Azimut Yachts: Series, Costs, and How to Charter

Azimut Yachts are Italian-built luxury motor yachts produced by the Azimut | Benetti Group, spanning models from roughly 30 feet to 110 meters across six distinct series. U.S. buyers have three practical routes to access them:

• Buy new through an authorized U.S. dealer (expect significant lead times and options-driven pricing)
• Source used via a vetted yacht broker, with pre-purchase surveys and sea trials non-negotiable
• Charter first through a specialist operator like Exoticacharters to test a model before committing six or seven figures

Entry-level models in the 30–45 ft range can start under $500,000 used; Grande-class superyachts often reach prices in the multi-million dollar range new. If you want to experience the brand without that commitment, a crewed charter is the smartest first move.

Table of Contents

• What Azimut Yachts are and why the brand matters
• Which Azimut series fits your lifestyle?
• What does an Azimut yacht actually cost?
• Azimut vs. Sunseeker: which brand fits you better?
• Buying vs. chartering an Azimut in the U.S.
• What to check before you buy an Azimut
• How to find authorized Azimut dealers and charter operators in the U.S.
• Key Takeaways
• Why chartering an Azimut first is the decision most buyers get right
• Experience Azimut yachts through a crewed charter with Exoticacharters
• Useful sources

What Azimut Yachts are and why the brand matters

Founded in 1969 by Paolo Vitelli in Italy, Azimut grew from a sailing equipment distributor into one of the world's most recognized motor yacht manufacturers. Today the company operates as part of the Azimut | Benetti Group, with shipyards and service centers in Avigliana, Savona, Viareggio, Fano, Livorno, and Itajaí, Brazil. That manufacturing footprint matters for U.S. owners: warranty delivery and factory-trained technicians are accessible through a global dealer network, not just in Europe.

Giovanna Vitelli, Paolo's daughter, leads the group today. Her tenure has brought continuity to the brand's design philosophy while pushing engineering forward, particularly in carbon-fiber construction and propulsion efficiency.

The production range runs from about 9 to 110 meters, covering weekend sport boats through full superyachts. Azimut holds class certifications from recognized international bodies, and its models regularly appear at the Cannes Yachting Festival and Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, where U.S. dealers present new launches.

Pro Tip: When evaluating brand pedigree, ask your dealer for the specific class certification on the hull you're considering. Bureau Veritas and RINA certifications are common on Azimut models and confirm build standards independent of the manufacturer.

Which Azimut series fits your lifestyle?

Azimut segments its lineup by owner lifestyle rather than just size, which makes matching a model to your actual use case far more straightforward than with many competitors.

The Deck2Deck system lifts the transom to create an expansive terrace over the water, transforming the stern into a beach club. It has become a signature feature on Flybridge and Grande models and materially changes how guests interact with the sea. For anyone planning to entertain on board, it is worth prioritizing over almost any other option.

The Magellano series deserves special mention for U.S. buyers drawn to the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, or Bahamas passages. Its displacement hull and long-range fuel capacity make it the most capable Azimut for extended cruising without a chase boat.

What does an Azimut yacht actually cost?

Pricing varies widely by size, model year, options package, and refit status. For U.S. buyers, entry-level models tend to be in the lower hundreds of thousands of dollars while larger Grande-class superyachts command prices in the multi-million dollar range.

Ongoing ownership costs follow a familiar pattern in luxury yachting: annual expenses tend to be a significant fraction of the vessel's purchase price, covering insurance, slip fees, crew (if applicable), routine maintenance, haul-outs, and surveys. Fuel costs depend heavily on hull type; the Magellano's displacement design is considerably more economical than a planing Flybridge at cruising speed.

The LARGE POD 4600 propulsion system on the Grande 26M, developed with ZF, reduces fuel consumption at typical cruising speeds compared with conventional shaft drives. Azimut's broader Low Emission Yacht approach combines optimized hull forms, lightweight materials, and advanced propulsion to achieve similar reductions across the range.

