Azimut Atlantis 51 (2019-)

With the Atlantis 51, Azimut has set out to create the ideal balance between quality and safety, the perfect combination of beauty and functionality, made up of large, welcoming spaces and meticulously planned interiors reminiscent of classic Italian yachting design.

Distinguishing Features

• Deck and cockpit fully enclosed by a pulpit

• Three section sun pads fore and aft

• Stainless steel cockpit sink with faucets

• Removable boarding ladder

• C-shaped dinette seating is a fully padded sofa

• Emergency escape hatch and skylight in owner’s cabin

• Three showers, one in each head and one on-deck

• Cockpit walk arounds with ample width and hand holds for safety

• GRP flooring material with non-skid finish

• Engine room access from cockpit

• Stainless steel and Plexiglas gate between the cockpit and steps to hydraulic/swim platform

• Carpeted floors in all sleeping cabins

V-shape with an AFT deadrise of 14.2-degrees.

Getting underway was a non-event thanks to the maneuverability of the pod drives and the efficiency of the bow thruster, allowing us to accommodate the tight turn upon departure, and the tight confines of the marina as we make our way out.

The Azimut Atlantis 51 has a LOA of 53’1’ (16.18 m), a beam of 14’11” (4.55 m), and a draft of 4’3’ (1.30 m). With an empty weight of 45,847 lbs. (20,796 kg), 50-percent fuel and four people onboard, we had an estimated test weight of 47,781 lbs. (21,673 kg).

Best cruise came in at 2250 rpm and 22.7 mph. It was at that speed that the 31 gph fuel burn translated into .7 mpg and a range of 250 statute miles. All while still holding back a 10-percent reserve of the boat’s 380 gallon (1,438 L) total fuel capacity.

She accelerates nicely with a moderate 8-degree bowrise, and we never lost sight of the horizon from the helm, reaching planing speed in 7 seconds, continuing on through 20 mph in 8.3 seconds and 30 in 13.1 seconds. She has a plumb bow dropping down to a moderate flare with the chine carrying well forward designed to knock down spray as she penetrates waves, which we regrettably did not have on our test day.

She’s a pleasant boat to drive and is quite responsive to the helm, more so than we would expect from pod drives. IPS power gives her a mild 15-degree turning characteristic that keeps the ride comfortable. Tighter turns will naturally require a reduction in speed.

The Azimut Atlantis 51’s wide hydraulic/swim platform makes boarding safer and enables more efficient loading and unloading of people and gear. There’s enough room for swimmers, SCUBA divers, water skiers or sun bathers to comfortably get into or out of the water.

Just forward of the swim platform, a raised structure provides enough storage within its 10.8’ X 5.6’ (3.30 m x 1.70 m) interior to completely contain a small tender.

Access the tender garage by lifting an aft-facing hatch. When the hatch is closed, the structure supports a triple wide sun pad (75”/190.50 cm x 71”/180.34 cm) with beverage holders are to both sides.

Engine room space is cramped as a tradeoff of having a tender garage but crawl-space access to all sides is still possible.

The space is adequate to access the twin 3633 600-hp Volvo Penta IPS800 pod drive engines.

The pods are connected to the engines via jackshafts allowing the engines to be placed further ahead for better weight distribution. A SeaKeeper 6 gyro stabilizer sits between the engines. The air handling system and the hydraulics for the platform and tender garage door are mounted to starboard and aft of the engines. The shore power cord reel is located above.

The dual starboard engine fuel filters, the starboard raw water strainer, the port engine water strainer, and the port fuel filters are mounted forward from right to left. The fixed halon fire system is positioned above the engines. Battery boxes are secured below the catwalk. Battery switches are easily accessible near the entry ladder.

 Starboard shore power is located below the warping winch.

Controls for the hydraulic platform and the tender garage are located below the warping winch. 50-amp shore connectivity is wired to both sides. Chafing gear, 12” (30.48 cm) cleats, and additional chafing gear are just outboard.

