azimut yacht reviews

All-New Azimut Fly 53 Review (2022 Edition)

Azimut’s new 53 is an important yacht, an entry-level model that might be a buyer’s first taste of this Italian builder, it also goes head to head with some notable rivals

Azimut and designer Alberto Mancini have been creating a quiet revolution with a new generation of flybridge designs that are bold and elegant in equal measure while delivering some beguiling interior luxury, as spectacularly demonstrated on the new 37m Grande Trideck flagship. Can they pull off the same mix of wonders on a 50-footer?

Azimut Fly 53 Key Facts

• LOA 55.052ft
• Model Year 2022
• Max Speed 31 knots
• Status In Production
• Generations 2
• Yacht Type Flybridge
• Use Type Cruising

Test & Review Video

YachtBuyer Score

In this article:

Our Verdict

Rivals to consider.

• Specification

Our Scores Explained

Performance & Handling

Around the Marina

The 53 Fly is only available with Volvo Penta's IPS950 and that, of course, means joystick control. The boat responds well to inputs from the joystick even if you do feel the boat's height with the hard top fitted as it rolls a touch during sideways manoeuvres. The handling of the boat isn't an issue it's the view from the helms that makes life a little tricky.

You can't see the aft end of the boat from the flybridge and it's hard to communicate with the crew from the lower helm so it would make sense to, at the very least, add some cameras around the boat so you can use the MFDs to check position or tick the optional cockpit docking station for a better view aft. If you moor with the stern to the dock on a regular basis I would say this is a must-have. 

Moving around the boat is easy enough and there's a healthy amount of deck storage for fenders and lines but the lack of a side door into the saloon means crewing isn't as easy as it could be. 

The challenge with only providing one engine option is that it has to suit the boat perfectly and, thankfully, the D11 725hp motors of the IPS950 installation are a great match to the 53's refined, soft-riding hull shape. We topped out at a comfortable 31 knots (even touching 34 knots at one point with a bit of Solent tide beneath us) and cruised at 26 knots where the range is in the region of 300nm. The fuel burn curve is pretty flat once up to planing speeds, though, so even if you want to get a bit of a lick on the range doesn't drop too sharply. 

The handling is light but has a good amount of feel and the boat turns nicely for a weighty flybridge cruiser. The best handling boat I've driven in this category is the shaft-drive Princess F55 and though the Azimut may not be quite as sharp in the turns or feel quite as well balanced it's not far off. It's very quiet, too. IPS helps with this but the well-engineered engine room and its layers of sound insulation improve the sound levels even more. 

We didn't have much chop to play with during the test but on a busy day in the Solent, the wash from other craft did little to put the Azimut off its stride. The boat feels solid through the waves with no bangs, squeaks or rattles emanating from the hull or interior. It's an easy boat to drive at all speeds and, from the comfort of the upper helm especially, feels like a boat you could comfortably cover some decent ground on. 

Builder Speed & Range Data

• 100nm 100nm 200nm 200nm 300nm 300nm 400nm 400nm 500nm 500nm 600nm 600nm
• 568 nm @ 8.8 knots eco
• 296 nm @ 26.0 knots cruise
• 261 nm @ 31.0 knots max

Azimut Fly 53 version 2022. *Data supplied by the manufacturer. View Full Test Results

Design & Build

Yes, style is subjective, but can anyone argue against the idea that this Azimut 53 is one of the most beautiful 50ft flys ever made? Mancini’s hand is obvious from the angular bow and clean sharp lines that run aft, metallic topsides and black style lines stretching the yacht out further, delivering an impressive sleekness. Of course, the demands of the market mean that an unsightly hard top is never too far away and even the aesthetically conscious Azimut has had to concede. If it were my boat, I'd be opting for the canvas bimini every day of the week. 

Keeping the profile low while delivering good interior volume is incredibly hard to do at this length. And deliver it they have. A quick look at the layout suggests all the right component parts are held within this sleek yacht. Three cabins, including a full-beam owner’s stateroom, are found below decks with an open, spacious saloon above, the galley aft design connecting the interior to the aft deck while also delivering a very practical galley that runs across the beam.

But then, nothing short of excellent would cut it in a market that includes several award-winning yachts from the likes of Absolute, Sunseeker, Princess and Ferretti.   

Form and Function

Azimut is, it seems, not only aware of the competition but also how much use yachts of this size get put to by their owner-operators. The interior reflects the serious cruising requirements of a 16m flybridge with masses of stowage and easy-going nature that you just know will be a joy to use. 

This being an Azimut, the practicalities of yachting life run alongside plenty of style. The new interiors we saw on the Grande Tri-Deck and 68 find a subtle home here, with dreamy, pastel soft furnishings, not a hard edge to be found and a choice of clean cool finishes or warmer oak cabinetry, detailed with copper inlays.

