Choosing your first walkaround boat often comes down to one question: how much can it handle for a weekend away from the dock? A boat that looks great for an afternoon on the water is not always the same boat that holds up for two full days with a family aboard, gear stowed, and meals cooked on board.
The Italmar IT-WA22 Plus Lux, built in Italy and available at EuroYacht Sales in Longueuil, is sized and equipped for exactly that kind of trip. It carries the walk-around layout that makes fishing, swimming, and moving around the deck easy, while packing enough onboard equipment to support a real weekend away, whether that means a run up the Richelieu River to a favourite anchorage or a longer day trip with the whole crew.
What a Walkaround Adds Over an Open Boat
A walk-around hull differs from a fully open boat in one key way: narrow side decks run from the cockpit to the bow, letting passengers move around the entire perimeter of the boat without climbing over seating. Below the windshield sits a small cabin, giving the boat a functional interior instead of just open deck space.
That small cabin makes a bigger difference than its size suggests. It is the difference between a boat that works for a two-hour outing and one that works for a full weekend. A place to change out of a wet swimsuit, a toilet that does not require pulling into a marina, and a spot to store food and drinks out of the sun all add up over a two-day trip.
Italmar IT-WA22 Plus Lux: What’s on Board
The IT-WA22 Plus Lux is 21.3 feet (approximately 6.5 metres) long and 8.2 feet (approximately 2.5 metres) wide, powered by a Mercury 200 HP outboard and rated for eight passengers. The cabin includes a separate toilet room with electric flush, a sink with a one-burner stove, and a 42-litre electric fridge, supported by a 60-litre fresh water tank and an autoclave shower system.
| Feature | Detail |
| Length / Width | 21.3 ft / 8.2 ft (6.5 m / 2.5 m) |
| Engine | Mercury 200 HP outboard |
| Seating | 8 passengers |
| Cabin equipment | Separate toilet, sink with stove, 42 L fridge, autoclave shower |
| Fuel capacity | 150 L |
Topside, the boat carries a four-arch stainless steel bimini for shade and weather cover, an electric windlass for anchoring, hydraulic steering, and a stern platform for easy water entry. Standard equipment also includes navigation lights, a bilge pump, courtesy lighting in the cockpit, and a two-speaker stereo.
Cabin and cockpit highlights that support a full weekend aboard: – Separate toilet room with electric flush, independent from the cockpit – Sink, one-burner stove, and 42 L electric fridge for onboard meals – Autoclave shower with 60 L fresh water tank – Electric windlass and stainless bow roller for straightforward anchoring
Life Aboard for a Weekend on the Richelieu
The Richelieu River runs south from the St. Lawrence through Montérégie toward Lake Champlain, passing through Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Chambly, and the historic Chambly Canal locks along the way. Compared to the open shipping channel of the St. Lawrence, the Richelieu offers calmer, more sheltered water that suits a family crew without demanding advanced boat handling experience.
That kind of water is where a boat like the IT-WA22 Plus Lux earns its keep. The walk-around deck makes it easy to anchor near a swimming spot and let kids move safely between the bow and cockpit. The cabin gives everyone a place to retreat if the weather turns or the sun gets to be too much. And the onboard toilet and shower mean a two-day trip does not require planning every stop around a marina bathroom.
Who This Boat Is Built For
The IT-WA22 Plus Lux fits a specific kind of first-time buyer: a family or small group who wants more than a few hours on the water but is not ready to step up to a full cabin cruiser. It handles moderate chop better than an open boat thanks to its deeper hull and higher bow, while staying compact enough to trailer, launch, and dock without the learning curve of a larger boat.
For buyers who picture weekend trips along the Richelieu or similar Quebec waterways, with a small crew, basic onboard comfort, and room to grow into more experience over time, this walkaround covers the range between a day boat and a true cruiser.