All decking is non-skid. A portside settee wraps around a hi-lo pedestal table. That table is made with synthetic marble, a more expensive and more durable alternative to natural marble. All the topside upholstery is Batyline, an upgraded material, chosen because it’s durable, breathable, and resists heat. Exposed skin doesn’t stick to the upholstery on a hot day.

A refreshment station with counter space, a sink, a refrigerator, and icemaker are located just forward of the movable bench seat.

Forward and to port is a lounge measuring 50” (127.00 cm) x 47” (119.38 cm). Flip the forward cushion back to create an elevated forward facing seat. Lighted storage is located forward of the window.

Opening side windows and a large sunroof allow just enough nature to flow through. The covered area can be completely closed off. Climate control vents provide the option of extending trips into the shoulder seasons.

The glass dash houses a 16” (40.64 cm) Garmin display mounted to a carbon fiber panel. A 7” (17.78 cm) Volvo Penta display is located to the right. A quick windlass control and tri data display are mounted just below the Volvo display.

There’s a GRID controller for the Garmin display and I’d like to see that back in a more remote location. The bow thruster control is located beside it.

The IPS joystick and the digital engine controls are mounted behind the thruster. The steering wheel is mounted to a tilt base.

Visibility is excellent through the single piece 8’3” x 4’6” (2.51 m x 1.37 m) windshield. We’re happy to see defrost vents pointed toward the glass. Wiping away moisture usually results in some measure of obstructed visibility.

Dual high backed, wraparound bucket seats with upgraded Batyline breathable upholstery give helmsman and lookout lots of comfort. The seats are mounted to an extended pod that includes the stereo, which is also controlled from the Garmin display in the panel. An opening window allows plenty of air circulation.

Port side steps from the hydraulic/swim platform to the deck are 20” (50.80 cm) wide, as opposed to the 42” (106.68 cm) width of the starboard side steps. The second shore power connection is mounted in the center riser. All the operational gear from starboard is repeated on this side.

A toe rail runs from between 5” (15.24 cm) and 2” (5.08 cm) (9” / 22.86 cm) cleat) below the 26” (66.04 cm) high rail exceeding NMMA requirements. I’d add a rail to the top of the cabin.

As we move forward, there’s another comfortable social zone at the bow where we see a sun pad (86” x 54” / 218.44 cm x 137.16 cm) mounted atop the trunk cabin. Dual 24” (60.96 cm) backrests elevate individually into the chaise lounge position.

Beverage holders are recessed into the pad on both sides. The sun pad would be a good place to add grab rails. A concealed pull up cabana adds protection from the sun.

Salon

As expected, the Azimut Atlantis 51 is designed for spending days on deck and nights down below. Let’s take a look.

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We proceed down solid wood stairs that are well lit. Gloss risers add to the styling seen throughout the boat. Stainless grab rails are within easy reach on both sides.

The salon lines the starboard side of the hull and includes a C-shaped sofa wrapping around a table on a fixed pedestal. A mirrored bulkhead located forward reflects the natural light coming in from windows lining the hull.

The solid wood table includes an ornate stainless grab rail and four polished beverage holders. Naturally, the table expands to accommodate larger groups.

Storage and air conditioning vents fill space above the hull side window with its opening portlight.

A 40” (101.60 cm) flatscreen TV with storage below are located forward and on the centerline. The TV swivels into position as desired, making it easier to view from the starboard side couch.

6’7” (2.03 m) overhead, upholstered ceiling panels include LED lighting and speakers connected to the Bose home theater system housed in a cabinet around the corner.

A hull side window with opening portlight supplements ventilation from the range hood. There’s plenty of storage up above. A dual receptacle trash bin and more storage are found below. There’s even more storage below the Miele combination convection oven and microwave.

A pull-up power station is mounted alongside a wood partition that creates yet another storage space beneath the window. Further forward is a full sized refrigerator/freezer.

