The JV is available!

Pray you don't need parts for this boat. The last person I knew who had one traded his in for a 62 Hatteras MY. Although the fit and finish look great they have major flaws. Spider cracking, leaks are a few to start with. Look up the guy on youtube who posted a 3 year video in the making of his experience.
 
The new boats after 2009 are not what the old boats were in terms of reliability. Volvo Penta D11, Kohler, and Raymarine parts are readily available. I am impressed that Azimut builds boats up to 120 feet and the 50 is toward the bottom of the size range. The vacuum bagging, carbon fiber in the hull, and build quality are clearly economies of scale shared wth the big mega yachts. I poked around for 3 hours behind panels, under the floor and in the engine compartment and I have to tell you, this is built to a very high standard. The deck hardware is stuff that would look just fine on an 80 foot yacht. Believing what you see on a YouTube video is not reality. I've seen similar online trash about Sea Ray. Remember what they said about Hyundai? I'd never buy one, but they are as good as you can get for reliability.
 
You you get what you pay for. No one is giving anything anyway.

I went through the same process when we bought a Beneteau. It was cheaper than a similar size SR, but the fit and finish and some mechanical aspects were not as good as the SR. It's give and take, and the admiral and like the layout of the boat, and other features so we went for it. I still think SR is a great boat.

There are reasons the Azimut is cheaper than a SR. Not a bad thing.

There are thousands of Volvo power plants out there. Some long range passage makers like Eling (self righting) even use them for single engine power plants to cross oceans. I am not saying they are better than the C's, just different animals. I do think parts are more expensive Though.

JV II said:
The new boats after 2009 are not what the old boats were in terms of reliability. Volvo Penta D11, Kohler, and Raymarine parts are readily available. I am impressed that Azimut builds boats up to 120 feet and the 50 is toward the bottom of the size range. The vacuum bagging, carbon fiber in the hull, and build quality are clearly economies of scale shared wth the big mega yachts. I poked around for 3 hours behind panels, under the floor and in the engine compartment and I have to tell you, this is built to a very high standard. The deck hardware is stuff that would look just fine on an 80 foot yacht. Believing what you see on a YouTube video is not reality. I've seen similar online trash about Sea Ray. Remember what they said about Hyundai? I'd never buy one, but they are as good as you can get for reliability.
Click to expand...
 
How did the gelcoat look on the Azimut that you were on? We were next to a brand new 50 last year and the print-through and gelcoat didn't hold a candle to my 13 year old SR. This came from the owner who had just taken delivery a week prior.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
quality time said:
How did the gelcoat look on the Azimut that you were on? We were next to a brand new 50 last year and the print-through and gelcoat didn't hold a candle to my 13 year old SR. This came from the owner who had just taken delivery a week prior.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...

The white parts are gel coat. Colored hull sides are a paint, like Awlgrip. Similar to that used on Sabre. Honestly, after having a blue gel coat hull. I look forward to having a painted hull. My hull needed compounding once and wax twice a year to keep it from getting chalky. I'm not sure what you mean about print through. You can put any two boats side by side and the better maintained hull is going to look better. They need maintenance. My 10 year old Sea Ray always looked new, but nobody knew what that involved. You really have to cut the surface with pressure and many passes to get that shine back.
 
Billfletcher said:
You you get what you pay for. No one is giving anything anyway.

I went through the same process when we bought a Beneteau. It was cheaper than a similar size SR, but the fit and finish and some mechanical aspects were not as good as the SR. It's give and take, and the admiral and like the layout of the boat, and other features so we went for it. I still think SR is a great boat.

There are reasons the Azimut is cheaper than a SR. Not a bad thing.

There are thousands of Volvo power plants out there. Some long range passage makers like Eling (self righting) even use them for single engine power plants to cross oceans. I am not saying they are better than the C's, just different animals. I do think parts are more expensive Though.
Click to expand...

Fredericko from Azimut Italy made a quick cutting comment about the quality differences between the "French boats" and Azimut, when I was at the Newport boat show. I take those comments with a grain of salt, because I know Beneteau makes a great boat. I like the Prestige line too. I recognize the difference in materials and how that affects price point. Some things you are willing to compromise on. I'd say a no compromise boat would be a Princess 52 Fly. The opposite end of the spectrum is Prestige. Other than cabinetry, foam density, fabric covers, door hardware, deck fittings, displacement, and power packages, the Prestige and Princess are built to similar high standards. Sea Ray, Azimut, and Beneteau are somewhere in the middle. After crawling through the 510 Fly and Azimut, I'd say Sea Ray is closest to Princess and Azimut is not far behind. They are so close that the premium you pay for a new Princess is not in my budget or worth waiting for on the used market. The Sea Ray and Azimut were a toss up. Some things were better on the Sea Ray, some on the Azimut. My scale tipped way toward the Azimut when you threw price on the scale with the Category A Ocean rating, teak, and SeaKeeper.

