November 4, 2025

As I write this, I’m on the plane returning from the 2025 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show and I’m thinking about what I saw and what people were telling me. Overall, I feel that it was a positive show. Maybe not “very” positive but still, positive and making me feel that at least in the USA, boat buyers are in a “go ahead” mode, not a “wait and see”. This may be a solid year for sales, but of course, that depends on what you are selling.

One of the highlights of my visit was to have a lengthy one-on-one with Jan Erik Vitala, founder and leader of Axopar Boats. I would credit Axopar with creating the Swedish Adventure Boat movement and that was what we talked about. I first met Jan Erik at the Miami show many years ago now. I had seen Axopar boats online and in the European magazines, but that was my first chance to see an Axopar and to get out on a demonstration ride. John Armstrong and I were out with Jan Erik for a lengthy run and we had a great opportunity to hear what was behind the development of Axopar, his design and production achievements, sales numbers and future targets plus, far more.

I was very flattered that he seemed to remember our meeting and also my reactions to how the Axopar ran – and it ran amazingly well!

Now, looking around the 2025 show, the Swedish Adventure style is a trend that has taken hold and been adopted by other brands. For example, Saxdor was there and that company was started by one of the original Axopar founders who went out on his own. Now Brunswick has Navan and Cruisers Yachts has just introduced their very American version of the Adventure boat theme in their new VTR line. More broadly, the plumb bow and stepped hull designs are gaining in the market and becoming an admired style as well.

As I study the Swedish Adventure theme more, I realize that these boats embrace the day boat elements of high performance, big outboard power and high levels of utility, especially in terms of deck space and outdoor access. On top of that, many also provide such overnight accommodations as a galley, refrigeration, head and sleeping accommodations at least sufficient for a short trip for a couple.    

The recent availability of high-horsepower outboards really opens the door to these designs and they deliver impressive efficiency along with the speed to cover long distances in a short space of time.

Going the other way, another Swedish brand that is taking off with “long-stay” accommodations is Nimbus. We just reviewed a Nimbus 365 Coupe in the December issue of Canadian Boating, mailing out in the next week or so. That boat is what I would call a semi-displacement hull that can be very fuel efficient with inboard diesel power and the boat is equipped for live-aboard comfort. The new Nimbus 495, their largest model so far, was just introduced at Fort Lauderdale and featured very impressive accommodations.

So, the day boats are still hot but the Swedish Adventure boats are setting new directions in style and performance while other new models are embracing the live aboard cabin cruiser attributes that were so enduringly popular.

More than anything, I see buyers being spoiled for choice right now and overall, it seems that with each passing year, the boats get bigger and faster.

At least that’s what caught my eye at Fort Lauderdale this year. I’m anxious to see what the Toronto and Vancouver shows bring us in the new year.

Andy Adams – Editor