Three deck styles on a shared Axopar 38 platform
Axopar has completed the three-model 38 series with the Cross Top, a version intended to sit between the open 38 Sun Top and the fully enclosed 38 XC Cross Cabin. The new model was presented at Cannes in September 2026, but the comparison remains relevant for buyers selecting a practical motorboat for the coming cruising season.
All three variants use the same underlying hull and engine arrangements, together with a common approach to modular accommodation. What differs is the amount of protection around the helm and social spaces, a choice that directly affects how a family uses its boat when conditions are less predictable.
The Cross Top is therefore not a larger or more powerful boat than the other two 38 variants by definition. Owners should compare comparable equipment specifications before concluding that one model is inherently more capable in rough water or suitable for a wider range of destinations.
Cross Top as a compromise between openness and shelter
The 38 Cross Top introduces an overhead shelter that helps cover the driving area while retaining much of the open-air feeling of the Sun Top. The manufacturer describes it as a response to owners who want ventilation and immediate outdoor access without committing to a fully enclosed wheelhouse.
Compared with a conventional fixed cabin, an overhead structure can provide less isolation from wind and spray when the weather turns cold. However, a more open environment can be attractive during summer trips and warm-weather cruising, where guests frequently move between the helm and cockpit.
Actual comfort will depend on seating location, any weather covers and the route used by spray in side winds. A prospective buyer should try the boat in more than one weather condition instead of judging protection by the outline of the roof.
The Sun Top and XC still serve distinct roles
The 38 Sun Top is the most outwardly open configuration of the three, suited to buyers who primarily use the boat for summer days, anchoring and waterfront entertaining. Its layout places the guest experience at the centre and allows more direct exposure to sunlight and the sea.
The XC Cross Cabin uses a fully enclosed driving area and cabin shell to provide more substantial shelter for people who use their boat during the shoulder season or make regular passages in northern climates. That arrangement can also be useful for storing equipment and travelling in less comfortable conditions.
Neither alternative is universally better than the Cross Top. The correct choice depends on climate, voyage duration, passenger preferences and the amount of time the owner intends to spend sitting at the helm rather than enjoying the cockpit or waterfront spaces.
Technical comparisons beyond the marketing photographs
Because the variants share a platform, buyers can focus on practical questions such as access to the foredeck, modular seating arrangements, toilet provision and the way guests can move safely when the boat is travelling at speed. The most appropriate configuration may be one that makes normal tasks easy rather than one that looks the most dramatic.
Enclosure choices also change potential winter storage and maintenance needs, including care of fabric covers, door seals, glass and drainage channels. Comparing the annual implications of those items can be worthwhile when a boat will be kept outdoors throughout the year.
Axopar introduced the Cross Top as the final part of the 38 model family, not as a new propulsion platform. The key ownership decision is how much of the feeling of an open boat its owner wants to preserve when adding protection around the cockpit.
