Wajer 55 Review, Versions and Buyer's Guide

Why wajers turn heads without shouting

Wajers are the boats people walk down the dock to look at twice, not because of loud graphics but because so little is visible. The Wajer 55 has no exposed fenders, no visible anchor and very few cleats breaking the sheer line. The topsides run clean from bow to transom, the windshield wraps the cockpit in a single sweep, and the deck reads as one piece of furniture rather than a collection of hardware.

That restraint is the brand's whole point. Wajer Yachts, founded in the Netherlands in 1992 and building at Heeg in Friesland, grew from tenders and day boats into a full line running from the Wajer 38 up to the Wajer 77. The 55 arrived in 2016 as the yard's new flagship and is the model that made the name in the Mediterranean, Miami and the Hamptons, because it was large enough to cross open water in comfort yet still felt like a day boat rather than a small motor yacht. By April 2019 Wajer said it had sold more than 30 of them.

Fenders that come out on command

The feature that sells the 55 at boat shows is the automatic fender system. At the push of a button the fenders pop out from the hull side and inflate, and Wajer's current spec lists eight of them. On a 55-footer where the crew might be one owner and a partner, that removes one of the clumsiest jobs in boating, and it means the boat never looks cluttered at a restaurant dock.

The same thinking runs through the rest of the deck. The anchor is concealed, the cleats are integrated, and the hydraulic swim platform extends to create a beach area at anchor and doubles as a gangway. Wajer lists Flexiteek decking on the 55 HT and Permateek on the 55 S rather than real teak, which saves weight and maintenance and is a sensible call on a boat that will spend summers in high sun.

A practical note for buyers. The fender mechanism is clever, but it is still a mechanical system living in salt water. Ask to see it cycled several times during survey, and budget for periodic servicing of the actuators.

55, 55 S or 55 HT

Wajer offers three variations on the same 55-foot platform, and choosing between them is the most important decision a buyer makes. The 55 S followed the original in April 2019 on the same hull with a different deck, the 55 HT arrived in November 2019, and all three carried over into the redesigned generation unveiled in May 2025.

The original Wajer 55 has a classic open cockpit behind the wraparound screen, with custom captain's chairs at the helm and a big sun lounge aft. The 55 S reworks the deck for socializing, with four racing-inspired carbon seats, a built-in sun awning and more space for guests and toys. Wajer quotes it at 25 knots cruise and 350 nautical miles of range, slightly below the standard boat.

The 55 HT adds a sliding roof made of breathable, water-repellent canvas on a lightweight composite and carbon-reinforced frame, deployed at the push of a button. It is the obvious choice for hot climates, since an open 55-footer in Florida or Mallorca in August is a lot of sun. Robb Report named the Wajer 55 its Best Weekender in its Best of the Best 2026 awards, which tells you how the boat is actually being used.

• Wajer 55: open cockpit, 28 knots cruise, 390 nm range
• Wajer 55 S: carbon bucket seats, social layout, 25 knots cruise, 350 nm range
• Wajer 55 HT: sliding canvas roof, the best choice for hot climates

Triple IPS and what 38 knots feels like

Power comes from three Volvo Penta D6 diesels on IPS pod drives, listed by Wajer as D6-IPS600 units of 440 horsepower each, with optional D6-IPS650 units of 480 horsepower quoted for the performance figures. Wajer quotes a top speed of 38 knots and a 28-knot cruise for the standard 55 and the HT, with a range of 390 nautical miles. First-generation boats were quoted at 320 nautical miles with a 2,368-liter tank, against 2,320 liters on the current model.

Three pods instead of two is unusual at this length, and it is the right call. It spreads the power across smaller, lighter engines, keeps the engine room compact, and gives the joystick docking system more authority in a crosswind. The penalty is three engines to service instead of two, and more running gear in the water to inspect at every haul-out.

The hull, drawn by Vripack, is a deep-V, and at 20.9 tonnes half loaded the current boat has enough mass to stay settled in a short Mediterranean chop at 28 knots. The high wraparound windshield and the beam of 15 feet 3 inches help keep the cockpit dry. Draft is a modest 4 feet 2 inches, so anchoring close to the beach is realistic.

Wajer publishes one fuel figure for the current boat, 150 liters per hour, about 40 US gallons, at 25 knots with the IPS650 package. Against a 2,320-liter tank, that is a meaningful part of the season's cost for active owners, and fuel planning matters on longer island hops.

A weekend cabin hidden under a day boat

Below the foredeck there is more accommodation than the exterior suggests. Wajer's current layout has a master cabin with a double bed and storage beneath, a galley with refrigerator, cooktop, coffee machine and ice maker, a bathroom with sink, shower and toilet, and a second cabin with two single beds. Wajer describes the two cabins as sleeping four to six, so it is a weekender layout for two couples or a family with young children.

Finish is Dutch rather than Italian. Expect pale woods, fabric headliners and a calm palette rather than lacquer and chrome. That ages well and is easy to refresh at resale. Headroom and natural light are reasonable for a low-profile day boat, but anyone over six feet should spend time in the guest cabin before signing.

The real budget behind a Wajer 55

A realistic annual budget, excluding depreciation, runs from about $110,000 to $220,000. The lower figure assumes an owner-operator in a modest marina with a single season of use. The upper figure covers a part-time captain, a premium berth in Miami Beach, Newport or the Côte d'Azur, and a full season of fuel.

Servicing three IPS units and three diesels is the core mechanical cost, together with the fender system, the HT roof mechanism and bottom paint on a 55-foot hull. Insurance for a 38-knot boat in this price range is a significant line item, so get quotes early. Many US owners keep the boat on the hard or in a covered rack in the off season, which protects the canvas and gelcoat.

Resale, pre-owned stock and the Wajer network

Wajer sells directly rather than through dealers and runs its own pre-owned program, refit services, a Wajer Care maintenance offering and a network of service hubs, including Wajer Bay Marina in Miami and seasonal locations in the Hamptons and Greenwich, Connecticut. That matters for value. Boats that stay in the factory service ecosystem tend to sell faster, and a buyer can ask the factory directly about a hull's history.

Used Wajer 55 prices in 2026 generally range from about $1.35 million for early first-generation boats to $2.6 million for late, well-specified examples. The design has dated slowly and supply is limited, which has helped values. A boat with recent IPS service, a gyro and the HT roof is the easiest to sell on, and buyers should be clear whether they are looking at a 2016 to 2024 boat or the redesigned 2025 model.

If you also look at the larger Wajer 77 or the smaller 44 and 38, the 55 sits in the middle of the range. It offers a real second cabin while staying a boat that a confident owner can run without a professional captain.