Between Sea Ray 510 vs Azimut 50, there are few compromises going with the Azimut. Aside from price, the Azimut beats the Sea Ray in the bow design, flybridge size, cruising speed, top speed, fuel efficiency, leather surfaces, and the inclusion of a SeaKeeper. The Sea Ray beats the Azimut on flooring, the quality of the woodwork, and thoughtful storage. Both are equal in fit, panel gaps, and general workmanship. Neither have an advantage on the power package, Volvo D11 vs. QSM11. I don't think Sea Ray is using vacuum bagging and carbon fiber, like Azimut, but I wont miss getting needles of fiberglass under my finger nails when digging behind panels. The hull insides are as smooth as the outsides. I have no concerns about the thickness or strength of a boat built to Category A rating, designed around a SeaKeeper, and designed, engineered and built by the same people who make yachts up to 120 feet. Does the Sea Ray 510 Fly have a Category A Ocean rating? It doesn't offer the Seakeeper option.

Comparing the Azimut to my 48, the Azimut is a big step up in build quality. Of course, it is 10 years newer. Aside from the evolution of technology, some of the noticeable differences:
1. The engine room layout, markings, finish, and access is a dream on the 50. No contortionist maintenance. No kneeling on brass elbows or hose clamps. No standing on wires or hoses.
2. The AC sea water pump on the 48 looks like a toy next to the Azimut pump.
3. The hull inside finish I mentioned
4. The hull cleats on the Azimut look to be four times the size of the Sea Ray
5. The hull stingers are incredibly more robust
6. The hull windows look like a wrecking ball would not breach them

I want Sea Ray to be able to have the same economy of scale! I don't want to see the new Sea Ray I want at the boat show, only planning on buying it after the first owner eats enough of the depreciation that it is within reach. I ask myself why Sea Ray can't offer the 510 Fly for the same or lower price as the Azimut 50 with a Seakeeper and all teaked out. Is it the business and environmental regulations? Taxation? Banking crisis? Health care costs? Trade deals between us and other countries? i think all of the above. Hillary want to continue that trajectory we have been on.
 
Last edited:
JV II said:
The white parts are gel coat. Colored hull sides are a paint, like Awlgrip. Similar to that used on Sabre. Honestly, after having a blue gel coat hull. I look forward to having a painted hull. My hull needed compounding once and wax twice a year to keep it from getting chalky. I'm not sure what you mean about print through. You can put any two boats side by side and the better maintained hull is going to look better. They need maintenance. My 10 year old Sea Ray always looked new, but nobody knew what that involved. You really have to cut the surface with pressure and many passes to get that shine back.
Click to expand...

Agree, my hull is black and it get compound in the beginning of the season and waxed four times. I always recieve compliments on how new it looks but like you said they do not what is involved. Painted hull is the way to go. Good luck with the new addition.
 
JV II said:
The white parts are gel coat. Colored hull sides are a paint, like Awlgrip. Similar to that used on Sabre. Honestly, after having a blue gel coat hull. I look forward to having a painted hull. My hull needed compounding once and wax twice a year to keep it from getting chalky. I'm not sure what you mean about print through. You can put any two boats side by side and the better maintained hull is going to look better. They need maintenance. My 10 year old Sea Ray always looked new, but nobody knew what that involved. You really have to cut the surface with pressure and many passes to get that shine back.
Click to expand...

The print-through was on the hull sides, looked just like fiberglass pattern showing through the paint. Did not know they were carbon fiber so maybe that had something to do with it. Still did not look normal or acceptable on a brand new million+ dollar boat.

This is the only one I've seen so maybe it was a bad prep or paint job.
 
quality time said:
The print-through was on the hull sides, looked just like fiberglass pattern showing through the paint. Did not know they were carbon fiber so maybe that had something to do with it. Still did not look normal or acceptable on a brand new million+ dollar boat.

This is the only one I've seen so maybe it was a bad prep or paint job.
Click to expand...

Okay, so no print through in any areas I noticed. Granted, i didn't look everywhere with a microscope. I inspected the hull for scratches and didn't see any fiberglass weave pattern showing through. The carbon fiber is used to reinforce stress points in the hull, not the entire hull and it is on the inside layer from what I've seen in videos.

Go to 0:50 in the video:
[video]https://youtu.be/oxGF0UlWPWE[/video]
The 50 Fly also uses carbon in this way
 
Last edited:
Congrats Mike! Now I just need to come up with $351,750!
 
Here are a couple of pictures of the Azimut 50 taken in Newport. IMG_6872.jpgIMG_6874.jpgIMG_6793.jpgIMG_6794.jpgIMG_6795.jpgIMG_6798.jpgIMG_6800.jpgIMG_6801.jpgIMG_6804.jpgIMG_6806.jpgIMG_6828.jpgIMG_6837.jpgIMG_6853.jpgIMG_6855.jpgIMG_6857.jpgIMG_6864.jpg
 
Looks great. You will really enjoy the boat. You have the best of both worlds with the lower helm. If it is nasty out you can run it from below nice and dry and comfortable like your 48, if it is nice, you can get fresh air and run from above. Can't beat that.

Congratulations
 
I have to ask. What are the casters for in the picture of the holding tanks? Manual passarelle?
 
Fantastic! Best of luck to you.

Does this one have a reverso?? ;-)
 
rondds said:
Fantastic! Best of luck to you.

Does this one have a reverso?? ;-)
Click to expand...

No Reverso. I was very surprised. I think they expect you will have a Volvo-Penta tech doing all the service. I imagine they have a specific device. The VP manual references some kind of VP pump that attaches here:
IMG_6915.jpg
I'm going to try the MityVac.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,193
Messages
1,428,280
Members
61,104
Latest member
Three Amigos
Back
Top