Azimuts

lisilou

lisilou

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A couple of very vague questions for you...
We're exploring the possibility of changing our boat. Ideally we want a 2/3 year old SC42 but simply can't afford it for the next couple of years but we'd like more space in the meantime.
There are a couple of Azimuts up for sale in Swanwick which, although they're much older than we'd like, we're going to take a look at over the weekend hopefully.
Any knowledge of Azimuts in general would be good i.e build quality, do they sell-on fairly easily? etc.
The two in question are:
2001 Azimut 46 with Cat diesels (hp listed as 880) and a 2003 Azimut 39 again with Cats (610hp).

We've never owned or been on an Azimut, nor have we run Cats before. Anything I should know about either?

It really is just a thought process atm but any advice you have would be great.
Thanks
L
:)
 
Lisa, you will probably recognize that Rafiki is a 2002 Azi 39. She has 2xCat 3126 355hp engines, on ZF transmissions and shafts. Most people who see her think she is new, as the styling has not yet aged, with bonded windows, and lines a little different from Fair/Prin. We had the saloon upholstery and carpeting renewed this year.
In terms of reliability we have suffered no major unit failures, a couple of fuses (own goal), and the auto float switch in the grey collecting tank. We had a recent battery failure, again an own goal as I left the fridge on without the battery charger topping up. Fuel consumption is about 1.2Nmpg at cruising speeds (low 20's) and 3-4 Nmpg when pottering (8-10).
She has a domestic size fridge with a decent size freezer compartment, so we can manage about a week's worth of food, depending on how much booze we stack. The galley is fully electric, no gas, and we have a gennie for when we are away from shorepower. We have a combi microwave/grill/oven.
Seakeeping seems great to us, but we don't go out in hoolies, so I cannot comment on the extremes.
Accommodation is great for us. My wife and I are just either side of 6 ft tall, and the main cabin works well. Ensuite heads has a separate shower cubicle, and the day heads is ensuite for the second cabin. Again, plenty of room, no height issues or banging elbows.
The later (Evo) 39's had Cummins QSB engines, which Latestarter1 says are the best marine engines, and a friend of ours has one of these. He loves the engines, but Azi jiggered with the saloon sofa's, and they are nowhere near as comfortable as ours. As to our Cats, they consume no oil, generate no smoke, start on the button, and I am very happy with them.
Any other questions, give us a shout.
 
Paul...thanks so much. Just what I was hoping for. I'd forgotten you had the 39. How about servicing costs if you don't mind me asking? PM if you prefer. If I can get as much comparative costs to our SC35, that'd be a great help.
L
:)
 
No need to PM.

Shaft drive so no outdrive service.

Lift, anodes, antifoul about £850, of which £500 was the lift. I buy the anodes in the USA. After 18 months just needed to change the prop and trim tab anodes. Hull were fine.

Changed the engine "finger" anodes last year, 10 per engine. Got them from the states for about £50 I think. I got them changed by a local mechanic, about half a days work, £120. I helped him so will do myself next time.

Changed both impellers. £100 to buy from the States. Again, half a days work to change, as the pumps have to come off.

Oil, 25l per engine. Did this myself, oil was about £120, plus £50 for the filters. Have not needed to change the gearbox oil yet.

There is a significant job to be done on the engines, valve lash check (not 100% sure what this is), which can only be done by Finnings, so budgeting £500 for next year on this.

Just changed the domestic batteries, £180 for the 2 after a bit of haggling.
 
Definitely not down this weekend I'm afraid, Debbie's 21st Birthday again (she's had a good few of those ;) ) and her mum got married recently so we're having a double celebration in Letchworth. SHould be down at some point in October though as Deb's is away with some college girls the following weekend for a knees up in Liverpool so that'll either be a curry night with the lads in Milton Keynes or down the boat on my tod, She's then having a girls only knees up on our boat with 7 Netball mates the following weekend to sample the delights of the Frog n Frigate and then there's something important happening the last week of October that I can't remember anything about.. oh yeah, she's beautifiying some bride for her wedding so I may be down that weekend too.

Can I just say, I wish I had my wife's life !!!!! lols :)
 
Azimuts are really nice boats, or at least I think they are.

I think the 46 especially is a cracker - comes in two basic versions, 2 cabin and 3 cabin. For me the 3 cabin is the one to have as it gives more flexibility, plus cabin 1 and 2 are identical. What you compromise is a smaller galley, though still big enough, and a two seat sofa to port in the saloon rather than three. On top of the two versions you then had a choice of mid cabin configuration. Either a split horizontal twin berth with infill to make a generous double or a diagonally offset permanent double.

I say all this but they are a rare beast in the UK so it's likely you probably won't have the choice unless you look further afield.

Azimuts of this age are prone to osmosis. Don't panic, it's not a huge issue but it is likely. The most common place is in the spray rails and chines of the hull. I know of two 46 boats of the same year that had it, a 42 that had it, the 42 I nearly bought had it. It can be fixed but I'd definitely go for a thorough hull survey.

Other than that top boats, go and look you'll be impressed.
 
oGaryo said:
Definitely not down this weekend I'm afraid, Debbie's 21st Birthday again (she's had a good few of those ;) ) and her mum got married recently so we're having a double celebration in Letchworth. SHould be down at some point in October though as Deb's is away with some college girls the following weekend for a knees up in Liverpool so that'll either be a curry night with the lads in Milton Keynes or down the boat on my tod, She's then having a girls only knees up on our boat with 7 Netball mates the following weekend to sample the delights of the Frog n Frigate and then there's something important happening the last week of October that I can't remember anything about.. oh yeah, she's beautifiying some bride for her wedding so I may be down that weekend too.

