Many of us anglers have seen those Axopar boats zipping across the Bay, with their cushy cabins, ski-tow arches, and plumb-bow Euro-design. Okay, so they look unique and perform admirably, but where the heck are the rod holders?! Well, now you’ll find ‘em on their latest model, the 29 CCX.
Axopar premiered this “fishing version” of their 29 at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show last October, billing it as a crossover boat that’s designed to be equally at home during fishing trips and social excursions. We’d certainly discourage any excursions that exclude angling, but that said, the boat should prove interesting to those of us who, once every third blue moon, leave the dock for cruising or entertaining (but make darn sure we have a few rods stowed aboard just in case).
Angling amenities and options include 18.5-gallon and 33-gallon livewells, a tackle station, six rod holders in the leaning post, four in the gunwales, and options for up to 16 total including a half-dozen rocket launchers on the T-top. The hard top itself has also been reinforced to support outriggers, and bow-mounted trolling motor prep is in the cards as well. There’s also a macerated 19-gallon fishbox which will do the trick for slot fish and relatively small species, though if you plan on icing down cobia or pelagic predators you’ll want to keep a fish bag aboard.
Of course, to make anything multipurpose you do have to prioritize, and in this case the cockpit layout can be tweaked a bit to be more or less appropriate for socializing versus fishing. There are options for a second row of forward-facing seating aft of the helm, a tackle station, the second row with a wet bar or an aft-facing settee, or a U-shaped dinette/settee arrangement aft of the helm seats. (Note: Axopar also offers a mini aft cabin version of the 29 CCX, but this will eat into so much cockpit fishing space that we wouldn’t recommend it for anglers). In all cases 360-degree fishability is maintained.
The Axopar runs on a twin stepped hull design with either single or twin outboards up to 400-hp total, making it one of the larger center consoles you’ll find which can run with a single powerplant. That means less initial cost and better fuel economy, but it definitely does not mean sub-par performance. In fact, the 29 CCX can reportedly hit the 50-mph mark and cruise in the upper 30s. Partial credit goes to the hull design and part goes to the boat’s exceptionally light 6173-pound displacement, which is 10 or so percent lighter than most center consoles of a similar size.
If you want to put that peppy performance to use by giving the kids a reason to smile when the bite’s slow, a ski-tow arch is optional. The entire family will also appreciate the unusual console cabin, which is entered via the front through a swing-up hatch. Inside it consists of a big double-berth with a step-down and flip-up head compartment. There’s also a one-of-a-kind swing-down sink built into the bulkhead. It’s far roomier than one would guess and is more or less like the cuddy cabin you might find on a boat of this size, easily able to sleep two.
While the 29 CCX is certainly designed for hobbyist anglers as opposed to hardcores, the crossing-over abilities of this boat are beyond question and it’ll be able to adapt to everything from fishing to cruising to entertaining to watersports to weekending. You’ve been watching those Axopars blast across the Bay and wondered why the heck they didn’t make a fishing version? You can stop wondering—and take a peek at the 29 CCX.
Axopar 29 CCX Specifications
- LOA – 30’7”
- Beam – 9’10”
- Displacement – 6173 lbs.
- Draft – 2’8”
- Transom Deadrise – 22 degrees
- Fuel Capacity – 158 gal.
- Max. Power – 400 hp
- Area Dealers – Legasea Marine, Yorktown, VA (757) 898-3000.