Wajer Showcases 77, 55 HT and 44 S at Fort Lauderdale 2026

Three different answers to luxury cruising

Wajer Yachts is presenting a three-model display at the 2026 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, bringing together the Wajer 44 S, Wajer 55 HT and the 23.45-metre Wajer 77. The Dutch builder's presence gives buyers a useful opportunity to compare relatively compact performance boating with the more substantial facilities of a near-24-metre yacht. The show runs from 28 October to 1 November, and Wajer says its boats can be found at Hall of Fame Marina, Face Dock 20.

The display is not the introduction of three entirely new designs. Rather, it places established members of the current range side by side at a major North American show, where the differences in scale, propulsion and onboard use become immediately apparent. Wajer has built its identity around precise finishing, considerable performance and an owner-service programme that extends beyond delivery, but each model interprets those themes for a different sort of day on the water.

For a prospective buyer, the central question is not simply how large a boat the budget permits. It is whether a typical itinerary involves quick coastal runs, a full day entertaining at anchor, or several nights away with private accommodation and tender storage. Looking at the three boats during the same visit should make the practical trade-offs easier to understand than separate photographs or specification sheets.

The Wajer 77 extends the dayboat idea

At the top of the display sits the Wajer 77, a 23.45-metre aluminium motor yacht with a beam of 5.80 metres. The manufacturer describes the model as its first superyacht, although at just under 24 metres overall it also belongs to a class of substantial private yachts that remains closely connected to luxury day cruising. Its scale provides greater areas for lounging and dining above deck while supporting longer stays in the accommodation below.

Wajer's current online specifications list three Volvo Penta IPS 1200 D13 engines of 900 horsepower, a half-load weight of approximately 51 tonnes and a draft of 1.80 metres. The published top-speed figure is 37 knots when fitted with IPS 1350 propulsion, with a quoted cruising speed of 25 knots and range of 350 nautical miles. Because model specifications and engine packages can change across years, a buyer should verify the exact configuration being offered rather than combine figures from older launch literature with the current catalogue.

The builder says the Wajer 77 can welcome up to 20 people and includes a Williams jet tender for reaching the shore. It also points to automatically deployed inflatable fenders, joystick control and an optional stabiliser as examples of the attention paid to everyday handling. These features have particular value on a vessel of this beam when berthing alongside a low quay, arriving at a crowded marina or settling in for an afternoon at anchor.

The sheer size of the 77 affects the ownership equation. Suitable berths, annual yard work, skipper requirements and the handling of a tender must all be considered before the style and speed figures. A boat that can deliver relaxed afternoons for a large party still requires professional-level attention to machinery access, safety equipment and maintenance when operated regularly.

The 55 HT adds shelter without closing the sea away

The 16.80-metre Wajer 55 HT offers a more moderate scale while retaining overnight accommodation. Its defining exterior feature is a sliding roof that can open the helm and social area to the sun and fresh air, or close to provide protection when conditions change. That flexibility is well suited to cruising climates where a cool morning can become a hot afternoon and where owners would prefer not to choose permanently between an open and an enclosed boat.

Wajer lists a beam of 4.65 metres, draft of 1.27 metres and approximately 20.90 tonnes at half load. Standard propulsion is three Volvo Penta D6-IPS600 engines of 440 horsepower, with optional IPS650 units of 480 horsepower each. For the more powerful configuration, the manufacturer publishes figures of up to 38 knots, cruising at about 28 knots, and a range of around 390 nautical miles. Those are builder specifications, not independently measured results for the particular display yacht.

Below deck, the 55 HT includes a main bedroom, a second sleeping cabin, a galley and a bathroom, making weekends away plausible without asking a family to occupy a very large yacht. Owners should still inspect berth access, privacy, ventilation and real stowage, particularly if the boat will be used for several consecutive nights rather than occasional fair-weather outings.

For a buyer choosing between the 55 HT and the 77, the distinction is greater than length. The 55 HT offers a more manageable marina footprint and a potentially simpler ownership pattern, while the larger boat gives more separation between private accommodation, guests and working systems. The appropriate answer depends on where the yacht will operate and how much space the owner genuinely uses.

The Wajer 44 S takes the sportier route

Completing the Fort Lauderdale display is the Wajer 44 S, an open, outboard-powered member of the range. The show announcement emphasises its four outboard engines, three bespoke suspension seats and protective windscreen and roof. Those choices are directed at owners whose principal interest is engaging, relatively fast coastal boating with friends rather than several days spent living aboard.

The suspension seating is especially relevant on a performance-oriented boat because passenger comfort is influenced by the way the hull meets short, steep chop. It does not make any speed comfortable or safe in all conditions. A buyer should trial the actual boat with a representative passenger load, look carefully at sightlines from every helm position and consider how guests can move safely between seats while underway.

Outboard installations also change the ownership and service proposition. They provide different forms of access to engines and tend to make replacement or upgrades less invasive than some inboard arrangements, but four power units still require substantial routine maintenance. Whether the arrangement is preferable will depend on the owner's priorities, local service network and how the boat is stored.

What to inspect at the show

All three Wajers are being shown at Hall of Fame Marina, giving visitors a clear comparison at the water's edge. It is worth walking the boarding route first, then testing cockpit circulation, the transition between the exterior and the accommodation, and access to the helm during docking. Space that appears impressive in an advertising photograph may feel different with a full group aboard and a tender or water toys in use.

Buyers should request a dated equipment list for each actual display boat, including propulsion, navigation systems, stabilisation where fitted, tenders, safety equipment and air-conditioning capacity. They should also distinguish brochure range claims from documented tests at a realistic speed and fuel load. The builder's published maximum speeds are useful for describing the character of the models but do not establish operating costs or range in every condition.

Wajer also promotes its Wajer Care service, which coordinates support from its locations in Europe and the United States. For an international owner this can be meaningful, but the detail lies in what is included under a specific purchase and service arrangement. Storage, routine servicing, crew support and urgent assistance should be clarified in writing rather than inferred from a general service promise.

A comparison of how the owner wants to spend time afloat

As the 2026 Fort Lauderdale show continues, Wajer's three-boat line-up provides a concise picture of luxury boating below 24 metres. The 44 S prioritises an active open-boat experience, the 55 HT balances shelter with weekend facilities, and the 77 extends the same day-cruising spirit into a much more substantial yacht with a tender and generous guest spaces.

No one model can be described as the best choice without knowing the owner's ports, crew, guest numbers and cruising ambitions. The useful outcome of seeing all three together is a more realistic understanding of how additional length changes both the pleasure and the practical responsibilities of ownership. Fort Lauderdale gives interested buyers that comparison in a single location through 1 November 2026.