Let’s get this self-evident truth out of the way immediately. By conventional standards, an Axopar looks more like a slice of pizza than a go-fast boat. And though all of the Finland-headquartered company’s models, which from 22 to 45 feet, run faster than a slice of pie, they are not “fast” by high-performance center console, catamaran and V-bottom sportboat standards.
So why does their popularity continue to grow among go-fast boat owners such as Kelly O’Hara of Upstate New York, who in addition to a 28-foot Axopar with a Cross Cabin—in essence an upscale enclosed wheel-house—co-owns a DCB Performance Boats M37R catamaran and his own well-know 36-foot MTI cat dubbed Holy Cow III?
“With the Axopar, I appreciate the versatility of being able to boat in any weather conditions while being comfortable, combined with the handling characteristics of a sport boat,” O’Hara explained. “Also the amenities of a full head and multiple chill-plate coolers allow extended times away from shore.”
That versatility has come in handy more than once for the longtime performance-boat enthusiast, who long ago also owned a couple of high-performance V-bottoms. In 2021 and 2022, O’Hara brought the 28-footer to the, 1,000 Islands Charity Poker Run in Clayton, N.Y.
Though he used his 36-foot MTI cat in the run itself, he ran the Axopar in the days leading up to the main event.
For BRP Marine Custom owners Chad and Ashley Shutter’s wedding in October 2023, O’Hara used it to shuttle a half-dozen dapper guests from their rental place on the shores of Lake Norman in North Carolina to the waterfront wedding site at the home of Corey Shutter, Chad’s brother, a couple of coves away. Not a shirt was wrinkled, nor was a hair was blown out of place, in transit.
As it happens, Corey Shutter also owns an Axopar, though his is a 37-footer. His father, Bob, a longtime and well-respected marine industry figure, owns a 28-footer. Both Shutters love them.
“My dad got his 28 Axopar shortly after riding in Kelly O’Hara’s in 1,000 Islands area,” Chad Shutter recalled. “We were really impressed with the fit and finish of the boat and how well it handled rough water for its size. Really, it’s been a great move for my parents.
“As far as my brother’s 37-footer, it has been the ultimate family boat,” he continued. “He and his wife have three kids, so it’s been a great boating for taking the whole family on trips and even staying on it. Having the heat and air-conditioning has made year round boating great for them.”
In August 2024, O’Hara had the Axopar and the DCB in town for the Rock The River Cincy Fun Run in Cincinnati. The gracious gentleman and his lucky guests opted for the 28-foot, enclosed cockpit V-bottom—for the record a “Wet Bar Addition” equipped with the owner’s typical maxed-out sound system—for the Friday run, which saw rainfall in the morning.
Of course, when the sun popped for the Saturday run, the 37-foot DCB cat got the nod. Powered by twin 300-hp outboard engines, O’Hara’s 28-footer tops out in the mid-to-high-50-mph range and he is—after all—a go-fast boat guy.
But he’s also a very smart one who knows when something different better-meets the moment.—Matt Trulio