New Azimut Looks Like a SeaRay?

[WDCboater]

So we know the newer SeaRay's have some of the features and appearances of European built boats, but I was on Azimut's website today and notice their new 72 looks a lot like the profile of the 650Fly.

http://www.azimutyachts.com/newsletter/Newsletter_Fly72/Newsletter_ENG/

If you click on the newsletter you'll see it even has a similar bow-seating area. What I also find funny is the drawings all have the hard top, but the actual photos (probably Hull #1) does not.

There are big differences between the boats, but just looking at their profiles there is an interesting similarity between the two. There are definitely some Azimut characteristics as well.

 

[BlewByYou88]

No, Azimut's have always been a sexy, classy Yacht, if anything, Sea Ray copied them.

 

[boltman]

That's what I'm sayin , I think Sea Ray has lost its flair and now looks like every other boat out there .


Boltman

 

[WDCboater]

SeaRay is appealing to the changing market. Period. If no one was buying these boats they wouldn't be building them.

My point with this thread was not that SR isn't copying some Azimut features, but the fact Azimut is actually grabbing some SR features.

The he addition of the hard top is an American trend and is growing if you look at European models. Also, the bow of this new Azimut looks identical to the design SR kinda developed in a boat this size.

 

[Air O'Nautical]

Yea but, try buying parts for an Italian boat $$$
And what about service after the sale, even wayyyy after the sale!
(so many non-new boats on here)
Thanks to Rusty and Matt and others I've yet to meet....I'll stick with SeaRay.

i like the new boats I see

 

[aquadancer]

Searay and Benetti already share many of the distribution channels both outside the US and even here (Marinemax is pushing Azimut here like crazy). I would not be surprised if there was some design cooperation to create a global yacht backed by a global brand and distribution / service network. End goal may be for Brunswick to buy Benetti who has a better global brand... not that hard to figure out that growth in yacht sales is NOT in the US and, as a shareholder of Brunswick, I'm glad they recognized that simple business fact.

 

[WDCboater]

Searay and Benetti already share many of the distribution channels both outside the US and even here (Marinemax is pushing Azimut here like crazy). I would not be surprised if there was some design cooperation to create a global yacht backed by a global brand and distribution / service network. End goal may be for Brunswick to buy Benetti who has a better global brand... not that hard to figure out that growth in yacht sales is NOT in the US and, as a shareholder of Brunswick, I'm glad they recognized that simple business fact.

This is looking at it from a business, not emotional perspective and kinda the point of why I started this thread.

As for comments from a previous post about getting parts for an Azimut, Azimut uses almost all of the same vendors as SeaRay. In fact, look across boating manufacturers and they all use pretty much the same vendors. MarineMax will sell you an Azimut as fast as they'll sell you a SeaRay.

If SeaRay is going to really compete with Azimut in the yacht segment they will have to start making a boat over 70'. Then they will also be competing with Sunseeker, Princess, Hargrave, etc.