According to the World Happiness Report (which is a real thing), Finland has been the world’s happiest country for eight years running. Boaters who have visited the Nordic nation may have a clue as to why. It has loads of gorgeous coastline and everyone there seems to have access to a boat. As such, a bevy of Finnish builders compete for dominance both in that country and the hallowed American market. There are the omnipresent Axopars, the upstart XOs, and also Saxdors, which offer a slightly upscale option over the competition, though still at a reasonable price point.
The Saxdor 340 GTWA that made its American debut at the 2025 Palm Beach boat show is a prime example of what the builder offers. She’s a four-berth speed demon with nice exterior and interior spaces that sells for right around $170,000.
The 340 GTWA is powered by twin 300-horsepower Mercury Verados that make for a brisk top end of 51 knots, and a cruise ranging between 20 and 40 knots depending on how hard you want to push her. A twin-stepped, deep-V hull should provide a soft ride even at the upper end of this boat’s RPM scale. Smaller 200-horsepower Mercurys are also available, though I’d imagine the more powerful options will be more popular. There are small platforms to either side of the engines with recessed cleats to avoid stubbed toes. A small stowage compartment to starboard houses a shower, while to port lies the shore power outlet.
The cockpit has a useful grill and sink combination aft and to port (the same space to starboard is used for fender stowage). A sunpad for two with plenty of cup holders occupies the center space. That sunpad can lift up to access an optional aft cabin as well. However, the star (or stars) of the show in this area of the boat are the flip-down terraces to both sides. They greatly enhance the al fresco entertainment space that the 340 brings to bear.
The terraces ably open up the entryway into the salon, which has a full beam settee at its aft end that shares a fold-out teak table with an aft facing settee. A flip-up cushion to port in the forward-facing seating allows for secondary access to the aft sleeping cabin. The cabin is recessed into the main deck, and houses twin berths. It actually offers decent headroom for such a small boat—the Finns are typically excellent at finding creative uses of space. Three windows offer enough natural light that the cabin doesn’t feel like a coffin. I think this area would most likely be used as extra stowage but you could definitely stuff the kids down here for an overnighter, were you so inclined—and the kids would probably love it.
The salon features a sunroof that extends over its forward section, which includes the helm. There, the captain has twin Simrad screens and a pleasingly ergonomic adjustable wheel. An app developed in association with Navico allows the captain to monitor the boat’s systems from a smartphone, which is a nice touch for those with a penchant for tech. Sightlines at the helm were excellent, with nearly 360 degrees of visibility.
Down below, there is a small berth in the forepeak and a head that can be made private via hinged doors. Stowage is perhaps not this boat’s strong point, though you can find some cabinetry tucked away to starboard, opposite a seat that would be handy when changing clothes.
The Saxdor’s bow deck is reached via side decks that are wide enough for most to maneuver through unhindered. This amount of space was made possible by decreasing the width of the salon. But on a boat this size, compromises must be made, and here I think it was a wise decision. The bow offers a small table with seating around it, helping to create a secondary, and perhaps more private, outdoor entertaining area.
With so much boat packed into a footprint this size, as well as those joyously high top-end speeds, it’s no wonder that the 340 GTWA was so popular on the docks in Palm Beach. I’m sure back in Finland, the people at Saxdor were smiling.
Saxdor 340 GTWA Specifications:
LOA: 35’4”
Beam: 10’2”
Draft: 2’6”
Displ.: 5,842 lb.
Fuel: 113 Gal.
Water: 26 Gal.
Power: 2/200-hp Mercury; 2/300-hp Mercury
Price: $221,000 (600-hp model)
This article originally appeared in the November 2025 issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.
