50 Azimut Flybridge 2004

Source: George L. Petrie, Power & Motoryacht Magazine

I found a lot to like about Azimut’s 50 Flybridge. Sightlines from the lower helm are excellent; there’s only a single, narrow mullion in the windshield, and the forward side windows are at eye-level from the helm. The aft side windows are a bit lower, giving guests in the saloon a great view from the plush Ultraleather settees, and affording good visibility while docking alongside a pier, and sightlines aft are great, thanks to the full-width glass panels and sliding glass door to the cockpit.

Our test boat had the two-stateroom, two-head layout, which offers an exceptionally spacious galley on the lower deck, only three steps lower than the saloon, so the chef can still converse with guests. And directly above is the large, sloping windshield, flooding the cooking area with natural light. Two large, circular portholes alongside rich-looking, black molded counter tops offer more light and air, while recessed fixtures provide task lighting for the chef’s toils.

But what I liked most about the galley was its roominess, with copious stowage spaces and appliances sized for real cooking, not just warming up a few snacks in the microwave, which is out of sight in a cabinet below the sink. Speaking of the sink, it’s a double-basin affair, as big as one you might find at home, with a built-in dish drain along side. I was pleased to note that each of the cooktop’s three burners was fitted with a stout pot restraint, a functional feature too seldom seen on yachts of this style. Forward of the stove is about four feet of open counter space for food prep, a full-height double-door refrigerator/freezer (in a handsome varnished cherry cabinet), and a matching full-height cabinet with five shelves, each about two feet wide and more than a foot deep. There are also five big under-counter cabinets for stowing bulky items; one is fitted with bottle racks, while another has a nifty pull-out shelf for spices and smaller items. Tucked behind a series of varnished wood panels that look like a decorative cornice above the counter are five more eye-level cabinets, perfect for canned goods, jars, boxes of cereal, pasta, and the like.

In the three-stateroom layout, the galley is about half this size, yielding just enough space for another small stateroom with bunks. Personally, I’d opt for the two-stateroom layout and leave the kids at home for the weekend. But in either configuration, the layouts of the master and guest staterooms are the same; both are big and bright with three-sided access to double berths.

Located beneath the raised helm, the guest stateroom offers at least 6’6″ headroom and more than ample sitting headroom above the berth. Guests will appreciate the privacy of the adjoining head, which allows entry from the stateroom or (as a day head) directly from the main passageway. Teak soles in the head and the separate shower area add a classy touch, as does the polished glass counter top, complete with a household-size under-mount stainless steel sink. Above the sink there’s a mirrored panel that serves as a door to the medicine cabinet, and when the panel is slid to the side, it also covers a porthole, offering privacy to anyone using the facilities.

Boat Specifications:

Boat Type: Cruiser

Standard Power: 2/660-hp Caterpillar C12 diesel inboards

Optional Power: 2/500-hp Caterpillar C9 diesel inboards

Length Overall (LOA): 52’6″

Beam: 15’5″

Draft: 3’11”

Weight: 44,000 lbs.

Fuel Capacity: 475 gal.

Water Capacity: 132 gal.

Standard Equipment: 20-kW Kohler genset w/hushbox; 60,000-Btu Cruisair reverse-cycle A/C; Autohelm ST 5000 autopilot and repeater; Raystar 120 DGPS w/ Raychart 520 GPS/plotter; teak cockpit sole and swim platform

Test Engines: 2/660-hp Caterpillar C12 diesel inboards

Transmissions / Ratio: ZF 325A/2.04:1

Props: 41×28 4-blade Nibral

Steering: Teleflex SeaStar hydraulic

Controls: ZF electronic

Optional Equipment On Test Boat: bow thruster w/ dual controls; telescoping gangway; Glendinning Cablemaster; upgrade to Raymarine RL72 radar, RL72RC GPS/radar plotter, and RL70 repeater; interior decor package; TV/stereo package