40 Azimut AZ

Source: Chris Caswell, Sea Magazine

Azimut AZ 40 has looks you’d expect — and practicality you might not

It is an unfortunate fact that some Italian-built boats have shared a bad rap with their automotive counterparts for having grand style, but no substance. Any Italianophile will tell you, with appropriate gestures, than while a Ferrari or an Alfa Romeo may look absolutely gorgeous, the inner workings can display a hot Mediterranean temperament.

The Azimut 40, however, combines the best of both the Italian and American boat worlds. It has the head-turning styling that marks Italian motoryachts, but it has the down-to-earth practicality of tried-and-true American marine technology.

From its twin 350 hp Caterpillar 3116 TA diesels to its Cruise Air air conditioning, the Azimut’s most important systems don’t require a passport to get spare parts. You may not be able to repair a Ferrari at any gas station, but the AZ 40 can find parts and service at every marina.

The Azimut Story
Azimut, of course, is no stranger to the world motoryacht market.

Founded in 1969 by Paolo Vitelli — who actually started the company while still in college — Azimut initially imported a line of British cruisers to Italy. Seeing that his market was growing steadily, Vitelli soon opened his own boat building plant near Turin, turning out a line of 25 to 45 foot motoryachts.

Every year, the Azimut line grew in size; and the company was soon a leader in the Italian marine industry. In 1985, Azimut acquired the century-old Benetti yacht building firm and overnight had the capability of building fiberglass pleasurecraft up to 100 feet in length — and aluminum or steel vessels of more than 200 feet.

In fact, Benetti had already built the 282 foot Nabila — at the time, the largest custom motoryacht in the world. It was later acquired by Donald Trump and rechristened Trump Princess, before “the Donald” fell from grace.

Azimut was audacious, promising to build Christina Onassis a 105 foot yacht from a bare fiberglass hull in just 100 days — and it met the deadline. Azimut was also competitive, building Atlantic Challenger to attempt a transatlantic record (winning the coveted Blue Riband for passenger vessels in the process). To qualify for passenger-carrying status, the speedy Azimut steered by Claudio Fiorio — who heads up Lancia’s racing program — carried a single passenger: Winthrop Rockefeller.

With this heritage, it is no surprise that the AZ 40 has an automotive-inspired sporty styling that looks fast just sitting at the dock. Even at a marina filled with Euro-style yachts, the 40 has unique styling.

Stepping Aboard
Boarding is easy, thanks to an integral swim platform (with a concealed ladder and shower). With the boat’s trio of stainless steel-framed sliding doors open, the teak-planked cockpit and saloon merge into an alfresco living area.

The cockpit has an aft bench seat with an optional refrigerator hidden underneath. Large lockers hold fenders and deck gear. The aft cleats are hidden under hinged covers, so the sleek lines aren’t marred at rest or under way.

The AZ 40’s flybridge is definitely European — since it is more exposed than most Americans expect — but you’d be steering from inside in bad weather, in any case. Back-to-back bench seats provide wide seating behind the helm and the rear-facing seats are divided by an armrest with a refrigerator, so you won’t have to climb down the ladder to refill your glass of Dom Perignon.

The flybridge helm is secondary to the lower helm station in the main saloon, with fewer gauges offset to starboard and an electronics area to port. Both are behind a low Venturi windscreen.

While I originally tested the AZ 40 in Genoa, Italy, it is identical to one available on the West Coast at Chuck Hovey Yachts, in Newport Beach, California.

The boat I tested proved to have impressive performance to match its sleek styling. We topped out at more than 30 knots (35.2 mph) with its twin Caterpillar diesels and a half load of fuel, making it no slouch despite its luxury appointments.

Equally impressive was the way the AZ 40’s V-bottom (with 17 degrees of deadrise at the transom) handled the swells, throwing the spray out and away from the boat and providing a dry ride even in an afternoon chop.

In all, the AZ 40 truly handled as nicely as it looked.

A Look Inside
The saloon is comfortably furnished with a settee to starboard and an L-shaped dinette to port, which wraps around a table that can convert into a double berth. The interior has absolutely flawless cherrywood joinerwork, including a curved entertainment center with bottle storage.

Forward, on a raised platform to port, is the inside helm. A bench-style seat faces the burled cherry dash panel, outfitted with an array of Shipmate and Furuno electronics. The master electrical panel is located here, with circuit breakers for all systems and controls for the optional 9 kw Onan auxiliary generator.

The galley is down, to starboard, outfitted with marble countertops, a glass ceramic two-burner cooktop, a microwave oven, a top-loading freezer and an under-counter refrigerator. A pair of highly polished sinks have a European-design faucet, and there’s plenty of storage in lockers and drawers for utensils and food.

The master stateroom is forward, with more glossy cherrywood joinerwork, a central double berth and two fully lined hanging lockers. The molded fiberglass master head compartment is large, with a shower pan and a hidden toilet and bidet.

Guests have an amidships cabin to port, with full headroom and a pair of single berths, served by another enclosed head with a shower, a toilet and a bidet to starboard.

Quality That Shows
Construction throughout the Azimut is of high quality, with a solid fiberglass hull below the waterline and divinycel foam coring above the waterline to provide extra strength and insulation at minimal weight. The hull carries a 10-year warranty against blistering, since only expensive Epacryn resins are used in the finish.

To give you an idea of Azimut’s dedication to achieving a flawless finish, there is a room at the factory devoted just to the final finish of the furniture. To achieve the wood’s glossy look, the air is completely filtered while seven layers of polyurethane are carefully applied and hand-sanded.

Aside from its good looks, the AZ 40 excels in its details. The latch for the cockpit engine hatch is a good example: It is cleverly designed and well executed; simple and elegant. The welded stainless steel rail that surrounds the entire foredeck ought to be in a museum of modern art — and it’s a further testimony that Italian designers and craftsmen sing arias while most others merely hum a simple tune.

The base price of the AZ 40 delivered to the West Coast is $370,000, including all customs and insurance costs. With a full complement of electronics and the usual options, such as a generator and air conditioning, you’re looking at a turnkey boat priced in the low $400,000s.

Considering the Italian styling, the American systems and the luxurious accommodations, this is one European beauty you’ll definitely want to meet.