Interior Accommodation

The 53’s interior design is wonderfully relaxing, there are marshmallows less sumptuous than the saloon’s inviting facing sofas. To the main port seating, an electric pedestal allows the dining table to drop into an occasion berth, a useful feature on a cruising yacht. 

We are now so used to builders working in massive glass sections that they can almost be overlooked, as opposed to gratefully looked through. Here, the saloon guests will enjoy unbroken views across the water from single-piece side screens, or perhaps watch the pop-up TV to starboard. 

That said, the low window line means that taller people won't have a great view out when standing in the saloon. The window line is undeniably sleek but the views out aren't as good as board the likes of the Absolute 52 Fly and Princess F55. There's also an odd lack of ventilation. There's a small window above the galley, aft, but there is no way of getting any natural ventilation into the helm station - not even a manual sliding window - so it gets pretty uncomfortable on hot days. 

The 53’s galley design spreads across the aft of the main deck, creating not only a space you can actually cook in, but also lots of practicality, from a proper cabinet refrigerator and dishwasher to designated drawers for glassware and crockery. The beauty of this galley is how everything is so neatly concealed behind the oak panels of the cabinetry, many with satisfying push catches that reveal things like the microwave and storage for the boat's crockery. It's a very clean look.  The design doesn’t allow that complete inside-outside flow into the cockpit, that large fridge winning out over an adjoining window and bar, but it does connect up the saloon and deck easily enough.

Tri-cab triumph

The three cabins are all excellent, the light, relaxed feel of the saloon continuing with a neat twin guest cabin forward VIP that shares a toilet and shower compartment. The owner’s stateroom is full beam with the ensuite lying forward at the cabin entrance. There is also space for a washing machine across the way. 

The layout is interesting. Instead of having the central doorway into the VIP cabin with the day head to port, the day head/VIP ensuite is centrally located, leaving the entrance to the VIP cabin to port. This arrangement creates a more spacious bathroom and provides a separate passageway into the VIP through the head compartment. It also puts the day head closer to the twin cabin, which without its own ensuite will use the day head as its bathroom. Some boats at this size have bunks in the third cabin so it's nice to see side-by-side berths aboard the 53 Fly. 

The owner’s cabin is luxurious and clever in equal measure. Two smart strips of glass line the walls, with mirrors positioned to visually extend the window design and create a sense of even more space. The yacht’s sleek profile is perhaps felt a little in this cabin, with slightly less volume than say the Sunseeker Manhattan 55, but there is still full headroom around the double berth and space for a sofa, dressing area and, most impressively, a full-height walk-in wardrobe. 

Helm Station

The low brow of the windscreen means the view is a little restricted when standing at the lower helm but the adjustable seat makes it easy to get comfortable with a decent view forward thanks to thin windscreen mullions and the position of the wheel towards the centreline. The dash itself is stylish and attractive, dominated as it is upstairs by the comically large and thick steering wheel. 

Our boat had the Gold electronics package which provides 12in Garmin MFDs over the standard 9in ones and this is an investment worth making. It's good to see a remote keypad to control the screens on the dash as well as the touchscreen functionality which can be a bit tricky to use if the boat is bouncing around.  

The lack of ventilation is one issue at the lower helm but having no window to be able to communicate with crew limits the scenarios where you would want to moor the boat from here. When some rivals have full side doors it's not really good enough to have no windows around the helm at all. 

Upstairs there are few complaints. The seated position is excellent and the layout of the dash works very well indeed. Having the major controls on a long moulding to port means the skipper can sit back in their seat and reach the joystick, throttles and the remote for the twin MFDs really easily. The dash is clearly laid out and nice to look at, though it could do with a bit more storage for loose items.

Deck lifestyle

The flybridge is pretty clear on its focus, it’s not the biggest but it is very welcoming with a circular design that is perfect for loafing, lounging and generally enjoying the good life. A large sun pad forward is joined by a wraparound aft seat and fold-out bar-dining table that will also convert to a massive pad. In between, a useful wet bar will keep guests supplied with cold drinks. The optional electro-hydraulic bimini is the more pleasing option for the eye but many will fall for the versatility and ease of the hardtop, which has built-in lighting and a sliding canvas roof operated by a one-touch control on the upper helm. 

Down the flybridge stairs, the aft cockpit keeps things simple with an L-shaped bench and dining area, fender and warp storage below the seats. Even though there is no through window to the galley, it’s great that Azimut has chosen to still deliver a neat bar area, sat beneath the flybridge overhang, making the aft deck feel more sociable and sophisticated. The entire area can be enclosed with canopy covers to extend the living space in poor weather, too. 

