38 Azimut

38 Azimut Review

Source: Dag Pike, MotorBoating Magazine

Developing a new entry-level boat is a challenge for any builder. It may be the smallest design in a company’s fleet, but the expectations of those who buy one will be very high. In Azimut’s case, the new model is the 38, and owners will want it to have all the luxury and quality that’s found in the larger yachts from this Italian builder (the line ranges up to 116 feet). The builder’s job, then, is to condense all of its hard-won experience into a midsize cruiser that performs as well as it looks. It’s a considerable challenge and one in which experience counts. Azimut proves it has the expertise, because the new 38 is quite a marvel.

On the outside, the 38 doesn’t look entry-level, and that in itself is a considerable achievement. The proportions are good, and in profile this Azimut appears sleek and purposeful. Aesthetically, it is a fine example of a modern flybridge yacht. Yet even with the sexy exterior, Azimut manages to offer generous accommodations and good headroom in the cabin. For instance, each of the two staterooms is very roomy and each has a large head with full-size shower stall rare features for a 38-footer. If you need extra space for more overnight guests, order the optional salon settee that converts to a double berth.

The layout of the salon is sleek, simple and sophisticated. To starboard is a settee that faces a cocktail table. But wait: It folds open and expands so that you can seat six people around it for a formal meal to accommodate a group of this size, use the folding chairs that stow beneath the settee. On the port side of the salon is a sideboard with dedicated stowage for dishware. An optional TV is nearby. Some of the nicest features are the side windows, which offer seated passengers great views. The use of pale, limed oak woodwork further enhances the sense of space and luxury in the salon.

There’s another table in the cockpit, which is also a nice place for dining if you want to be outside. The same folding chairs serve this table, along with a settee at the transom. There’s a cutaway at the center of the backrest, which is the access point for the optional passerelle. The wide swim platform can accommodate a small tender, in which case the passerelle would then be used to launch and recover it.

You can drive the boat from one of two places. The lower helm is at the forward end of the salon and a few steps up from it, so there is surprisingly good visibility, including aft, even when the 38 rises onto plane. Visibility forward is enhanced by narrow windshield supports. Controls and switches are all mounted low and near the adjustable steering wheel, which is on the center line. The upper helm on the flybridge also has a logical arrangement of controls, screens and gauges. Here, there’s a single seat for the driver. A sun bed for passengers surrounds the helm; other guests can relax on the settee aft, which faces an optional folding table. A reverse-angle windshield helps to deflect the wind at speed, and the side rails are set at a high level to ensure security.

Although space in the engine compartment is a bit tight, with limited headroom over the engines, all of the things you need to reach are accessible, and there’s excellent space aft for the auxiliaries. Base power is a pair of 355 hp diesels, but our test boat had the 435 hp Cummins, which added sparkle to the 38’s performance. The engines are close-coupled to U-drive gear boxes with the propeller shafts running below the engines. It makes for a compact installation combined with relatively level shaft lines for efficiency. With the larger engines installed, the speed topped out near 34 knots.

Out on the water, you quickly become aware that the 38 rides on a deep-V hull. You feel it in the way the boat cuts cleanly through the waves with very little motion. The transom dead rise of 18 degrees is deep for a flybridge yacht of this size, and this feature enhances the performance at sea considerably. The chine line is relatively low at the bow and there is a secondary chine just above it; these features, combined with the sleek hull shape, demonstrate how Azimut has given the seagoing ability of the 38 considerable priority. Serious boaters will find that the thoroughbred ride distinguishes the 38 from the crowd. The 38 also is docile in the harbor, with the bow thruster aiding maneuverability. For even more control, particularly around the dock, a joystick is offered.

The standard version of the 38 is basic, yet all of the essentials are there. The options list is complete, so you can tailor the systems and accommodations to your needs and to your financial comfort level. Yet regardless of how you choose to fit out the Azimut 38, know that this is one of the best of the smaller flybridge cruisers on the market today.