Wajer 38 S Review, the Center-Helm Wajer With a Choice of Power

Why Wajer moved the helm to the middle

Wajer yachts made their name with the Wajer 38, a long, low Dutch dayboat with a small cabin forward and the helm aft. When the Friesland builder presented the 38 S in the summer of 2015, the big idea was to move the helm to a central console under a sturdy hardtop bimini. That one change freed up deck space for socializing and gave the skipper excellent visibility, while the hull, the large walk-in locker in the stern and the broad aft sun deck carried over from the 38.

Wajer was clear about the purpose. The 38 S was conceived as a day boat or a luxury tender for superyachts, so the sleeping cabin gave way to a forward sun deck with a large table and U-shaped seating, storage below for all the cushions, and a robust towing eye in the bow so a mothership can tow it safely. Wajer still says some superyacht captains will accept nothing less than a Wajer tender.

This is the boat to buy if you want the Wajer look and finish but spend your days on deck and in the water, not below it. If you want a cabin, the open Wajer 38 is the sister to consider.

From D4 pods to a second generation and a 2024 refresh

The original 38 S came standard with twin Volvo Penta IPS350 D4-310 diesels of 310 hp, with optional six-cylinder engines of 370 or 435 hp. Wajer claimed a weight saving of more than 960 kilograms over the Wajer 38 through lighter materials and the bow redesign, and a top speed of about 47 knots. Early boats carried a Raymarine 12-inch touchscreen dash, sprung Stidd seats and a WhisperPower electrical system.

A later upgrade of the 38 and 38 S brought an edgier design with sharper transom lines, carbon window frames, Volvo Penta IPS 650 power with DPS, in-house suspended bucket seats with carbon backs, Permateek decking in Wajer's signature pattern, a Seabob hatch in the transom, a concealed swim ladder and a single Garmin screen in place of multiple Volvo displays. Wajer also announced testing of a passive foil assist developed by Van Oossanen Naval Architects, claiming 10 to 20 percent lower fuel burn in preliminary research.

At the 2024 Cannes Yachting Festival came the biggest change: a bigger, solid hardtop on angled supports, a redesigned console and dash with two Garmin screens, a wet bar behind the helm seats with sink, fridge and bin, an optional side boarding door, optional roof-mounted solar panels, and for the first time on any Wajer, outboard power.

IPS or triple Verados, choosing the drivetrain

Wajer's current specification sheet lists the 38 S with twin Volvo Penta D6 diesels on IPS pods, a 28-knot cruise, 250 nautical miles of range and a top speed of 48 knots with IPS 650. The diesel boat measures 38 feet 10 inches overall and draws 2 feet 11 inches. Joystick docking, dynamic positioning and diesel range make it the natural choice for superyacht tender duty and European use.

The outboard version answers US demand. At launch Wajer quoted three 5.7-liter Mercury Verado V10s of 400 hp each, a top speed of 55 knots, making it the first Wajer to exceed 100 km/h, and a 500-kilogram weight saving. The current spec sheet lists triple V10s at 350 hp and 52 knots, so confirm the exact engines on any boat you consider. The V10 boat stretches to 41 feet 11 inches overall including engines and draws about 3 feet 3 inches, but the motors tilt clear for shallow water and beaching, something IPS boats cannot do. Mercury joystick control with Skyhook GPS holding and autopilot carry over.

Our view: buy IPS for tender use, long runs and diesel economy; buy the Verados for Florida, the Bahamas and sandbars, where shallow-water access and easy outboard service matter more.

• IPS boat: 11.83 m (38 ft 10 in) LOA, 0.90 m draft, about 8.5 tons half load, 48 knots top with IPS 650
• Outboard boat: 12.77 m (41 ft 11 in) LOA with engines, 1.00 m draft, 52 to 55 knots
• Both: 3.75 m (12 ft 4 in) beam, 28-knot cruise, 250 nm quoted range

Life on deck, toys and tender details

The 38 S is built around outdoor living. Forward is the sun deck and dining area, amidships the console with two suspension seats and a minimalist dash of two flush-mounted touchscreens, a wheel, throttles and a joystick, and aft a spacious sun deck over the stern locker. Wajer describes the boat as fast, fun and full of toys, with hidden stowage for stand-up paddleboards, wakeboards and other gear, and the original press release talked about space for dive equipment for four.

Cleats retract into the gunwale, the anchor is integrated and operated from the helm, and a detachable boarding pole and aft platform make stepping off easy. Inside the console is a day head with toilet and storage for glassware, while the shower is on the swim platform. An optional stabilizer steadies the boat at anchor.

How it drives, a sports car with a hardtop

Wajer compares driving the 38 S to a sports car, and the hardware backs that up: a deep-V hull with a flared bow and slender spray rails that the builder says keep the cockpit dry, joystick-controlled pods or triple outboards, and seats framed in carbon and mounted on full suspension. The center helm puts the driver in the middle of the action and is a better position for watching wakeboarders than an aft helm.

Independent instrumented tests of the 38 S are scarce in US magazines, so the speed figures on this page come from Wajer. Treat them as best-case numbers and ask for a sea trial with your typical load, especially when comparing the IPS and outboard versions.

Ownership, service hubs and running costs

Wajer runs its own service hubs in the Netherlands, France, Spain and the United States and offers the Wajer Care program, crew placement and storage. For a US owner that matters, because a European-built dayboat without local support is a headache. The IPS boat needs Volvo Penta service for the D6s and pods, while the outboard boat can be serviced by any Mercury dealer.

Budget roughly $45,000 to $95,000 a year for slip, insurance, service, bottom and running gear, detailing and fuel, more if you hire crew. Teak-look Permateek decks and composite trim reduce maintenance compared with real teak, which is one of the quiet advantages of newer boats.

What to look for in a used Wajer 38 S

Used boats are scarce. YachtBuyer's market data showed a single 38 S for sale globally, a 2024 boat on the US East Coast asking $995,000, which says a lot about how few come up and how well they hold value. Expect to find first-generation 2015 to 2019 boats mostly in Europe, priced well below second-generation and outboard boats.

When comparing listings for wajer boats for sale, pin down the generation, the engines (D4-310, D6 IPS 650 or V10 Verado), the dash electronics, whether a stabilizer is fitted, and how the boat has been used. A superyacht tender may have high hours, towing loads on the bow eye and crew wear, while a private dayboat may have low hours and a pampered life.