At this length, a forward lounge is far from guaranteed and so it should be fully appreciated. This one has a separate seating area, the sunpad running down to the bow. The backrest mechanism is particularly smart and uses hinges and gas rams so you can quickly switch between the two positions. There is also the option for a shade sitting on carbon poles, a useful addition when in port or at anchor. 

At the stern, the hydraulic bathing platform will easily launch the tender (up to 500kg) or serve as a fun swim platform when the boat's at anchor. The transom also gives access to the crew cabin with a single bed and toilet, it could easily make up another occasional guest berth but is probably destined to be a high-end storage area. 

Value For Money

The Azimut 53 must rank as one of the smartest and most cohesive 50ft yachts on the market. In the 10m-15m market, we are seeing a move away from luxurious detail and craft, with builders employing clever if often blandly homogeneous production finishes. Here, the level of thought, design and finish on offer gets the luxury balance right and separates this yacht from what is a crowded market. So while there might be larger yachts in this sector, and some that can match the Azimut on the finish, few mix style, speed and space so effortlessly.

It feels like a quality product, too, not only in the obvious stuff like brightwork and interior finish but the engine room is one of the best in the sector with plenty of space to work on the engines, a very neat installation and some useful extras like a freshwater hose and a pair of wandering lights that attach to the ceiling for easy illumination of the darker corners. 

The base price for a 53 is €1.1 million ex VAT (at the time of writing) but our test boat had around €500,000 of extras including the hard top, Seakeeper, Gold navigation package, crew cabin fit-out, uprated generator and air-conditioning meaning the price as tested was €1.72 million ex VAT (at the time of writing). 

To use a boxing analogy, a 50ft flybridge might well be the best pound-for-pound cruiser out there. Big and heavy enough to be comfortable in most seas, it is still agile and rewarding to drive, offers three good cabins over a 40-footer’s two but is just as easy to self-pilot. The Azimut 53 does all of this and adds some breathtaking design that will look good forever, but, importantly, never forgets that while it is a luxury yacht it is also one that is destined to be used, and you will definitely enjoy using this boat. It's a shame about the lack of ventilation in the saloon and the view aft from the flybridge but there's still a lot to like about this fabulously stylish flybridge cruiser. 

Reasons to Buy

• Handsome design
• Handling and performance
• Well proportioned cabins
• Excellent engine room

Things to Consider

• Lack of ventilation in the saloon
• Poor view aft from upper helm

There is no lack of fast, spacious 50ft flybridge yachts, with all the big players involved, which is why any new boat coming to market needs to go hard or go home. You can demand and win 30knots, three cabins, bright glass-clad salons and spacious decks from any number of builders and with a good deal of variation on price. What you won't always enjoy is the style and beauty on offer here, but we shall leave that subjective point to the beholder. 

The award-winning Sunseeker Manhattan 55 is an obvious rival, big on space and luxury it is arguably the class leader. Azimut’s old adversity, Ferretti , has the clean and serene 550, a larger yacht with crisp Italian style and inside and a very similar layout to the 53.     

The Princess F55 is another close rival, and notably longer yacht, with the same layout on and below decks and a similarly light and welcoming style. The British boat has a big flybridge with masses of seating.

The Absolute 52 Fly and Galeon 530 Fly offer clever deck and interior spaces and more bombastic styling but they are unlikely to be as dynamically sweet as the Azimut. 

It is to the Azimut 53’s credit that all of its main three-cabin rivals are longer boats. Half a meter might not sound much but it counts for a lot on interior volume, so Azimut and its design team are to be congratulated for delivering this amount of easy-living yacht under 17m (55ft).    

Specifications & Performance

• Builder Azimut
• Range Fly Collection
• Model Azimut Fly 53
• Length Overall 55.052ft
• Beam 16.24ft
• Draft 4.626ft
• Yacht Type (Primary) Flybridge
• Use Type (Primary) Cruising
• Cruising Speed Max Speed
• Fuel Capacity 634 Gallons
• Fresh Water Capacity 156 Gallons
• Engine Model 2x Volvo Penta D11-IPS950

Performance Data

Azimut Fly 53 version 2022. *Data supplied by the manufacturer.

Test Engines Twin Volvo Penta D11-IPS950

• Liters Per Hour
• Liters Per Mile
•   CRUISE

Azimut Fly 53 Layout

A simple, social, circular design wraps around the flybridge with a forward sunpad and an aft lounge and dining area that will convert to another pad 

The salon has a galley aft design, with a slightly raised lounge forward. On deck, an L-shaped seating area is joined by a neat bar in the cockpit, while forward another lounge area will be a great spot in port     

The full-beam Owner's stateroom and forward VIP will get the headlines but the fact the third cabin has twin berths, rather than bunks, is a key point. An optional aft crew or occasional cabin can also be specified

Jack Haines

Jack is YachtBuyer's Reviews Director. He is a writer, editor and presenter with 15 years’ experience testing over 350 motorboats of all shapes and sizes, from 20ft RIBs to 120ft yachts (and even the Royal Navy Frigate HMS Sutherland ). 

