Opinions on flybridge yachts 50 feet

---alex--- · 05-07-2007, 06:59 AM

hi,

i am owner of a azimut 46 flybridge yacht, but i am looking for a new boat. Ive been checking out the used boat market, and found some interesting 1 year old yachts. Maybe you guys can give me some advice? I'm looking for a flybridge yacht of about 50 feet tall, must have at least 6 berths.

First of all there is the azimut 50/55E i like very much. The design is really beautiful. However i have had a lot of quality problims with my current 46. I had to replace pumps, electric devices, toilets, windscreen, water lines, teak, ... . I also had to repaint the gelcoat, and had a lot of engine problems in the beginning. My technician told me azimut hasn't improved his quality yet. Also, azimuts lose their value very much. So i don't think this is a good deal.

I already visited an ferretti 50, which is really finished into every detail. The inside design is amazing, and high quality (large beds, big lockers). I really liked that they have 2 guest cabins with 2 beds next to each other. also gelcoat, chromes and windscreen are very nice. They price higher, but they keep value in time. The only negative point i see is the old-fashioned exterior..

Then there is the Sunseeker Manhattan 50 that i like very much. I like the design, but i don't know what they are worth? What about the quality?

Finally, i've seen photos of the princess 50 and fairline phantom 50, however i have no experience with this makes. But they seem nice, i wonder what quality level they deliver? 2 friends of mine had a princes 57 and a squadron 58, and they did not really had much problems so i think they are owkay. the phantom 50 i am afraid that one guest cabin (the one with the double bed) has a very smal bed... (seen on pictures)

I was hoping to get some good advice about this boats, maybe anyone has good or bad experience with one of the boats or the make in general.

thanks, alex

nilo · 05-07-2007, 01:50 PM

dear alex,

i had a 40' azimut and then a 53' and 68' ferretti boats. ferretti a better boat than azimut both in build quality and design parameters. a number of my friends had english boats. sunseeker kind of azimut of the british. very attractive exterior design (though neither present azimuts nor sunseekers are my taste) but relatively poor quality, especially in places where you do not see.

fairline is a bit better than princess in build quality and i see that they have been improving their interiors as well.

however, if you are not strictly after one of these well known brands, i am sure you can have boats at least at par in quality and much more favorable in price from other builders as well.

elsupremo · 05-07-2007, 02:41 PM

Alex, I'm in a very similar position to you, and I've asked similar questions on this forum before (without too much response). I just want you to be aware that some people on these forums have selected a brand and spent considerable money on that brand, and probably have a slanted perspective on what's good and what's not. I say this lightly and only for your own consideration.
I say it NOT to depreciate what anyone has to say. I recommend considering everyone's opinions, as they might be right! Overall, from what I can tell, it appears there's a LOT of subjectivity in opinions about the brands. Hopefully, enough people will contribute their experiences and opinions, and some patterns will arise that might demonstrate some truth!

elsupremo · 05-08-2007, 12:36 AM

I want to clarify my above statement. I mean everything I said, but I'll say this about Nilo - I didn't meant to single him out and after communicating with him through private messages, he has a lot of experience and knowledge behind his responses. I'm grateful he's here to share his thoughts.

---alex--- · 05-08-2007, 10:03 AM

Actually, what nilo said is the same thing as i've heard from a couple other people, but i had no id weather to believe them or not.

but what other brands do you have in mind nilo?

KCook · 05-11-2007, 02:30 AM

Cranchi and Uniesse have flybridges in this size. How do they stack up against Azimut?

Kelly Cook

---alex--- · 05-14-2007, 04:21 AM

i visited a cranchi atlantique 48 last year, and it did not pleased me at all. the materials used are really of inferior quality, the boat really looks fragile...

i guess crachi doesn't have the knowledge like ferretti, sunseeker, .. because they have no experience in building bigger boats.

last week i went to visit a princess 50. the princess was really disappointing, everything looks cheap and instable. some people told my that the quality of princess had gone down the past years.

i also heard that ferretti is in financial problems, they still deliver the same quality boats, but they don't invest in research and developement due to their financial problems. they haven't come up with any new models for the 2007 season.

