Azimut Magellano 53 Yacht Review
Posted 2015/09/03 at 0:57 in Yacht Reviews
There are those who strongly believe Italian motor yachts are just about style and nothing more. Azimut shipyard begs to differ. Without doubt, Magellano line has class and style but is not so much the sweet life or the good life, but live your life! Yachting is about freedom and joy but on the business end of traveling it’s also about getting there. Voyages are no longer measured by weekends but by several weeks or more. If you are of this mind though, you do not want just any boat.
LOA: 55’5″
BEAM: 15’3″
DRAFT: 4’9″
DISPL.: 63,051 lb. (full load)
FUEL: 845 gal. (std.); 4,018 gal. (opt.)
WATER: 185 gal.
TEST POWER: 2/500-hp Cummins QSC 8.3s
TRANSMISSION: ZF 286 IV, 2.539:1 gear ratio
PROPELLERS: 2/27-inch, 4-blade Nibral
GENERATOR: 15.5-kW Kohler
AIR CONDITIONING: 60,000-BTU Condria
WARRANTY: 1 year full boat, 5 year hull structure and osmosis
BASE PRICE: $1,485,000 (duties paid – CIF Miami)
| RPM | KNOTS | GPH | RANGE | dB(A) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900 | 6.6 | 2.4 | 2091 | 57 |
| 1200 | 8.1 | 5.8 | 1062 | 62 |
| 1500 | 9.6 | 13.1 | 557 | 65 |
| 1800 | 12.2 | 22.7 | 409 | 67 |
| 2100 | 15.6 | 31.6 | 375 | 72 |
| 2250 | 20.3 | 42.0 | 368 | 72 |
| 2350 | 23.9 | 50.8 | 358 | 74 |
Accommodations
The Magellano’s 53-footer design offers extensive cruising comfort with three cabins, allotting for incredible on-board space and comfort. You will appreciate the attractively arranged master suite amidships along with a luxurious head and shower. Distinctive circular hull windows and opening portholes offers an open, airy feeling.
The VIP is forward and has en suite access to a shared head compartment on the starboard side. With headroom between 6 ft. 5 in. and 6 ft 10 in., this adds incredible comfort along with berths that are full size at 6 ft. 2 in. The double berth in the VIP may not be quite long enough for some folks.
The actual size of the twin cabin might surprise some and offers an enormous amount of useful stowage space. Outside the sleeping areas, the living space, throughout the rest of the yacht, is enormous and extremely comfortable. You will enjoy seating arrangements on the foredeck, the cockpit, both inside and top. The overall design is extremely versatile and user-friendly designing plan.
The galley is located aft with a three-part cockpit door that opens completely to the main deck, creating a very pleasing and comfortable living area. You will really appreciate the all around raised seating, at the saloon table, offering the most stunning views.
Performance
One of the great improvements, from the original Magellano 50, is the extension of the hull which is approximately another 2 feet. This accommodates a small crew cabin in the stern. This new Magellano also offers a larger cockpit which comes with a bar, much larger sole and much more ample table.
The hydraulic swim platform is much larger and capable of lifting a Williams 320 tender or approximately 880 pounds.
Azimut’s Magellano designs are famous for their distinctive underwater shape. Designed by the British naval architect, Bill Dixon, who was inspired by the hybrid semi-displacement form that was pioneered by Terry Compton. This design combines full, rounded sections of the traditional displacement type hull with unusually broad chine flats, enabling it to plane.
The combination of lift and displacement is intended to provide the speed of the planing boat and flexibility while exhibiting more traditional designs.
Its tall topsides and superstructure from the helm station of the 53, offers a sense of height when easing her into a tightening turn and does not heel very much. When under way, at anchor or in rougher conditions, there is the option of the Seakeeper gyro stabilizer. Overall lateral stability does not seem to have any issues.
Overall
The Magellano 53 has no obvious planning issues and her speed and fuel exhibits a very direct association from 10 knots up. Simply select your speed and you are off and running. Thrust increased, in line, with velocity offers very little difference whether cruising or not. One of the best features of this hull shape is its ability for slipping through water at lower speeds and rides much more comfortably than other designs. Ten knots is a practical speed, offering a range of 500 nautical miles. If you prefer to push her to 20, you will get 370 miles out of her.