• United Kingdom
• Rest of World

Azimut S8 Review: Perfect Sports Yacht

Interesting in many aspects, the new Azimut S8 boasts great performance, large open exterior spaces and lavishly designed interior, and a stylish overall feeling shaped by designers Alberto Mancini and Francesco Guida

The latest model in Azimut S Collection has entered the market in 2019 at Cannes Yachting Festival , without much pomp, overshadowed by S10, the biggest in her line. After a long pandemic year where not much happened in the yachting world, this year’s Venice Boat Show finally gave her and other newcomers a chance to shine. We were lucky enough to take her for a ride around the Lagoon and see what she can do. We found the new Azimut S8 simply irresistible for several reasons.

Azimut S8 range

Powered by three Volvo IPS (3 x IPS 1350 1000 hp), she’s impressively fast. Acceleration, speed, maneuvering capabilities and above all, smooth sailing, are all equally attractive to turn everyone into a fan of the S8.

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Azimut s8 layout.

The interior is just as inviting. Straight up from the cockpit, the salon offers two sofas in the sitting area, then continues to the dining space starboard and the command post to the port, with two seats and a dedicated door leading to the deck.

Yacht with four cabins

The salon is well lit by natural light seeping through large windows and the skylight, which can be covered electrically. The command console is large and has three Garmin screens that control everything, even the engines. Below deck, beside the galley, there are four cabins – the master aft, the VIP in the bow, and two guest cabins with Pullman beds, and the S8 overall has ten berths. Another big hit for Azimut, and a challenge for every builder looking to do better in this class.

Text Darko Šupuk

Photos & video Azimut Yachts

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Reviewed: Azimut Atlantis 45

• By Phil Draper
• Updated: October 29, 2020

The Azimut Atlantis 45 shares the same next-generation design cues as the line’s flagship, the 51. Both are snub-nosed open cruisers with hardtops, and both have that smart, new Azimut look. Check out the latest S Collection flagship, the Azimut Grande S10, and you’ll see much of the same sheer and stem, despite the fact that the S10 is twice the length and more than five times the displacement of the 45.

The only power option for the Atlantis 45 is a pair of Volvo Penta D6-440 diesels well-matched to IPS600 pod drives. Azimut quotes a full-load maximum speed of 33 knots and a fast cruise of 28 knots for this model.

We were registering a little better. According to the yacht’s Garmin instrumentation, the 45 topped out at just over 34 knots in Trim Assist mode, but with it switched off and a little tinkering, I coaxed the yacht north of 35 knots. Theoretically, the useful range at a moderate-to-fast cruise would be 200 to 240 nautical miles.

Thanks to a V-hull form with a 15-degree transom deadrise, the 45′s handling is precise throughout the engines’ rpm ranges. And Volvo Penta’s Electronic Vessel Control joystick aids in close-quarters handling.

Azimut’s ergonomics are usually pretty good, and to that end, two bolster seats to starboard address the console with the driver’s seat inboard. To port of the helm is a double bench seat that converts to a 4-foot square lounger. Personally, I’d keep it that way. Who needs the on-the-bus seating? Given the shade of the hardtop—providing you have the 92-by-75-inch retractable fabric sunroof closed—this is the place to curl up with a good book.

But then, perception of space aboard the 45 is slightly skewed because the companionway is off-center, so what you may suppose to be the middle of the yacht really isn’t. Abaft the helm seats, there’s booth dining for as many as eight guests, if you have a couple extra seats handy to complete the ring around the four-piece cockpit table. The table is mostly protected by the hardtop, and there’s an extendable awning, stretched taut by stainless-steel struts, delivering more shade to the aft seating and about half of the stern sun pad.

Belowdecks, the 45 has a two-stateroom, two-head layout with a galley/salon amidships, made all the better for hull windows and an opaque skylight above. The owner’s stateroom is in the bow with facilities en suite. The headroom where you need it is 6 feet, 3 inches. The aft stateroom is surprisingly good, especially for those with younger children. There are three single berths, with an option for a double-plus when the two athwartship beds are combined. The booth sofa in the main salon converts to a double berth too.

The Atlantis 45 takes the builder’s midsize offerings in a new design direction, one that has proved popular on larger models. For yachtsmen looking for big-boat styling in a family-size express cruiser, the 45 may be worth a look.

