By: Scott Way
Azimut Yachts has unveiled their new 53 model with a seemingly floating flybridge. From designer Alberto Mancini, the motoryacht's superstructure is engineered to create a "floating" appearance using wraparound windows and minimalized vertical structural components.
"We made the most of the joint between the fly deck and superstructure so that we had more leeway with what I call the horizontal superstructure. And so we have a continuous feature, almost like a wraparound, creating a floating fly above the superstructure giving light and a really dynamic, clean, beautiful aspect" said Mancini in the company's virtual unveiling.
The flybridge itself can host a large group of guests and includes large lounges with ample seating, as well as a full upper galley. A canvas bimini offers additional shade, but is retractable when the boat is underway. The bow lounge also uses a fabric bimini that can be installed with vertical carbon poles to cover the entirety of the bow.
The main salon is predictably large and spacious, aided in perception by the wraparound windows and abundant natural light. High headroom and full size cabinets, as well as a refrigerator, dishwasher, and oven further the sensation of a large social space. Storage is integrated around each appliance to not only create a seamless and minimalist feel, but also offers handy options for managing housewares, personal items, food, and beverages.
Below decks the 'spacious' persona carries on with a VIP guest stateroom, a second guest stateroom with twin beds, and a full beam master suite at midships. The master suite is nothing short of impressive and is aided significantly by the boat's ample beam of 4.95 m (16'3"). The guest stateroom, for its part, has space for a washer/dryer, and the master suite boasts a walk-in closet with multiple storage cabinets. Each stateroom also carries its own head, and an additional rear captain's cabin provides quarters for crew or guests.
The 53 is no slouch in performance, either. She comes powered with twin 725 hp 950 D11 Volvo IPS engines to generate a cruising speed of 27 knots (31 mph) and a top speed of 31 knots (35 mph). The vessel can even be used to tow a jet surfer, which is no common feature for a vessel of its size. A Seakeeper 9 gyro stabilizer also keeps roll to a minimum while at anchor. It carries 2400 L of fuel to generate a respectable 265 nautical mile range, and the Joystick Driving feature offers easy low speed maneuverability and precision performance at speed. A notable feature is the application of autopilot during Joystick Driving activation. The captain steers the boat via joystick, but once released autopilot takes over on a forward course until steering input is offered again from the joystick. An integrated control system from Garmin also customizes control of engine and operation data., which can be accessed from the helm station or remotely using a tablet. A full breakdown of the helm station shows the capabilities and functionality of the 53.
You can get a full breakdown and walkthrough of Azimut's latest below:
