In shortA Mediterranean-style day boat is a fast, single-level walkaround of 33 to 45 ft built around sun, swimming and a long lunch at anchor, with a cabin and proper bathroom below for the occasional night. Schaefer builds three: the V33 and V34 for ten guests, and the V44 with fold-out balconies for fourteen. Reviewer Dan Jones of BoatLife places them against the Axopar 37, Fjord, the Regal 33 SAV and the Italian Mediterranean day-boat brands, at what he calls “a fraction of the cost”.
What makes a day boat “Mediterranean”
The style comes from the South of France and the Balearics: low, clean lines; a wide walkaround deck on one level; a fixed roof over the helm; boarding from the bow, the sides or the stern; and a swim platform that becomes the centre of the day. The cabin is real, with standing headroom, a double berth, a toilet and a shower, but the boat is designed to be lived on above deck. The same brief suits Sydney Harbour, Pittwater, the Gold Coast Broadwater and the Whitsundays, which is why Schaefer’s day boats, designed for the Brazilian summer, translate so directly to Australia. They are best understood as the luxury alternative to the adventure-boat category: the same fast, dry, beach-capable functionality, with full-height bathrooms and a luxury feel at anchor, from a shipyard that also builds 85-footers.
The three Schaefer day boats
| V33 | V34 | V44 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length overall | 10.33 m | 10.33 m | 13.61 m |
| Beam | 3.36 m | 3.35 m | 5.52 m with balconies open |
| Guests for the day | 10 | 10 | 14 |
| Sleeps | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Power | Twin Mercury V8 Verado outboards | Twin Mercury V8 Verado outboards; V10 400 option | Triple outboards or Volvo Penta IPS |
| Character | Open T-top centre console with a lunch cockpit aft | Full-beam roof, V44-style bucket helm seats, wider aft lounge | Full walkaround with fold-out side balconies, air-conditioned interior, galley and separate shower |
The V33 (opens in a new tab) is the original: a sporty centre console with a fibreglass T-top, an L-shaped lunch cockpit aft, a shaded barbecue station and a cabin below. The V34 (opens in a new tab) is, in Dan Jones’s words, “an evolution of the V33” that takes the full-beam roof and bucket helm seats from the V44, widens the aft lounge and adds fold-out boarding steps on both sides. The V44 (opens in a new tab) is the flagship of the type: a 44 ft walkaround whose side balconies fold out at anchor to give the deck space Dan compares with 55 ft boats.
The V33 as a luxury fishing boat
The V33 (opens in a new tab) is also a great luxury alternative to specialised fishing boats such as Grady-White and Regal. Its centre console and T-top leave a clear walkway around the entire boat, so you can walk a fishing line from bow to stern without obstruction, and the deck is completely flat with no steps. It is offered in a dedicated V33 Fish layout, and the same boat still has the cabin, private head, shaded barbecue and lunch cockpit for days when the rods stay at home.
How BoatLife’s Dan Jones compares them
Dan Jones has tested all three on Sydney Harbour and offshore. He classes the V34 as “a luxury Mediterranean-style day boat” with “minimal real competition”, and names the boats he would cross-shop:
- Regal 33 SAV: a fair comparison, though he finds the Regal “a little bit more fishing focused” and the Schaefer more “luxury Mediterranean”.
- Beneteau Gran Turismo 35: lots of open deck, but “if you want to drive the boat and have fun, I’d be focusing my attention on this one”.
- Fjord: “perfectly fair competition”, except that Fjords start at 39 ft and up, which is where the V34 “occupies a nice special little place of her own”.
- Adventure boats such as the Axopar 37: not the same category. “Just because they’re the same length doesn’t mean you should compare them”; the V34 has more volume, more roof and far more accommodation below.
“Some competitors offer similar layouts or styling. They look cool, but after examining their designs at a recent boat show I think they're going to drive like dogs. Whereas this certainly doesn't.”
On the V44 his reference points move up a class. He recommends it to anyone considering “one of the big European Med day boat brands”, saying it does what “that other Italian boat” does “at a fraction of the cost” and with more space once the balconies are down. And for owners of fast adventure boats who have outgrown them:
“If you are someone that's had something like an Axopar 37 and really appreciates the high performance capabilities of that boat but you need more space now, then I believe this is worthy of your attention.”
How they drive
These are driver’s boats. In BoatLife’s sea trials the V33 with twin 250 hp outboards reached about 42 knots and settled at a 27 knot fast cruise; the V34 with twin V8s ran comfortably at 22 to 25 knots into short, sharp waves, stayed dry, and reached about 44 knots in flat water; and the V44 with triple 400 hp V10 outboards ran at 44 to 45 knots with 12 people aboard and, on a harbour day with 13, touched 50. Dan describes the V44’s 20 degree hull as one that will “hook into a turn, hold it and go hard”, and the V34 as “a proper driving boat”. The V44 is also offered with Volvo Penta IPS, which Dan found “more yacht-like”, quieter and better suited to an owner who mostly cruises with a full boat.
Which one is for you
- V33: a couple or a small group who want the simplest, sportiest boat, a support boat for a larger yacht, the boat that lives in front of the house, or a luxury alternative to a dedicated fishing boat.
- V34: the same size with far more shade and comfort; Dan’s pick for centre-console owners who now want a proper toilet, sun protection and a night aboard, for older owners who value a single level and handholds, and for a beginner-to-intermediate driver with the right training.
- V44: twelve for lunch and room for ten more at the raft-up, air conditioning, a real galley, sleeping for four and the pace to cover a lot of coast in a day. Dan’s recommendation for Axopar 37 owners who need more space and for owners of 55 to 60 ft yachts who want long lunches without the management.
Common questions
How fast is a Schaefer day boat?
In BoatLife’s sea trials the V33 reached about 42 knots with twin 250 hp outboards, the V34 about 44 knots with twin V8 outboards, and the V44 44 to 45 knots with triple 400 hp V10 outboards and 12 people aboard. Comfortable cruising speeds are in the mid to high 20s.
Outboards or Volvo IPS on the V44?
Outboards give the sharpest acceleration, the highest top speed and the ability to trim up for the beach. IPS diesel gives a quieter, more yacht-like feel, longer range and the option to take fuel from a mother ship if the V44 is used as a tender. Dan Jones of BoatLife found the IPS boat “very yachty” and the outboard boat more aggressive; both are available.
Is the Schaefer V33 a good fishing boat?
Yes. The V33 is a luxury alternative to specialised fishing boats such as Grady-White and Regal. Its centre console and T-top leave a clear walkway around the entire boat, so you can walk a fishing line from bow to stern without obstruction, and the deck is completely flat with no steps. It is also offered in a dedicated V33 Fish layout, and it keeps the cabin, private head and lunch cockpit that make it a day boat for the rest of the family.
What is the difference between the V33 and the V34?
Same hull length and capacity. The V34 adds the full-beam roof and bucket helm seats from the V44, a wider aft lounge, fold-out boarding steps on both sides and more weather protection. The V33 remains the lighter, more open boat and is also offered in a fishing layout.
Is a Mediterranean day boat suitable for offshore use in Australia?
Yes for coastal day trips in reasonable conditions. The V34 has a deep-V hull that Dan Jones ran at 24 to 25 knots directly into short, sharp waves and described as “comfortable, dead rise is working”; the V44 has 20 degrees of deadrise and was tested in ocean swell. They are day boats rather than passage-makers.
Quotations are from Dan Jones’s BoatLife video reviews (dansboatlife.com.au) and are his opinions from the videos linked above, not statements by Schaefer Yachts or by the other brands named. Specifications are from Schaefer Yachts; pricing on application.