Options that materially increase purchase price include carbon-fiber upper structures, POD propulsion systems, and Yachtique custom interior packages. Budget 10–20% above base price for a well-optioned build.

Pro Tip: For maintenance budgeting, a practical yachting resource like the Mazza Marine yachting blog covers refit and ownership cost realities that manufacturer brochures rarely address.

Azimut vs. Sunseeker: which brand fits you better?

Both are premium European motor yacht builders with strong U.S. dealer presences, but they attract different buyers.

Azimut tends to suit buyers who prioritize:

• Long-range capability and fuel efficiency (especially Magellano)
• Generous interior volume relative to hull length
• Italian design sensibility with warm, residential-style interiors
• Innovative water-access features like Deck2Deck
• A wider model range from dayboats to superyachts under one brand

Sunseeker tends to suit buyers who prioritize:

• A sportier, more aggressive exterior profile
• British-built construction with a distinct performance character
• Strong resale recognition in Atlantic and Caribbean markets
• Models that lean toward speed and handling over long-range economy

On price, the two brands overlap significantly in the 45–85 ft range. Resale values for both hold reasonably well when service records are complete, though Azimut's broader global dealer network can make finding qualified service easier in some U.S. markets.

Pro Tip: If your primary use is coastal entertaining with occasional overnight passages, either brand works well. If you plan passages of 500+ nautical miles regularly, Azimut's Magellano series has no direct equivalent in the Sunseeker lineup.

Buying vs. chartering an Azimut in the U.S.

Buying new or used

1. Authorized dealers are the cleanest route for new purchases. Azimut's U.S. dealer network is concentrated on the East Coast (Florida, the Carolinas, the Northeast) and the West Coast (California). Dealers can walk you through factory order timelines, which typically run 12–18 months for a custom build.
2. Yacht brokers handle the majority of used transactions. Look for brokers who are members of the Yacht Brokers Association of America (YBAA) or the International Yacht Brokers Association (IYBA), which set professional and ethical standards for escrow and documentation.
3. Private-party purchases carry the highest risk. Without a broker intermediary, due diligence on title, liens, and documentation falls entirely on the buyer.

Chartering to test the model

A crewed charter on an Azimut before buying is one of the most practical decisions you can make. A week aboard a motor yacht charter reveals how the layout actually lives, how the beach club performs with a group, and whether the Flybridge or Magellano configuration suits your style. Exoticacharters specializes in exactly this kind of immersive, expert-guided experience, with a team of former captains who know these vessels from the helm, not just the brochure.

Charter costs for Azimut-class motor yachts in U.S.-accessible waters vary by size and season, but a week aboard a well-appointed luxury yacht charter gives you far more useful information than any boat show visit.

What to check before you buy an Azimut

Non-negotiable pre-purchase steps

• Independent survey: Hire a certified marine surveyor (NAMS or SAMS accredited) with specific experience on Italian-built fiberglass motor yachts. Never rely on the seller's survey.
• Comprehensive sea trial: Test at full throttle, cruising speed, and low-speed maneuvering. Check engine temperatures, exhaust color, and helm response under load.
• Engine room inspection: Look for oil weeping at shaft seals, corrosion on raw-water fittings, and evidence of bilge pump activity beyond normal condensation.
• Service records: A complete, documented service history is the single strongest indicator of a well-maintained vessel. Gaps are a red flag, not a negotiating point.
• Class and flag compliance: Confirm the vessel meets U.S. Coast Guard documentation requirements and any applicable ABYC or NMMA standards for your intended use.
• Warranty status: Azimut's factory warranty is transferable under certain conditions; verify current coverage and what remains with the authorized dealer.

Red flags that should pause any deal

1. Structural repairs without signed-off paperwork from a qualified yard
2. Evidence of grounding (keel damage, rudder misalignment, hull stress cracks near the bow)
3. Major engine work without OEM parts documentation
4. Mismatched hull identification numbers or documentation gaps
5. Sellers who resist an independent survey or sea trial

Multi-level layouts and semi-raised wheelhouses on newer Azimut models are worth testing specifically on the sea trial: confirm that crew access routes and guest quarters separation work as designed, since these features are a primary reason buyers choose the brand.

