Saxdor 400 GTO

The flagship of the Saxdor fleet blends sporty looks with Finnish engineering.

By John Wooldridge

January 12, 2024

When the Saxdor 400 GTO made its debut at the 2023 Cannes Yachting Festival in September, attendees could not be blamed for thinking that this might be another sporty model from the Finnish boat builder Axopar. That’s because both companies were founded by the same designer. However, the 400 GTO showcased some new ideas and luxury features that set it apart.

The all-new 400 is the flagship of the Finnish-based Saxdor Yachts, which also builds several other boats, including the 320 and 270 that debuted with the builder’s U.S. marketing partner, MarineMax, at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. Like the 400, they are also available in multiple configurations including GTO (open hardtop), GTC (closed hardtop), or GT (no hardtop).

Sakari Mattila is the founder and chief designer of Saxdor Yachts, which has headquarters in Helsinki, Finland, and a shipyard in Elk, Poland. An automotive designer and engineer by training, his boating design and builder history began in 1994 when he founded Aquador Boats. He then proceeded to found and design Paragon Yachts, XO Boats and Axopar over a span of 26 years. Touchstones for his designs include leading-edge performance and handling, multiple deck layouts to match customers’ boating lifestyles, and competitive pricing.

“Sakari calls Saxdor his last but most loved design line,” said Erna Rusi, group CEO. “Compared to his earlier designs, we like to think of Saxdor as a more distinguished line for owners who use their boats in many ways. The 400 GTO is, to some degree, Sakari’s masterpiece.” The company’s team of naval architects, product development experts and production planners work closely with Mattila to transform his designs into desirable boating realities, according to Rusi.

The Saxdor 400 GTO displays the designer’s characteristic, near-plumb stem that flows aft in long, lean lines to a large cockpit with twin Mercury outboards on the transom. The boat’s layout includes a large bow seating area and a full-beam wheelhouse that is protected from sun and rain by a sweptback windshield and aerodynamic hardtop. There are also fold-out side panels, or side terraces, that drop down to increase deck space and optimize traffic flow when the boat is at rest in a favorite anchorage. Other boats have similar features, but the length of the side terraces is impressive.

Below the waterline, Mattila fashioned a deep-V hull to provide comfortable running in the 35- to 48-knot maximum speed range produced by 300-hp V8s (standard) or two 400-hp V10 Mercury outboards. Three sets of lifting strakes on each side of the keel add lift, while a fourth full-length strake begins at the stem and widens to chine flats to knock down spray amidships. That fourth strake also adds improved turning control and increased resistance to rolling. Two hull steps, the first located amidships, ventilate the running surface to help decrease drag, add speed and optimize efficiency from the outboards.

To board the 400 GTO from a floating dock, passengers step aboard swim platforms flanking the outboards. In place of a high-volume molded fiberglass transom is a glass-and-chrome structure with twin boarding gates. An outdoor grill and sink in the cockpit is located to port on top of a tall locker. It complements a similar storage locker for large fenders to starboard. The cockpit features an aft-facing bench that converts to a two-person sunpad. It backs up to a cabin bulkhead that is all glass. The bulkhead combines a folding door to port with a window panel that swings upward and is supported by gas struts.

Under the hardtop, panoramic views from the comfortable dining area are extraordinary, and they’re made even better by the clear side panels in the bulwarks. The forward bench (aft of the helm seats) moves up and down at the touch of a switch, and features a reversible backrest—a useful feature when additional forward-facing seating is desired. Two more seats flank this area. To access the guest accommodations belowdecks, lift the cushion on the portside seat. Steps are revealed that lead down to a comfy amidships cabin with double berth. There are portlights on three sides, an overhead access hatch and two hatches for ventilation.

There’s a companionway to port of the helm that leads to the main sleeping cabin with an enclosed head compartment.

Going forward through the wheelhouse, the walkway passes a galley to port; it has a sink and cooktop under a folding cover, and a refrigerator plus drawer storage. The helm is to starboard, with a large dash for triple Simrad MFD screens (a single screen is standard) and proper ergonomics for the driver, who can easily reach the throttles and joystick near the tilting sport wheel. Two power sunroofs overhead provide plenty of natural light. If the weather deteriorates, Isinglass panels can be deployed to keep the area dry.

A section of the windshield folds down and a lower door opens to provide access to the open bow. The recessed handrails are a good idea for safety. With C-shaped seating that converts to a sunpad and a high-low table, this area has multiple configurations.

Saxdor Yachts and MarineMax plan to introduce the 400 GTO to the U.S. at the 2024 Palm Beach International Boat Show in March 2024.