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Her deep-V hull also delivers long range power; a shallow deadrise at the stern, with wide chines and an unusual soft section at center. Her vertical bow reduces pitch acceleration in head seas. Also, a slightly right-turn improvement over standard potency: A twin Cummins Mercruiser Easy Hybrid system QSB 5.9 diesels @ 425 hp, plus twin 23-kW-almost-totally-silent electric motors when youre not in a hurry @ slow speeds only. When timely arrival is necessary, this hybrid power combination will whisk this lady along at an agreeable 22 knots. For comfortable long range cruise on-plane she roams at 18-k. Alternating with the Easy Hybrid system vs electric motors only, expect a range of up to 1,000 nm. Most comfortable usage of the electric mode, of course, is in docking and low speed maneuvers. Yet, slow cruising, she can make 8k on battery powered engines alone. [fuel savings!]

This 50’ is Azimut’s first offshoot of the Twin Easy Hybrid system, but their Naval Architect planners are looking ever forward. Their current directives are to expand the line from its initial 74’ & 50’ editions to include a 40’; which is now on the drawing boards. Azimut’s plans are to deliver a series of comfortable yachts in varying sizes, appealing to many different boaters tastes. Several of those new designs are well underway in the company’s creative top echelons; like this 50, which offers four alternate cabin layouts. So, Magellanos line of fast runabouts are looking forward to even larger, more commodious and cruiser-pleasing partners from its shipyard in Avigliana.

High up on the FlyBridge the air is even sweeter; a great place for partying, plus monitoring all the outdoor adventures taking place. This dining table, nicely shaped, fine wood is part of Azimut’s dedication to environmental courtesies, using only non-threatened wood varieties. (The builder was lauded by the FSC Forest Stewardship Council for Eco-Sustaining Forests). And, quick note: the table’s edges have a lip that prevents accidental slide spills; fiddles if you will. Forward, the auxiliary helm allows the driver a taste of the outdoors as well.

The flybridge helm is a study in doing something dramatically different! Functionally, it's fine. Aesthetically, it looks like an afterthought. Keep in mind, this is a 50' boat and space is at a premium, so the helm has a reduced signature and is minimalistic in nature. The location is offset to starboard, granting a birds-eye view of the bow and a good line of sight for backing down a slip.

An Azimut flair is evident in this soaring Navigation Mast, recognizable from a fair distance. Distinctive and notable as Naval Architect Bill Dixons talent can design it; with exterior by Cor D Rover and a sparkling interior by her Azimut staff, Magellano can take another bow for bright originality. The central mast supports the antenna array, but also houses spreader lights, stereo speakers, etc. Clever; this is a masterful, creative result of employing various spaces for dual usage.

Magellano's sculpted deck surfaces articulate the modern touches of Dixons design with comfort-dedicated planning shown here. Note the thru-deck window along the walkway to shed light on the V-berth. We're not sure about sure-footing here on this panel! Note the fender storage hatches to port/starboard for quick line handling. Deeply upholstered seating provides ample space for a part of eight or more.

Safety measure & planning continues its progression at every level on this new-age cruiser. On the main aft deck, her molded fiberglass staircase adds strong, foot-sure teak steps and a pair of weight-tested twin banisters. A hinged, see-thru hatch above seals off the elements as needed. Up or down, any weather; shes built to a high cruising standard.

Looking astern on the main aftdeck, the idea of sunning or stargazing paints a lovely big yacht picture. This comfortable settee seats a crowd of 6 comfortably with a choice of sun or shade. See next photo...

Now, for those dedicated non-sun worshippers, her soft, translucent shade is always at the ready...

Call this bathing luxury for a yacht this size. You said it! Oh Yes, it is a swim platform, served by an enclosed stairway. Its also a spot to stash a tender; albeit an inflatable not much larger than a pool raft. Splaaash!

The M-50's compact galley serves double duty. Both the sink and the stove have fold down covers that convert the galley to additional counter space when not in use. A compact Miele oven adds a touch of big boat basting charm to this nook of a kitchen. Simple and sweet, with sweeping views, space limitations are quickly overlooked. The window-panes here and throughout are anti-UV coated film to minimize heat exchange. Storage is sparse, but a willing weekender.

Looking aft, the kitchen is closed and the fold-down countertops become bookends. She has an elegance about her, not usually noticed in a relatively small yacht this size. However, the designers choices of color, fabrics, and arrangements mark this as a Real Looker. She is quite well executed. A stand out for a 50-foot yacht which, in size, is almost large enough to take the place of a full-bodied, live-in house-at-sea for an adventurous couple.

Offset to port, in the center of the action, her raised dinette is plush with comfy, well-padded seating, not just spindly chairs. Her table handily serves six diners, and perhaps with some coaxing, a couple more. Excellent views abound, as should be onboard a yacht's dinner table. Worth noting is her well-padded overhead ceilings... just in case.

Just forward in the salon, a satellite helm becomes the wheelhouse, although it is merely a simple step to starboard and a simplified version of today’s digital domain. The instrument panel is set up with a master scenario, but obviously abbreviated. Visibility is good from every angle, but the helm lacks the inspiration many a seafarer desires.

