I'm under contract to buy a 2011 Azimut 58...

Don't get me wrong, no disrespect for the profession as such, but you should consider my comment in its context.
I was replying to someone who suggested that I can't afford a 13$M boat - as if he could, in which case I wonder why he spends his time moving someone else's boats around.
But most importantly, WTF does the amount I can afford to waste in a boat have to see with my (or anyone else's, for that matter) capacity to understand the usefulness of some boat equipment?
I already apologized with olderboater if he felt insulted by a previous post of mine which I wrote in haste.
But in my sentence which you quoted, my ironic usage of the term "chauffeurs" was deliberate, and I'm not going to apologize about it, but at least I hope you can now understand why.

So do I, albeit not all. I suppose you don't love all US boats either, or do you?

For instance, I love the fact that in my humble 56 footer there are four fully watertight compartments, plus a structural double bottom along most of its length. And that's complemented by a triple level of bilge pumps redundancy in each of these compartments - bar the engine room, where there's an additional (i.e. fourth!) redundancy.
All stuff that doesn't sell boats at boat shows, of course. It's just down down there, under my sofa.
And God willing, for the rest of my life I will only use all that equipment only during my periodic routine checks.
Is that entertaining enough for you?

Now, since you are a Hatt 53 MY owner, let me ask you something about her.
Am I right in remembering that in the lower deck, from the bow all the way to the stern cabin, there is no w/tight bulkhead?
And that the two e/r doors are just there for sound insulation, but actually not even the engine rooms are fully watertight?
I'm not trying to be funny, mind. These are genuine questions.
I've only been onboard a boat like yours many years ago, and what I remember of her could well be because the owner made some changes, or because EU version were different, or - last but not least - simply because my memory doesn't serve me right.

It seems to me that you did a helluva homework for a totally green newcomer.
To the point that you make me wonder if there is really a lot you can learn here.

From my part, I can confirm you that Aicon has been a rather successful builder till they lasted, mostly thanks to their fresh interior design, which many folks found very attractive.
In this respect, your final comment above doesn't surprise me at all.

Build quality and strength has never been their strong point - roughly comparable to Azimut, overall.
But if you accept that heavy charter is going to trash the boat quickly, I guess it's better to trash a flashy boat rather than a much better built and understatedly elegant Sanlorenzo, just as an example.
Which would surely command a much higher price, BTW.

Aside from my previous comment on the engines, which translates into a recommendation to involve a good MTU dealer who knows 183 series inside out (particularly this peculiar TE94 version), my other 2C are as follows:
1) have the semi-domotics electrical panel near the helm stations thoroughly checked, because that is something where finding spare parts could be a proper headache. The upper one is usually the more prone to malfunctioning, for obvious reasons.
2) any half decent surveyor should know this, but I suppose it'll be hard for you to find one already familiar with Aicon. So, it wouldn't hurt to suggest him to check with extreme care for cracks around the windshield mullions, both in the corners and the internal one in the center. Same goes for the windshield itself - even the smallest glass crack along its border should ring a bell.
3) check for leaks around the large round windows in the master cabin.
4) some Aicons were built with a fire extinguishing system which was a proper POS. Not sure about this one, but in the worst case it's just something to be replaced, should your surveyor suggest to trash it.

Good luck.

Well, don't hold your breath, because I'm not willing to keep this show up further.
Not because my skin ain't think enough, but I tend to lose interest in useless debates pdq.
I'd rather go back on topic asap, and stick to that, if I may.

Just FYI, also the most popular Aicon model, i.e. the 56, was only built with Cat engines.
3406 initially, and C15 in the later years (same block, anyhow).
Back in those days, that was imho the best marine engine around, in the 800hp power node.

But of course, the 56 is much smaller than the 64.
Not that far from the Azi 58 you started with, though.

Nope, they aren't anymore.
They went out with a memorable bang, but this has more to see with the owner having been lured by easy money through a listing, than with their products.

Ju

Just show me a couple of 1970 mutts still afloat...

There are 4 70s Vintage hatteras MY in my marina alone.

Fairenuff, but that's not what I asked. Care to answer my questions, for a change?

Besides, aren't we done to death bashing the "mutts"?
Anyone who actually read what I wrote so far should be fed up by now to hear that I don't like them and never owned one.

I understand and accept that.
I just happen to think that winches are essential on heavy boats regardless of mooring arrangement, also for safety reasons.
But never mind, I can happily agree to disagree on that.

this is just so funny... so Aicon quality isn’t their strong point , comparable to mutts.

Then they were good but for their interiors...

then we all agree !!! Kumbhaya !