BOTTOM: Well protected
by Wajer’s trademark
wraparound windshield,
the helm has four captain’s
chairs with custom
suspension and four sizeable
glass-bridge touchscreens.I
t’s a glorious, sun-drenched afternoon in
Holland as we traverse the charming little
canals outside of Amsterdam. Our ride, a
Wajer 55, feels anything but little. In fact,
she’s the largest powerboat from the Dutch
yard Wajer Yachts, and our chauffeur—the
yard’s commercial director, Dries Wajer—
is excited to show her off.
These winding waterways are pure postcard mate-
rial, but I’m struggling to see anything past the shimmer-
ing craftsmanship of the boat, which daintily zigs and
zags without spilling a drop of the Heineken in my hand.
Coming hot on the heels of the yard’s award-winning
37- and 38-foot (11.2- and 11.5-meter) models, the
Wajer 55—a collaboration between Vripack and Sinot
Exclusive Yacht Design—resumes the arm-wrestling
match between performance and comfort to define
the line’s standout attribute. The answer, according to
Wajer, is both.
“We set out to create a powerful motorboat which
marries a sporty exterior with an exceptional degree of
comfort and state-of-the-art innovations,” Wajer says.
“The diverse goals of the clients who have ordered a
Wajer 55 emphasize its versatility. From couples look-
ing for a superior weekender and families with kids
requiring more space to superyacht owners interested
in a chase boat, the 55 is a boat for connoisseurs who
appreciate the finer things in life.”
Cruising at around 25 knots with the breeze play-
fully tousling my hair, my time aboard affirmed the
builder’s promise of bringing owners closer to the sea
and enhancing the onboard experience. This 55’s helm
has four cushy captain’s chairs with custom suspension,
and a Raymarine Glass Bridge with four touchscreens,
all part of an intuitive system. The console can be
brought forward, and the movable cockpit sole can be
raised or lowered for better views and protection against
the elements. The nearly 13-foot-wide (3.9-meter)
wraparound windshield made of tinted glass—a Wajer
trademark—helps keep skippers dry, too.
Don’t be fooled by her quiet air of luxury. The Wajer
55 is also every bit of a performance machine, especially
when ripping along at her 38-knot top end. She was
built for maneuverability and comfort. Her V-design