TK-F430 · 05-14-2007, 06:48 AM

Hi Alex,

I just bought a 2007 Fairline Phantom 48. I bought the flagship boat which is the very first P48 to be built and was used as their show boat. The Fairline P48 will be the replacement of the Phantom 50. The boat has an exquisite modern interior and the exterior is also great. The interior finishing is impeccable. She has three front cabins, 2 double rooms and one twin bed (bunk) room apart from the rear crew cabin with a single bed, toilet and sink.
The boat is great in every detail.
I had posted pictures before on the forum of my boat. Check the following link: http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/fa...html#post38453

Best regards,

Tarek

MYCaptainChris · 05-15-2007, 11:44 AM

I have run, Azimut, Ferretti, Sunseeker and Princess yachts in the past ranging from 47-90ft and if I could say one was better than the other I would..... but I can't. They are all good at what they are meant for and built in the way to suit the design brief. My favourites were the Sunseeker as the engineering was somewhat better that the others, and the Princess for it's slightly more timeless design, but thats my opinion.
Another yacht I ran was a Dominator 65 which I covered near 2000 miles in the year on-board. Although there were some design flaws, she was a nice yacht, that had performance that matched her looks. http://www.dominator.it/

---alex--- · 05-16-2007, 06:50 AM

nice boat tarek, the only bummer is you do not find nearly new sales on the second hand market yet

thanx for your comment chris, i went to see a sunseeker manhattan 50 yesterday, and it pleased me very well. looks solid. nice design. I already knew about dominator, but a 62 feet motoryacht is a bit to big for what i need.

thank you all for the good comments, alex

brianwill · 05-23-2007, 09:58 PM

The Uniesse is a very well built boat that you should take a look at.

TK-F430 · 05-27-2007, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ---alex---

nice boat tarek, the only bummer is you do not find nearly new sales on the second hand market yet

thanx for your comment chris, i went to see a sunseeker manhattan 50 yesterday, and it pleased me very well. looks solid. nice design. I already knew about dominator, but a 62 feet motoryacht is a bit to big for what i need.

thank you all for the good comments, alex

I am upgrading by the end of this year to a Fairline Squadron 78. If you are interested in my Phantom 48, let me know.

Regards,

TK

MYCaptainChris · 05-27-2007, 09:49 AM

There is some proof in the pudding for Fairline.

If someone is brand loyal then surely they have had good experience with the yacht.

nilo · 05-27-2007, 03:35 PM

Dear Alex,

Sorry have over looked your comments. I can recommend the Turkish Numarine (http://www.numarine.com/); Vicem (http://www.vicemyacht.com/) is also building very good quality, but could be a retro design, not to everbody's liking. Rodman (http://www.rodman.es) could also be a brand to look into, although again the styling may not be as attractive as the Azimut. They are selling value at the prices they offer the boats. Uniesse Marine (http://www.uniesse.it/) also building good quality boats. I can also propose Mulder (http://www.jachtwerfmulder.nl)
who build aluminium semi custom boats. Lastly, due to cheap U.S.dollar Marquis Yachts (http://international.marquisyachts.com), which is build by Carver, (as to my knowledge the hulls are based on previous Mochi Craft molds) could be an option.

Nilo

Quote:

Originally Posted by ---alex---

Actually, what nilo said is the same thing as i've heard from a couple other people, but i had no id weather to believe them or not.

but what other brands do you have in mind nilo?

lewis · 10-20-2009, 03:20 AM

dear Tarek, I have just read an old post of yours (2007) and you bought a new phantom. I am in New Zealand and replacing my Azimut 46. I have a few questions I would like to ask re the Fairline 48. We tend to drive downstairs most of the time as colder down here. It is very important to me that the visibility is really good from the downstairs helm. I sat in one at the sydney boat show and the windscreen did'nt seem to be very high. ( the azimut is great) Looking ahead you could'nt see much of the sky. It just seemed the windsceen needed to be higher. The salesman said as soon as you get going the visibility is good.as the bow rises. My question is, what about really slow cruising at idle speed 3 - 5 knots, how did you find it, did you have to crouch down to see out. I am fairly tall so it is a concern. also when the boat is up one the plane do you have good visibility then. With the azimut its better if one sits on a cushion to get a good view over the bow when onb the plane. How do you find it. Another question is did you find the lapping of the water was quiter in the centre cabin. On the azimut the lapping noise sounds pretty much the same in either the front or centre cabin. I would love you to share anything else you can I as dont kn ow anyone else that has one, Tell me all you can, I would really appreciate it. Have you still got your 48. even if not I'm sure you will be able to help me. many thanks Evan