Almost as a welcoming point to the Master Suite and collateral staterooms, the vessels centrally located staircase meanders down to below decks. Actually, so well padded it seems rather not-very-yacht-like. Yet its fashioned in a striking design. Artsy, as well as usefully essential in scope with highly polished stainless steel banisters; it offers deep fabric tread covers.

An excellent business or reading studio; not often planned or considered in a 50-footer. However, this is first class usage for a corner nook; a space not jammed with extra sleeping or storage facilities. Perhaps a setting reserved for more exact communications equipment, as it becomes available.

Another studio shot; this close-up enlarges the desk view and shelving. Plus, also notice: an actual opening port at each beam. This is a good spot to talk about multiple options after dark, or the owners plans for how the yacht is used, daily. Azimut offers a conglomerate of accommodation plans, all to build/furnish at the owner’s choice. This same well disposed living plan outlined here can be altered on order, for two, or even three cabins. It can be situated with two staterooms and heads; or a studio/office to starboard and utility room with washer/dryer and a single berth to port. Yet another layout can include a lower deck dinette. This lady is versatile, eager to satisfy your cruising needs. Shes a dainty, willing lass, eager to please.

Her lower salon offers private settings for intimate conversations perhaps; or additional lounging/sleeping room for several visitors.

The Master Suite is beam wide, quite well laid out and very roomy for this size yacht. With its king-size berth centered, though askew in its angled location, it offers ample walk-around room, while also providing plenty of walk-in closet space.

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Azimut reveals new 44m flagship with 5 units already sold

Italian shipyard Azimut has added a new flagship to its Grande range in the form of a new 43.8-metre yacht, which has been revealed for the first time at the Palm Beach International Boat Show. CEO Marco Valle said the yard had already sold five units in the new line to existing Azimut owners, and described the line as a "new era for Azimut". 

The first unit of the four-deck 499GT series is set for delivery in time for the September 2026 boat show season.

Exteriors of the GRP build come from long-time Azimut collaborator Alberto Mancini , while interiors have been helmed by M2 Atelier .  The studio's partner Marco Bonelli described the design as "refined" with pure themes that "capture the essence of flowing water".

Features of the Grande 44M include a completely private 50-square-metre owner's deck with a forward-facing, glass-encased space that can be used as a dining area, media room or otherwise, making good use of the yacht's 8.6-metre beam. On the main deck aft, the yacht will have an infinity pool that creates what the yard is calling a "see-through dining area".

The Grande 44M is expected be powered by twin MAN engines, delivering a top speed of 17 knots. 

Construction will take place in Viareggio, with the moulds already taking shape. 

Azimut last revealed the Grande 30M to BOAT International. The first unit is scheduled for delivery in 2025 and will feature the shipyard's trademark "Deck2Deck Terrace" and "Infinity Skydeck".

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Azimut 66 review: from the archive

• Düsseldorf Boat Show

More than just a simple upgrade on previous models, the Azimut 66 offers an innovative layout, cutting-edge construction and, of course, the finesse we expect from the Italian yard

The Azimut 66 replaces the yard’s existing 64 model, which in turn replaced the original 62.

Between them, Azimut sold over 300 units of the 62/64, making for one of the yard’s most successful model series ever.

With heady expectations to meet, Azimut has cleaned the slate and started again with the 66. It is not a mere upgrade of the 64, it is a brand new boat with an extra cabin, much improved deck spaces and a far more modern construction.

The flat foredeck is a styling cue but also adds to the feeling of safety when you’re right forward.

Ninety per cent of the moulding is done using vinylester resin infusion, though Azimut isn’t the only production yard doing this sort of thing.

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Where the yard is ahead of the game, however, is in its utilisation of carbon fibre in the build.

We saw this in the 55S but with the 66 it’s taken to the next level to ensure that volume and deck space are maximised without compromising the driving experience.

The foredeck, flybridge structure, radar arch and hardtop are all reinforced with carbon fibre, the result being that the Azimut 66 is over 2ft longer than the yard’s own Magellano 66 but weighs nearly 4 tonnes less.

Above and beyond

The flybridge and foredeck are major improvements; the top deck is now 28m² and the layout is hard to improve, particularly the optional lounging area on the very aft section of the deck.

Usually here there is a choice between a sunpad, open deck space for a couple of sunloungers, or tender storage with a crane.

On the 66, Azimut has designed some stylish low-slung seating around a cocktail table so guests can sit in comfort enjoying the elevated views away from the cover of the hardtop.

The layout of the flybridge combines an excellent blend of dining, sunbathing and loafing space.

The boat we had on trial didn’t have this option and the flybridge felt less special for it.

