Click for Mulder Click for Abeking Click for Glendinning Click for Northern Lights Click for Perko

Azimut Yachts 54 Flybridge information, opinions wanted...

Discussion in 'Azimut Yacht' started by maldwin, Mar 28, 2013.

You need to be registered and signed in to view this content.
  1. maldwin

    maldwin Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2009
    Messages:
    332
    Location:
    Dark Harbor Me/ Hobe Sound Fl
    I have a friend who is considering purchasing a new Azimut 54 Flybridge for summer use in the Med. I know nothing about these boats, and wonder if they are any good? Should he have someone in the yard to supervise the build? Does It make sense to buy a new one? Is there anything comparable which is better?
    Best,
    Maldwin
  2. captaintilt

    captaintilt Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2012
    Messages:
    219
    Location:
    Great Lakes / Florida
    Azimut 54

    Maldwin,

    While I'm not completely familiar with the Azimut 54, I have done a lot of movement on a 2012 64 Azimut, and I would be happy to give you my opinions on that boat.

    It was super fast for a 64' with C18's and was pretty economical for pushing it about 26 kts, I personally liked to cruise it at about 23kts, but I wasn't the one paying for the fuel, so I just did what the owner wanted to. The fit and finish was about an 8.5 out of 10. Realizing that they are built in Italy, I was very disappointed to see the small "stickers" labeling some of the lights and amenities in the salon and in the SR's, and some of them were applied crooked. It did have a single fuel tank, which was nice, but it was difficult to fuel at a high rate of speed due to having a central line ran between the tanks which would gravitationally transfer fuel, and the sight glass line was obstructed in the engine room. The engine room itself was difficult at best to work on the engines and GenSet, (this one only had one) but it had to power the whole boat and 2 Seakeepers, but that was due to having more of an aft deck to sit on for the owner and guests. I was also disappointed with the transom door leading to the crew quarters, it was misaligned a bit, and wouldn't close properly, so a little adjustment was needed as it came off the ship in New York. The last thing that was difficult, was, I typically like to operate from the FB when the weather permits in order to allow the owner and guests to enjoy the salon or the sun pads. When backing into a slip, on the starboard side, you are basically doing it blindly, and judging where the swim platform / spray rail will meet the dock. It's pretty difficult, and the owner actually had cameras installed to tap into the Raymarine G-Series screens on the FB in order to give a better visual account, especially at night. With the exception of those, I thought the boat was really good, typical for an Azimut, there is no storage space for fenders / lines / washing materials other than in the engine room or in the anchor lockers up forward.

    I realize that this boat is 10' larger, but just some things you may want to look for in your friends 54'.
  3. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2008
    Messages:
    11,205
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    There's a few threads here about Azimuts. I suggest you look them over. Some of the more notable complaints are about their electrical systems, hinge quality and the size of furnishings, counters, etc. which tend to be undersized to give the appearance of more space. Since you question whether he should buy new, suggest that he look at the prices for one a few years old so he understands how much will be lost in getting that new boat smell. Besides the depreciation involved, everything he adds (electronics, etc.) is basically free to the second buyer. Then there's the new boat bugs the first owner gets to deal with. Considering how few hours get put on most boats I always recommend pre-owned, but some people prefer new everything.
  4. Liam

    Liam Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2010
    Messages:
    634
    Location:
    Malta
    FYI the 54 is an update of the 53 released in 2010 with a larger bathing platform and new style side windows (mostly those of the main saloon).
    Most certainly at the price of a new 54 you can get a 58. The good news is that atm prices are a more on the negotiation side here in Europe even for new boats.
    In my experience Azimut prices tend to be quite steady since a boat is produced and then depriacte at quite an amount once the model is changed. The same for example happens with Sunseeker boats with the negative on the British builder that they change a model every 2 years.
    Surely in the last 4 years since 09 this was a very buyers market altough most builders in the last 2 years are building only on order.