Out in the Open

Founded in Finland back in 2019 by seasoned naval architect Sakari Mattila, Saxdor has built its reputation on a simple premise: agile, lightweight construction paired with deck space that is genuinely usable rather than merely photogenic. Now, the arrival of the Saxdor 400 GTS, the company offers a very compelling proposition for boaters looking to explore Asia’s best coastlines.

Of the brand’s 400 series models, the 400 GTS is the one built with the least compromise toward enclosed accommodation. While the 400 GTC delivers a hardtop and more conventional saloon arrangement, and the 400 GTO splits the difference, the GTS strips the formula back to its essentials, with an open, walkaround deck, a centre-mounted helm, and a layout built around movement rather than shelter. It is, in Saxdor’s own description, the purest expression of open boating in the 400 series, a positioning that is easy enough to verify the second you slip aboard.

Hard Hull, Soft Ride

The 400 GTS is built on a twin-stepped 21-degree V-shaped hull, a design intended to reduce wetted surface area at speed and improve efficiency without sacrificing the soft ride that a deep deadrise typically provides in a chop. Constructed in lightweight, vacuum-infused GRP, which keeps displacement modest relative to the available power, the 12.4 metres vessel boasts a 3.55-metre beam, positioning it at the larger end of the outboard day-boat segment without tipping into flybridge territory.

In addition, 0.64-metre draft (excluding engines) makes the 400 GTS perfect for coastal exploration in the shallow anchorages and reef-fringed waters familiar to Asia-Pacific cruisers.

Going Walkabout

The GTS’s defining feature has to be that walkaround layout, which allows unobstructed movement from bow to stern along both sides of the boat, a detail that may sound incremental until it’s measured against the many boats in this size range that force guests through a cabin to reach the foredeck. At anchor, drop-down bulwark terraces fold out from the cockpit edges, extending the usable deck area while drawing the waterline within reach for swimming and toy launches. It’s a common-enough feature but one that effectively enlarges the boat’s social footprint without adding a metre to its dock length.

As you can imagine, the aft deck, with its lounge seating and open transom, is built for the unstructured socialising — sundowners, swim stops, impromptu rafting with friends — that defines much of day-boating culture in the warmer climes of Asia.

Control Meets Visibility

Saxdor has positioned the helm at the physical centre of the boat rather than offsetting it to one side. It’s a design choice that pays off in terms of balance and sightlines, making owner navigation all the more manageable.

At that helm station, dual displays sit ahead of a supportive helm seat, with controls kept within easy reach and clear visibility maintained in all directions. This offers a driver-focused arrangement rather than a technology showcase, which is arguably better suited to owners who intend to spend long runs behind the wheel themselves rather than delegate the job to a crew.

Intuitive Interiors

Below deck, the GTS trades scale for practicality. The double-berth main cabin, positioned forward, and a smaller aft option nestled amidship, are finished in warm timber tones with natural light drawn in through hull windows and an overhead hatch. This configuration offers enough space for four guests during weekend use and short overnight stays, thanks to a basic but functional galley, located in the wheelhouse, just forward of the aft cockpit lounge, and a similarly functional head.

Power Where it Counts

Power comes from twin Mercury outboards, with combined options of 600hp up to 850hp combined, with top-spec configuration pairing 425hp V10 units. That combination, mated to the lightweight hull, delivers a top speed in the 50-55-knot range, with that stepped hull designed to keep the ride composed, even in the chop. Meanwhile, a 900-litre fuel tank supports genuine day-long running rather than short bursts back to the dock, and twelve-person passenger capacity keeps the GTS relevant for larger day boating groups as well as smaller family outings.

The 400 GTS’s arrival coincides with a change in how the shipyard is approaching the Asia-Pacific region. The appointment of Hong Kong-headquartered DCH Marine as Asia-Pacific dealer, and the recent arrival of the first 400 GTS in Hong Kong (see our Occasions section) ensures an unprecedented support network for boaters looking to a manageable vessel with intuitive design and more than enough muscle.

Technical Specifications

Saxdor 400 GTS

LOA: 12.4 m

Beam: 3.55 m

Draft (excl. engines): 0.64 m

Passengers: 12 (up to 4 overnight)

Engines: Twin Mercury outboards, 600–850 hp combined

Range: 300 nm (at 31 knots)

Max speed: 50-55 knots

Fuel capacity: 900 L

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