There is, of course, another seating area amidships, opposite the wet-bar, focused more on dining and right forward, the twin helm is supplemented by a U-shaped seating area adjacent that guests can sit at while the boat is moving or use as a mini sunpad at anchor.

There isn’t a huge amount of out-and-out sunbathing space on the flybridge but that is more than made up for on the foredeck.

The arrowhead bow that has become a signature piece of Azimut design divides opinion stylistically, but it does increase the available space at the bow and make for a flat, safe area to crew and tend to the ground tackle.

The mirrored glass is an Azimut hallmark and helps to reduce UV damage.

The eight-person bench forward of the windscreen is separated from the four-person sunpad by a teak-laid walkway – not groundbreaking stuff in this market, but a big improvement over what the 64 offered.

The changes are less obvious in the saloon, where the amidships galley arrangement remains with the main dining area located handily opposite.

Whereas the 64 had a storage unit opposite the lounging area aft, the Azimut 66 has yet more seating to create a more sociable arrangement, though you do lose the useful cupboard storage.

To counter this, Azimut has worked more storage into the galley itself and created a handy little breakfast bar facing back into the galley opposite the helm.

The galley isn’t enormous but the space on offer is used well.

It may not have the single-level expansiveness of the Princess 68 or the saloon/cockpit connection of the aft-galley Prestige 680, but the styling and use of materials is effortlessly stylish and cool. It’s beautifully done.

In fitting four cabins within the 66’s lower deck, Azimut has had to be smart with the configuration.

The twin cabin on the starboard side, which has a pair of side-by-side berths and its own ensuite, eats into the floorspace of the master cabin so, to counter that, the bed in the master lies athwartships.

This is irregular and space down the left hand side of the boat is tight up against the ensuite bulkhead, but the positive result is that hull windows are at either end of the bed meaning you get light pouring over you from behind and water level views at the end of the bed.

The master ensuite is dripping with quality materials.

The ensuite – beautifully finished and doing a passable impression of a top-end hotel – runs alongside the bed and also provides some extra insulation from the machinery space right aft.

Between the twin cabin bulkhead and the large L-shaped wardrobe on the starboard side, Azimut has found space for a small two-person dinette, which is more likely to be used as a vanity station than a place to eat breakfast.

I love the way the bedhead is set within an alcove that has the portside hull window at its centre with uplighting and built-in bedside tables either side.

It hammers home the hotel feel – this is a space that feels not like a cabin but an exquisitely decorated bedroom.

If the VIP cabin is occupied then the twin cabin is a fine alternative.

The VIP cabin is treated to abundant natural light thanks to long windows.

It has the polished feel of the other cabins, two comfortable berths and a pair of almost ornamentally pretty round ports that fire natural light into the space to deceive the eye that it has more room than it does.

Mix in abundant storage and access to its own ensuite – albeit one that is also the day heads – and you have a cabin that guests will be more than happy to use for an extended stay.

There is only space in the fourth cabin for bunks, most likely aimed at kids, but the beds are spacious enough for adults to use and, for a charter boat, the four-cabin layout will be particularly attractive, especially with a generous twin crew cabin located aft.

First-class machinery

Venture into the engineroom and it’s clear that beneath the glamorous lines and mirrored glass there is top-class engineering and practical detailing.

The two big CAT motors are mounted with plenty of space around them to check all sides of both engines.

Piping is clearly labelled, not just with what it does but the direction of flow, too.

Clear bulbs on the fuel filters make checking for the early signs of fuel contamination as easy as possible and there are extra goodies, such as a light on a wandering lead and a freshwater hose to swill the bilges.

The master’s cosy dinette is a more useful solution than the usual chaise longue.

Glamorous this stuff ain’t but it underpins the Azimut 66’s style and panache and, for a boat that will most likely be owner-run, this sensible design and ease of maintenance is very important.

One of the reasons why Azimut chose Caterpillar engines is because spare parts are so readily available thanks to CAT’s massive commercial machinery business.

The C18 ACERT 1,150s are the only engines on the options list so if they underperform it spells trouble.

Thankfully, with nearly full fuel, a quarter water and some cruising stores on board, we saw just over 33 knots at the top end.

So performance isn’t an issue and neither is refinement.

The galley forward leaves plenty of space aft for a sociable lounge.

Azimut’s attitude to sound deadening is fastidious and the results are clear to see, or hear, especially from the lower helm.

It’s a whisper-quiet machine that effortlessly surges from displacement plod to planning jog in a near-imperceptible transition.

The fly-by-wire steering is perfectly judged, though its sensitivity and responsiveness can be adjusted by the owner.

It’s unlikely that many people will be tweaking the steering response of their 40-tonne flybridge, especially when the standard set-up is so sweet.

The Azimut 66 is genuinely fun to drive, which is not something in the remit of a boat like this, but if it puts a smile on your face as you flick the chunky steering wheel from side to side, all the better.

