We tested the new Saxdor 400 GTO, the latest model from the builder, launched last year in Cannes. The new Saxdor is no longer just a day cruiser with small beds for an unplanned night at sea, but a serious family cruiser suitable for longer cruising, that also shares useful and fun features of its predecessor
Step Aboard the Saxdor 400 GTO
Saxdor is an up and coming brand whose fast success floats on the wave of innovation flowing from the mind of their founder, Sakari Mattala, and 400 GTO is just as innovative as its predecessors. Still, even knowing what to expect, we were surprised to see just how innovative this model is and how much it actually shines in the day cruiser segment.
Interior Comfort and Space
The new Saxdor 400 GTO has a regular size cabin in the bow, with a separate shower cabin and a toilet, and an aft cabin, with an impressively wide bed, easily large and well appointed enough for several days of cruising with family or friends.
Functional Features and Deck Layout
The exterior is even more spacious, fit for more guests. In the bow pit, there is the anchoring mechanism, and behind it, the U-shaped bow sofa, placed right in front of the windshield.
The helm station is not full-width, at port there is the side passage, but it’s wide enough for the skipper and two other guests, appointed with three Simrad screens and a teak foot stool. This area can be protected by a sliding roof. Centrally, the L-shaped bench seats four adults, and is served by a folding teak table. To the side, there is another single seat.
At anchor, Saxdor 400 GTO turns into a wide lounge, with lowering of the five-meter long side terraces. There, a useful and pretty bench can be turned both toward the inside, or outside, so nice with terraces lowered.
The model is avalable with either GTC or GTO options of closing the interior, and the aft bench turns into a sunpad with convertible rest. Actually, it serves as the roof of the aft cabin and has two skylights that can be opened when the sunpad is not in use.
In the cockpit, there is a small galley with a stove, a sink and two large fridges. The transom is protected by clear glass railing – a solution inspired by larger yachts – with opening on the sides, to allow access to the swimming platform. In the tall sides, there are spaces for fenders (right) and a small, but precious grill (left). We like the platform a lot, with integrated bollards that disappear into the deck when not in use.
Performance and Versatility
Although the new Saxdor 400 is much more than an average day cruiser, designed for speed and not much else, it is a still a super-fast boat ideal for all of us who love to go for a quiet ride all by ourselves. The unit we tested in the waters around Split was powered by two 350-hp Mercury outboard engines controlled by a joystick, so it was prompt to react and fast.
Capable of various cruising speeds, from 20 knots at 4000 rpm, to 30 knots at 4500 rpm (consumption 4 l/nm), the new Saxdor 400 can be super-fast if it needs to, with higher consumption: 35 knots at 5000 rpm (consumption 5 l/nm). Top speed is 42 knots, but in our opinion, even though fun for shorter bursts, this kind of speed is unnecessary to most owners.
First and foremost, Saxdor 400 GTO is a comfortable and dependable boat, suitable for most cruising styles. Jam-packed with useful features, it’s a very worthy addition to the Saxdor fleet.
Text Darko Šupuk
Photos & video Saxdor