The master stateroom is located forward of the salon/galley. A full-sized, island berth 79” (200.66 cm) x 66” (167.64 cm) has walk-around access on both sides. The 6’6” (1.98 m) high overhead ceiling has an eye-catching, visual contrast between dark and light that adorns the surrounding woodwork. It’s fitted with a double skylight with bug screen and blackout shade.

Hull side windows with opening portlights add more natural light and ventilation. Storage is thoughtfully added above the windows on both sides of the entry and under the berth where there’s storage within storage. Between the drawers there’s a pull out stool for the flip-down vanity just behind.

A TV, cleverly concealed behind a one-way mirror makes great use of the available space. Entrance to the ensuite is located beside the vanity on the starboard side. It includes mirrored storage, a hull side window with opening portlight, and a vessel sink on a corner vanity. The walk-in shower has a hand wand and rainfall feature.

This stateroom includes twin berths that measure 76” x 30” (193.04 cm x 76.20 cm). A hull side window with portlight provides natural light. It is equipped with a Venetian blind or lighting control. Find storage under a mirrored bulkhead just forward of the window.

The cabin also has a flip-up vanity. A mirrored lid would be a welcome touch. Additional storage is located above the berth and in a hanging locker. As expected, when a couple uses the VIP, the individual berths slide together to form one larger berth.

The guest stateroom to port features over/under berths. Storage is located above a hull side window with an opening portlight. A hanging locker with a mirrored door offers more storage.

A 24” (60.96 cm) TV can be viewed only on the upper berth only. The top bunk also gets the climate controls. Padded headboards and bunk sides keep the fit-and-finish consistent with the rest of the yacht.

A shared head that also serves as a day head is located between the galley and the guest cabin. A combination washer/dryer makes great use of space behind the companionway stairs.

Between the Azimut and Benetti brands, the company has extensive experience building boats from 30’ to 300’ (9.14 m to 91.4 m). In addition, proprietary CFD software provides the R&D team with a database of correlations between virtual and tank tested models that is unmatched in the industry.

After defining hull shape, the structures are developed using Finite Element Analysis (FEA). The process is performed by R&D specialists and/or consultants with experience working on designs for offshore racing hulls.

Azimut doesn’t use a parametric approach to hull design, preferring instead to develop native hulls. The design process begins by analyzing navigation needs, which vary depending on the type of yacht. This allows performance, consumption, and load factors to be optimized based on effective needs.

Composite Structural Design includes more than 10 different types of multiaxial fabrics. Azimut uses DIAB Divinycell foam core and Dryfell Exterior Cushions.

The open cell foam structure allows water and humidity to drain through.

Structural Bonding produces higher strength – replacing hand lay-up lamination in complex joints. Up to 90% of all GRP structural components are fabricated using a Vacuum Infusion Process.

Noise reduction is achieved through the use of two types of materials: sound-proof materials and acoustic insulators. Main engine vibration dampers also keep noise levels low.

Carbon-fiber is applied to specific composite parts, in order to provide lightweight solutions in specific areas for more living space, while preserving an excellent level of dynamic stability.

Vinylester resin is applied to the hull skin coat, including all GRP surfaces exposed to weathering.

• Air conditioning (includes Onan 13.5 kW generator)

• Safe in master cabin

• Dimmer lights in lower deck

• Dishwasher

• Telescopic gangway

• Raymarine Gold Package

• Underwater lights Nr.2

• Teak table in cockpit

• Teak on side decks

• Teak in cockpit and on swim platform

$818,157

Overall, the Azimut Atlantis 51 represents a boat that is at once comfortable in her handling, her ride, and capable of extended cruising. Clearly the design team at Azimut put a lot of thought into the details of the boat, not only in the fit-and-finish but the flow through the boat, the single level main deck, and the comfortable ergonomics throughout.

Azimut calls the Atlantis 51, La Dolce Vita (The Sweet Life) 3.0 Advanced Yachting Experience. The name seems to fit.