Part of the steering system that Azimut has developed means that the rudders turn to a greater angle at low speeds to make the turn tighter.

Ferretti has been using a similar feature for some time now but Azimut’s works without the car-like auto-centre trick that the Ferretti version has and takes some getting used to.

At slow speeds, an integrated joystick system combines the engines and thrusters to give you IPS-like slow-speed control, and it works brilliantly.

The response and reaction times aren’t quite as quick and smooth as the pods but it’s a worthwhile alternative to the traditional way of handling a twin shaftdrive boat.

The large thick rimmed steering wheel looks and feels fantastic.

The lower helm is an attractive mix of coffee and caramel tones and with gorgeous, adjustable Treben helm seats and mercifully skinny windscreen mullions, the view forward is excellent.

The multi-function displays are both too much of a stretch, even with the seat as close to the dash as it will go, so you find yourself leaning forward a lot of the time.

At the upper helm, the screens are closer but the seats don’t adjust as far so there are compromises at both driving positions.

The upper helm lacks the adjustment of the one below but it is very clearly laid out and smartly finished.

Our test in Savona did little to test the mettle of the Studio PLANA hull design and any wake crossings were dismissed with a condescending shrug.

Given the solidity of the boat as a whole and Azimut’s reputation, I would be surprised if rough seas threw up any nasty surprises but we certainly didn’t have the weather to prove that during the sea trial.

A closer look at the Azimut 66 with Jack Haines

Breakfast bar.

This neat area adjacent to the lower helm and facing into the galley works brilliantly as a spot to sit and chat to the cook or have a morning coffee, plus it gives guests a place to keep the person at the helm on passage company, though they will be facing the wrong way.

Thanks to electrochromic glass, this partition in the galley switches from clear to opaque at the flick of a switch.

Whether you want privacy from crew or to hide piles of plates, it’s a useful feature, not to mention a funky party trick.

With two generous berths set at a right angle and a separate bathroom with shower, the Azimut 66’s crew cabin could feasibly be used by guests – especially kids – for a short stay.

Sadly there isn’t space for an access door through to the engineroom, which would be useful for crewed boats.

The fuel filters have glass bowls for quick checks.

Behind the swooping lines and mirrored windows you find an engineroom bristling with thoughtful, practical design.

The fuel filters have glass bowls for quick checks, all pipes and wires are labelled with what they do and, for pipes, direction of flow, plus there is a light on a wandering lead and a freshwater hose.

Azimut 66 verdict

Sales success isn’t exactly a scientific way of quantifying how good a boat is. Brand loyalty goes a long way, as does an individual deal negotiated with a dealer, but for 35 contracts to have been signed since January 2016 and 15 boats delivered, Azimut must be doing something right.

As an improvement over the model it replaces, you couldn’t ask for more.

It has one more cabin, a much-improved foredeck, larger, better laid-out flybridge and a more spacious master cabin.

It is heavier, yes, but, thanks to the carbon fibre, with the same engines as the 64, it is only a knot slower at the top end.

The Azimut 66 finds itself somewhere between the Princess 68 and Prestige 680 when it comes to starting prices and that feels about right.

The 68 demands a premium as it includes four cabins without the compromise of one of them having bunk beds.

The fixed comfortable furniture aft on the flybridge is a rare treat.

The Prestige has a clever layout and marvellous raised master cabin forward but the use of materials isn’t as good as the Azimut and it lacks the visual punch.

In fact, most of the Azimut’s major rivals bow down to its attention-grabbing exterior and interesting lines.

What’s key though, is that the Azimut 66 isn’t simply relying on looking different to tempt customers away from other brands.

Beneath the glitz and glamour is a boat rippling with top-class engineering and quality boatbuilding, a recipe that is likely to see this new model tread comfortably in its predecessor’s footsteps.

First published in the March 2017 issue of MBY.

Price from: €2.15m inc VAT Price as tested: €2.48m inc VAT Hardtop with sunroof (Options on test boat): €61,980 Raymarine gold package (Options on test boat): €32,657 Bose audio/video advanced package (Options on test boat): €57,626 Hydaulic passerelle (Options on test boat): €23,924 Electric bimini on foredeck (Options on test boat): €19,865 Overal length: 68ft 3in (20.8m) Beam: 17ft 2in (5.23m) Fuel Capacity: 858 imp gal (3,900 litres) Water Capacity: 220 imp gal (1,000 litres) Draught: 5ft 3in (1.6m) RCD Category: A for 14 people Designers: Stefano Righini/Carlo Galeazzi/Studio PLANA Displacement: 41 tonnes Test engines: Caterpillar C18 ACERT Twin 1,150hp @ 2,400rpm. 6-cylinder, 18.1-litre diesels

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