Saxdor Yachts 270 GTO

The Saxdor Yachts 270 GTO is a large bowrider built in moulded fibreglass by Saxdor Yachts of Finland / Poland, a builder trading since 2019. On our measurements it works out at roughly 27 ft 0 in (8.23 m) of hull with a beam near 11 ft 6 in (3.50 m), which places it squarely in the trailerable family bowrider class: one vehicle, one trailer, one afternoon of prep, and the boat is in the water. Sharp-edged Finnish design at accessible prices, and Europe's fastest-growing day boat brand.

Layout is classic bowrider and that is the whole point of the boat. Twin lounges run forward of the windscreen with a walk-through to the anchor well, the helm and companion seats sit amidships behind a wrap screen, and a full-width lounge spans the transom for sunbathing and socialising. Around 13 people fit aboard comfortably in sheltered water. Cushions lift out, backrests fold and filler pads convert the cockpit from a conversation pit into one long sun bed in a couple of minutes.

The ride is what most owners talk about first. Deadrise through the forward sections knocks the top off bay chop, the running surface aft keeps the boat stable at rest, and the hull sits level when six people crowd one side to watch a skier. At cruise it feels like a bigger boat than it is.

Power is a 255-385 hp four-stroke outboard package, and that suits both the hull and the way these boats are used. Keeping the machinery outside the hull frees up stern storage, simplifies servicing and removes the bellows and gimbal wear items that punish neglected stern drive boats. It also lifts the swim platform clear of the exhaust.

Watersports are well covered. A tow point is standard on almost every boat in this class, and Saxdor Yachts owners regularly add a pylon or a folding tower for wakeboarding. A healthy outboard package pulls a slalom skier out of the water cleanly and tows children on an inflatable biscuit all day without protest. Skis, ropes and vests live in the under-floor and under-seat lockers so nothing sits underfoot while the boat is loaded.

Anglers do well out of the 270 GTO. The bow converts to a casting deck once the cushions are stowed, there is room to swing a rod without hitting the screen, and lockers swallow tackle, nets and a cooler. It is not a dedicated fishing boat, but it catches fish and it still takes the family out the next morning — which is the entire argument for owning a bowrider.

Build and finish sit where you would expect for a mid range boat from Finland / Poland. Saxdor was founded in 2019 by one of the people behind Axopar, and it took the same design language — stepped hulls, angular topsides, walkaround practicality — to a lower price point. The 200 Sport, 205, 270 and 320 models are essentially modern bowriders reinterpreted for European boating, with open bow seating that converts to sunpads, a central console or helm pod, walkaround side decks and outboard power on the transom. The stepped hulls are genuinely efficient, so a 200 Sport with a 115 horsepower outboard delivers performance that would once have needed far more engine. Build is competent and contemporary rather than luxurious, with moulded liners, clean fibreglass work and minimal soft furnishing to maintain. Saxdor's growth has been extraordinary, with dealers appearing across Europe, Australia and the Middle East within a few years. For buyers who want Scandinavian styling and modern hull efficiency without an Axopar price tag, Saxdor is the obvious cross-shop.

Options worth having on the 270 GTO are the practical ones: a bimini for shade, a decent bow and cockpit cover so the upholstery survives being stored outside, an upgraded sounder if you fish, and a stereo package that can be heard over the engine. On fibreglass, a ceramic coat or a good polish once a season keeps the gelcoat looking new and protects resale.

As a used buy, check the same things you would on any bowrider in this size band: transom firmness, stringer and floor soundness, hours and service history on the engine, steering and trim function, and the state of the upholstery seams, which are the first thing to fail on a boat that lives uncovered. Boats from this builder hold their money well, so a tidy example will not be cheap, and that is usually a sign you are buying the right one.

Our price guide for the 270 GTO is US$77,000 - US$102,000 new, which moves with engine choice, trailer, tower and how recently the boat was refreshed. Judged as a whole, it does what people buy a bowrider for: cruise, tow, swim, fish and entertain in one boat, without asking the family to compromise on any of them. Saxdor Yachts has been refining that formula since 2019, and the 270 GTO is a straightforward, well-judged expression of it.