Can I just say, I wish I had my wife's life !!!!! lols :)
Click to expand...

I'm soooooo snitching on you!!
Ok...give me a shout when you're about next and we'll try and meet up. Long overdue.
L
:)
 
Whitelighter said:
Azimuts are really nice boats, or at least I think they are.

I think the 46 especially is a cracker - comes in two basic versions, 2 cabin and 3 cabin. For me the 3 cabin is the one to have as it gives more flexibility, plus cabin 1 and 2 are identical. What you compromise is a smaller galley, though still big enough, and a two seat sofa to port in the saloon rather than three. On top of the two versions you then had a choice of mid cabin configuration. Either a split horizontal twin berth with infill to make a generous double or a diagonally offset permanent double.

I say all this but they are a rare beast in the UK so it's likely you probably won't have the choice unless you look further afield.

Azimuts of this age are prone to osmosis. Don't panic, it's not a huge issue but it is likely. The most common place is in the spray rails and chines of the hull. I know of two 46 boats of the same year that had it, a 42 that had it, the 42 I nearly bought had it. It can be fixed but I'd definitely go for a thorough hull survey.

Other than that top boats, go and look you'll be impressed.
Click to expand...

Thanks Jez. Again, really helpful info. Someone did give me a heads up about the osmosis issues on the older ones.
L
:)
 
I own a snazi 46 and I would own another in a heartbeat.

Mine had osmosis when I bought it, but 12k will put it right and it is not a big deal, just be aware. The 3208 v8 cats purr, pun intended, and while old technology they are superb. I burn 120 lph at 21 knots and I have had over 2 years and 200 hours of trouble free with them. You will read many nonsense stories about the 435 hp version in the 46 being an issue, however I have 1600 hours on mine and they still pull max rpm and use no oil to speak of. Last year I used 5 litres of oil and 7000 litres of fuel....

They are a lovely looking boat and as Jez says they have a 3 cabin (as mine) that has a small galley or the 2 cabin that has a much larger galley . Roger Rat has the 2 cabin. The showers are big and it is well laid out, including a walk in wardrobe.

The 46 is nearer 49,but don't tell anyone ;). I have found 1 or 2 frustrating things but on the whole a brilliant boat for the money. Getting around the engines is easy and no lifting the saloon floor either.

I could bore you with how many people have asked to buy her on my travels, she is a stunner, but I am obviously biased.

I am selling up next year so that I can buy a newer version, although that will have the c9 cats. Message me if you want any advice.

Cheers
 
evening All

i had a sc35 and looked at moving up to a sc42 and was pretty unimpressed with it, i may be in the minority but found the 42 hard to handle and the visibility was not great at the helm.

if you want a big boat she is great though, apart from the normal bits that fall off but thats the charm of owning a sealine
 
I have always liked the mahoosive and sociable cockpit on the sc35. I think that one factor which will have to be taken into account is how big a boat do you need to get to improve on that. Plenty will have more cabin space but to get more cabin space AND an even better cockpit I'm guessing you will have to go well into the 40+ foot category.

Maybe that Azi 46 has your name on it? :D
 
Whitelighter said:
Azimuts of this age are prone to osmosis. Don't panic, it's not a huge issue but it is likely. The most common place is in the spray rails and chines of the hull. I know of two 46 boats of the same year that had it, a 42 that had it, the 42 I nearly bought had it. It can be fixed but I'd definitely go for a thorough hull survey.
Click to expand...
Also around the trim tabs as well. Osmosis is too strong a word; blistering would be a more correct term. Yes the AZ46 is a great boat, much bigger than a Phantom 46 for example. Also Azimut fitted good quality equipment like Cat engines, Kohler genny, Cruisair aircon, Tecma toilets. Check out the electric side windows because they gave me some problems. One 'problem' if it can be called a problem is which cabin to use as the master cabin because the VIP guest cabin is nearly as large as the forward master cabin plus its in the middle of the boat so less movement and anchor chain noise
 
Will the pugs be able to scrub a bigger hull on one air tank ???............................................................. i,ll get me coat !!.............. weather will be crud on saturday as Mark and I are looking over the new Sealines at Mercury .... see you there ??
 
Thanks everyone for your responses, knowledge and advice.
After much banging our heads together and brain storming tonight, we've decided it would be a wrong move to trade our boat for a much older boat purely to gain size and as an interim to the SC42.
I needed to ask the questions to be sure tho' so as I say... thanks.
Our 35 has been absolutely flawless in the 3 or so years we've owned her. The space you get is second to none in that class imo so we're really in no hurry to part with her but...we're spending more and more time aboard and could really use even more space i.e a 2nd heads and shower, fridge freezer. Also, we seem to have acquired a breakfast club social set who, quite frankly, spread themselves out so much that I'm not even sure the SC42 could cater for them all! (yes...you know who you are!!)
The SC42 is the boat we will ultimately go for when we can afford the upgrade. We just keep coming back to it time and again so...the decision (I think :rolleyes:) is to stick with what we've got for a couple more years. After all...why try and fix something that ain't broken.
L
:)
P.S Steruth1...I'd love to hear more of your experience with the SC42 if you wouldn't mind sharing a little more detail about that?
 
STEVEDUNSTABLE said:
Will the pugs be able to scrub a bigger hull on one air tank ???............................................................. i,ll get me coat !!.............. weather will be crud on saturday as Mark and I are looking over the new Sealines at Mercury .... see you there ??
Click to expand...

Haha and...Noooooo!!!!..don't you dare come down this weekend!!!!
;)
 
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