50 Azimut Magellano 2011

Source: Power & Motoryacht Magazine

A Yacht for All Reasons

Anyone familiar with Azimut yachts will double-take when they see the nameplate on the Magellano 50, something completely different from the company’s standard fare. But this yacht has a different mission than her racier sisterships: She’s a bona fide cruising yacht, long-legged enough to go almost anywhere that doesn’t involve crossing an ocean. Her modest power, twin 425-hp common-rail diesels, are fuel-efficient, and when throttled back will carry her more than 1,000 sea miles, according to Azimut. The yacht has CE Class A, Ocean, certification.

But let’s be realistic: Although many people buy yachts like the Magellano 50 with the idea of making long cruises, most of the time they’re navigating close to home. And who wants to do that at 7 or 8 knots? You might as well have a sailboat. Azimut thought of this, and designed the 50’s hull to be easily driven and efficient at a wide range of speeds.

When spooled up, the twin diesels will push her up to 22 knots, and cruise on-plane at 18. (All speed and performance figures are from Azimut; we haven’t tested this boat ourselves.) The range will be much less than at displacement speed, but most of the time fuel docks are near at hand, so long range and slow speed aren’t critical.

Hybrid Power

Add the Easy Hybrid system, which runs off a lithium-ion battery pack which is in turn recharged by the yacht’s twin 20-kW generators, and the range is “restricted only by the need to service the generators,” says the company. When not driving the propellers, the electric motors can generate power. The Magellano 50 is the first yacht to utilize Easy Hybrid technology, but we expect to see it in other yachts soon. We think it will be most useful in docking and low-speed maneuvering – electric motors develop maximum torque at minimal rpm, so the skipper should be able to dial-in just the motor speed he needs – and while making short, leisurely runs between anchorages. The system shifts between electric and diesel automatically.

Hybrid Hull

Most hulls are designed to run efficiently at a particular speed, so creating one to be economical across a range of speeds took creativity. Naval architect Bill Dixon drew the Magellano 50’s “Dual Mode” hull, a hybrid of its own: It looks like a cross between a round-bilged displacement yacht and a V-bottom. (Old-timers will note its resemblance in midships section to a C. Raymond Hunt hull of the 1950s, a precursor to his deep-V.)

Dixon combined a sharp bow for a soft ride and precise steering with a rounded midsection for stability at displacement and semi-displacement speeds; shallow deadrise aft combined with wide chines lift the hull onto plane as speed increases. Propeller tunnels let the shafts be set at a shallower angle for added efficiency

Environmentally Friendly Construction

In 2007 Azimut was awarded ISO 14001 certification for its Avigliana shipyard, attesting to the company’s dedication to environmentally compatible construction. It’s the first major shipyard to earn this certification. In keeping with the company’s goal of “zero-impact” yachtbuilding, Azimut employs state-of-the-art technology in building the Magellano 50. Her principal fiberglass components are resin-infused to minimize fumes and air pollution; all woods used on board are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council to come from eco-sustainable sources; her glass surfaces are coated with an anti-UV film to reduce heat exchange and minimize energy used for belowdecks climate control; her lighting is LED to save power; and so forth. In short, the Magellano 50 is about the most environmentally friendly yacht we’ve seen – and she is certified Green Plus by RINA (Royal Institute of Naval Architects.

Boat Specifications: 50 Azimut Magellano 2011