EXCLUSIVE: XO's 1,200hp Med-ready adventure machine | XO EXPLR 44 sea trial | Motor Boat & Yachting

Alex Smith takes the XO EXPLR 44 for a trial to see if XO's flagship lives up to the hype
XO EXPLR 44 specifications
LOA: 44ft 0in (13.40m)
BEAM: 12ft 2 in (3.7m)
ENGINES: 2 x Mercury Verado 600hp outboards
TOP SPEED: 46 knots
PRICE: from €593,150 ex. VAT
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#MotorBoatYachting

[@pistonburner6448]

Nice to see you in our neighborhood, I hope you had a nice time! I've just been out on a boat trip in our slightly smaller XO and it was *_so comfortable_* even in the rough stuff, we barely felt even the sharpest cross-multiplied wakes! And I caught the biggest Pike in my life, which was also nice. We've already had many years of fun boating in our XO...it even survived another boat properly crashing into our boat. Aluminium boats just take everything in their stride!

[@alexsmith3945]

It was nice to be in your neighbourhood! Always love a trip to Finland and on this occasion (thanks to Jaakko Kantola) I was able to make the most of it with a music festival in Helsinki and a visit to a huge public sauna. Fully with you on XO's aluminium boats too. If you get it wrong and land on the side, it can be firm but if you show it the keel, there's loads of fun to be had running fast through lumpy seas. In fact, charging across the crests of some steep 8-footers at 44 knots in a DFNDR 9 remains one of my fondest memories from that part of the world.

[@rtbinc2273]

Sold! - I'll take 3. Seriously, this is where Scandinavian design comes into it's own. This is the first boat I've seen that would tempt me away from a Targa.

[@sib610]

Not me.. certainly not in the rough. Just look at build quality track record , or resale value. Serious non wave piercing fast boats dont have a vertical bow. Very stylish though.

[@alexsmith3945]

​@@sib610 I've driven a range of XO boats in some pretty challenging conditions, including a particularly memorable trip across the Baltic Sea from Helsinki to Stockholm, and I've found them to be genuinely excellent in the rough - tough, soft-riding, beautifully balanced, well protected and easy to helm with sensitivity when the seas demand it.

[@idib1739]

I feel like you'd love the Axopar 45 xc even more though 👍

[@alexsmith3945]

@@idib1739 I've yet to try one in the rough but I'll certainly have a go the moment an opportunity presents itself.

[@billo9906]

Really like this vessel. Rode in a XO explr 10. Fantastic ride in some Tampa Bay chop. I’d like the radar tower moved to the bow side of the cabin. Then add a pneumatic lift assist davit to the stern corner of a cabin with electric winch. That way you can like a small inflatable dinghy onto the roof. Look at North River boats out of Oregon for reference.

[@seanogden927]

A very nice boat, nice finishes and equipment with some ingenious design features. Great tour thank you Alex.

[@noskillsdo]

this is it! im gonna buy.

[@anthonynicholas1165]

Definitely one of the better boats at this size, great design and quirks, really like that the hull is Ali.

[@pete500Million]

What happens to water that comes over the bow into that sunken mid deck section? I couldn’t see any scuppers and they’d need to be fairly substantial on what’s supposed to be a heavy weather boat

[@nicbennett6554]

I thought exactly the same 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@sib610]

Style over substance.

[@terot8341]

Drainage under teak and pumped out with bilge pump.

[@sharonbraselton3135]

Selfvbailing cockpit online neew biats yahhts

[@FLGurl]

Really do like this one in the manner that it was built and for the purpose given. Do wish they would have made the aft cabin with a shower though. Overall, very nice! Many thanks for the tour.

[@nicbennett6554]

Interesting review of an interesting boat. Still a bit of work to do, but impressive for hull number one.

[@timk3939]

The XO has a nice layout, I love the under deck chillout area. Good speed too. Not sure if it's your microphone having noise cancelling and making it sound even quieter, but it sounded silent on the move. Maybe just far less clatter and vibration than Diesels and the outboards don't have a sports exhaust mode turned on. Are petrol boats of this style practical in the UK? I have no real knowledge of it.

[@clmb511]

Do we know what if any insulation there is between the fiberglass outer layer and the inner walls?

[@Joe_1sr9]

It’s a great boat but I’d definitely separate the fuel fills from the water and I couldn’t see any scuppers or drains on the sunken side decks. Otherwise love it.

[@pistonburner6448]

Not sure about having the water filler right next to the sewage and fuel...

[@gregchrist5090]

I would eliminate the back cabin. Add 2' to the main cabin but keep the bump out and rear bathroom. Remove rear "C" shaped seating. Make the stern area with a live well in the gunell move the generator under the stern floor. Eliminate 1 a/c unit, add 100 gallons more fuel, and it would be a decent fishing boat. By making the main cabin larger, the seating area can become a bunk and they still have a head for themselves. It is a nice looking boat as it stands but the American version should be more towards fishing and range. Which would enhance its appeal toward the market here. While the style will still sell the wife end of it. If they would put sparrow props also they might gain an additional 20% to fuel savings along with the extra 100 gallons of fuel you would be looking to a range of roughly 380 miles which would make a great offshore fishing boat and a good travel boat on long weekends.

[@terot8341]

If you want fishing boat, you buy Hatteras or Viking.

[@user-jq9jy2xn9f]

What is the price of this boat ?

[@PropaTraxx]

What would be the estimated range if slowed to 8-12 knots?

[@terot8341]

Propably not much more.

[@alexsmith3945]

You're looking at 3L/Nm at 5-7 knots for a range approaching 500 miles. That rises to between 4 and 7L/Nm from 8-12 knots for a range of between 200 and 340 miles. And once you're on the plane, 25-35 knots keeps the fuel flow beneath 6L/Nm for a range consistently in excess of 240 miles.

[@PropaTraxx]

Thanks!

[@blusox78]

I’ve just send the UK price. I really like the boat, but bare GRP in the cabins at that price is a bit of a big ask.

[@KevLaj]

Superior use of length and volume to the Axopar 45.

[@stuartbaker6339]

Ture . But how much more expensive is it ?

[@terot8341]

@@stuartbaker6339 same price range.

[@duckhorn]

can it cross atlantic?

[@johan2405]

Not even close with that fuel consumption. 240-250 nm range in cruising speed

[@scottrippon5039]

Hands down the silliest boat I've ever seen. With the possible exception of the amphicar. Overpriced nordic rubbish.