How to find authorized Azimut dealers and charter operators in the U.S.

• Use the dealer locator on the official Azimut Yachts website to identify authorized U.S. dealers and confirm factory warranty support before any transaction.
• Verify that any broker you work with holds active YBAA or IYBA membership and uses a proper escrow account for deposit handling.
• For charter operators, check Trustpilot ratings and ask for references from clients who chartered a comparable model in similar conditions.
• Request a factory-authorized pre-delivery inspection (PDI) on any new purchase; this is standard practice and should be included in the dealer agreement.
• For used purchases, cross-reference the vessel's documentation with the U.S. Coast Guard National Vessel Documentation Center to confirm clean title and no outstanding liens.
• Consider scheduling a short charter before committing to a purchase; high-end yacht charters through a specialist operator give you real-world exposure to the model's performance and livability. The Mazza Marine news feed also tracks new Azimut launches and feature updates worth reviewing before finalizing a model choice.

Key Takeaways

Azimut Yachts offer one of the most complete luxury motor yacht lineups available to U.S. buyers, from sport dayboats to Grande superyachts, with a global service network and a charter option that lets you test before you buy.

Why chartering an Azimut first is the decision most buyers get right

There is a version of this decision that goes wrong every time: a buyer falls in love with a model at a boat show, skips the charter step, and discovers six months into ownership that the layout doesn't suit how they actually use a boat. We have seen it with Flybridge buyers who wanted the open-air deck but found the interior too compact for extended family trips, and with Magellano buyers who underestimated just how different a displacement hull feels after years on a planing boat.

What a crewed charter gives you that no boat show visit can is time. Time to understand how the beach club works with eight people aboard, how the galley functions when the chef is actually cooking, and whether the master cabin feels as generous underway as it does at the dock. These are not small details; they are the difference between a yacht you use constantly and one that sits in a slip.

The Azimut lineup is genuinely impressive, and the brand's engineering advances, particularly the carbon-fiber upper structures that reduce weight and the POD propulsion systems that cut fuel consumption, represent real ownership advantages. But the right series for you depends entirely on how you plan to use the boat, and that is something only time on the water can answer.

Experience Azimut yachts through a crewed charter with Exoticacharters

The most direct way to know whether an Azimut is right for you is to spend a week aboard one, fully crewed, in waters that show the boat at its best. Exoticacharters plans exactly that: luxury crewed yacht charters in some of the world's most extraordinary destinations, from the Caribbean to the South Pacific, with itineraries built around diving, wildlife, and genuine adventure on the water.

The team behind Exoticacharters is made up of former captains and water sports professionals who know these vessels from real experience, not marketing materials. Highly rated on Trustpilot, the company brings the same level of care to a one-week charter as to a multi-destination expedition. Whether you want to test a Flybridge in warm Caribbean anchorages or put a Magellano through its paces on a longer passage, the specialists at Exoticacharters can match you to the right vessel and destination. Reach out to book your charter and find out firsthand which Azimut series belongs in your future.

Useful sources

• Azimut Yachts — Wikipedia: Third-party overview of brand history, ownership structure, and production range.
• Azimut Yachts official website: Manufacturer page covering all current series, model specifications, and dealer locator.
• Azimut World — shipyards and mission: Manufacturer page listing production sites, service centers, and global network.
• Azimut Grande 26M specifications: Manufacturer page with POD propulsion details, carbon-fiber construction data, and Low Emission Yacht figures.
• Azimut Fly 82 specifications: Manufacturer page covering carbon-fiber lamination benefits and flybridge layout details.
• Azimut Cannes debuts — Deck2Deck feature: Manufacturer news page explaining the Deck2Deck transom system and its application across new models.

This article is general information for research purposes. Verify current model specifications, pricing, warranty terms, and U.S. compliance requirements directly with an authorized Azimut dealer or a qualified marine professional before making any purchase decision.

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