bathroom with a toilet and shower.
A bowl sink, vanity, stone-look surfaces and storage behind the mirrors give the space a level of finish that feels considered rather than purely functional.
There is additional storage beneath the vanity, too.
For families in particular, a proper private bathroom dramatically increases the usability of a boat over a full day or weekend.
Is the Axopar 38 Cross Top the Ultimate Australian Crossover Boat?
What makes the Axopar 38 Cross Top interesting isn’t one individual feature.
It’s the combination.
You have the open decks and easy movement of a walkaround boat, weather protection around the helm, multiple entertaining zones, serious storage, watersports capability, configurable aft layouts and genuine overnight accommodation.
Configure it with the aft cabin, galley and bathroom, and it becomes a capable weekender boat for a family. Choose a more open aft deck, activity platforms and equipment storage, and it becomes an adventure platform for fishing, diving and watersports.
Then there is the Cross Top itself.
For Australian boating, where strong sun, wind, sudden weather changes and long days on the water are all part of the experience, the balance between protection and openness makes a lot of sense.
The Axopar 38 hasn’t abandoned what made the 37 successful. Instead, it feels like Axopar has taken owner and dealer feedback and asked how each part of the boat could become more usable, configurable and comfortable.
The result is a boat designed to make the adventure go further.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the key features of the Axopar 38 Cross Top?
Key Axopar 38 Cross Top features include a protected wraparound helm, opening roof, configurable bow and aft layouts, optional activity platforms, gullwing doors, extensive storage, roof racks and multiple entertaining areas. Depending on configuration, owners can also add an aft cabin, galley, private bathroom, wet bar, additional refrigeration, air conditioning and other equipment.
What is the difference between the Axopar 38 Cross Top and Axopar 38 XC Cross Cabin?
Both models share the Axopar 38 platform, but offer different levels of enclosure. The Cross Top provides wind and weather protection around the helm while maintaining a predominantly open cockpit. The XC Cross Cabin uses an enclosed wheelhouse for greater separation from the elements.
What is the difference between the Axopar 38 Cross Top and Axopar 38 Sun Top?
The Sun Top provides a more open boating experience, while the Cross Top adds greater protection around the helm through its wraparound windscreen and roof structure. Both retain open aft areas and are based on the same Axopar 38 platform.
What is the difference between the Axopar 38 and Axopar 37?
The Axopar 38 is a new-generation platform that builds on the concept established by the Axopar 37. It introduces more space, increased refinement, new layout possibilities, activity platforms and redesigned interior and exterior areas while retaining Axopar’s adventure-focused approach.
How long is the Axopar 38 Cross Top?
The Axopar 38 Cross Top has an overall length of approximately 11.85 metres.
How wide is the Axopar 38 Cross Top?
The Axopar 38 Cross Top has a beam of approximately 3.53 metres.
How many people can the Axopar 38 Cross Top carry?
The Axopar 38 Cross Top is rated to carry up to 12 people under its Category B offshore classification and up to 14 people under Category C coastal classification, subject to the boat’s specification and applicable regulations.
How many people can sleep on the Axopar 38 Cross Top?
The Axopar 38 can accommodate two people in the forward double berth, with an optional aft cabin providing additional sleeping accommodation. This allows the right configuration to accommodate up to four people overnight.
Does the Axopar 38 Cross Top have a cabin?
Yes. The Axopar 38 Cross Top has a forward cabin that can be configured as a lounge during the day and converted into a double berth for overnight stays. An additional aft cabin is available depending on the chosen layout.
Does the Axopar 38 Cross Top have a toilet and shower?
Yes. The Axopar 38 Cross Top can be equipped with a private, full-height bathroom featuring a toilet, shower, sink, vanity and storage.
Does the Axopar 38 Cross Top have a kitchen?
Yes. An optional galley can be fitted below deck with a sink, single-burner hob, storage and provision for additional refrigeration and appliances. Wet bar configurations are also available in the cockpit.
What layout options are available on the Axopar 38 Cross Top?
The Axopar 38 Cross Top offers multiple bow and aft configurations. Depending on specification, owners can choose between different seating, sun lounge, wet bar, open deck and aft cabin arrangements, allowing the boat to be tailored towards entertaining, family cruising, overnighting, fishing or watersports.
What is included as standard on the Axopar 38 Cross Top?
Standard specification varies by market and model year. The base boat provides the core Cross Top configuration and Axopar 38 platform, while many of the accommodation, entertainment, comfort and activity features can be selected as options or packages. Eyachts can provide the current Australian standard specification.
What optional extras are available on the Axopar 38 Cross Top?
Options include different seating and aft deck configurations, activity platforms, aft cabin, wet bar, galley, additional refrigeration, air conditioning, comfort swim ladder, roof racks, awnings and a range of navigation, entertainment and boating equipment. Availability depends on the current model specification.
Is the Axopar 38 Cross Top suitable for overnight stays?
Yes. The convertible forward double berth makes overnight stays possible, while an optional aft cabin can provide additional accommodation. Adding the galley, private bathroom and refrigeration transforms the Cross Top into a particularly capable weekender boat.
Is the Axopar 38 Cross Top suitable for families?
The Axopar 38 Cross Top has several features suited to family boating, including extensive seating, weather protection, storage, a private bathroom and multiple layout options. Families wanting to overnight can add the aft cabin to create separate forward and aft sleeping areas.
Is the Axopar 38 Cross Top a good boat for Australian conditions?
The Cross Top concept is particularly relevant to Australian boating because it combines protection from wind, sun and changing weather with an open layout. Optional awnings provide additional shade at anchor, while the open cockpit, activity platforms and watersports features suit Australia’s outdoor boating lifestyle.
Can you customise the Axopar 38 Cross Top layout?
Yes. Customisation is one of the defining features of the Axopar 38 platform. Owners can select from different bow, cockpit and aft deck arrangements as well as accommodation, galley, wet bar, refrigeration and activity options to create a boat around their intended use.
Where can I buy an Axopar 38 Cross Top in Australia?
The Axopar 38 Cross Top is available in Australia through Eyachts, the Australian and New Zealand Axopar dealer. Contact the Eyachts team to discuss current pricing, specifications, availability and configuration options.


































