Azimut Atlantis 51
| LOA | 16.18 m |
|---|---|
| Beam | 4.55 m |
| Cabins | 3, 2 heads |
| Engines | 2 x Volvo Penta IPS 800 (600 hp each) |
| Top speed | up to 32 knots, cruise up to 26 knots |
| Design | exterior and interior by Neo Design, hull by Azimut-Benetti R&D |
| Deck | convertible cockpit, coupe hardtop with sunroof |
| Collection | Atlantis sport cruisers |
The larger sport cruiser
The Atlantis 51 tops the current sport-cruiser collection and adds a third cabin to the athletic Atlantis formula. At just over 16 metres it pairs fast, sporty looks with real accommodation. It suits owners who want the coupe character with room for a bigger group. The size keeps it manageable for an owner-driver, quick to bring alongside on the joystick without any fuss. For many buyers it is the versatile top of the line, quick enough to thrill and roomy enough to cruise for a week.
Neo Design shaped both the exterior and the interior, and the yard's research department engineered the hull. The design leans on indoor-outdoor flexibility and a light, open main deck. Pod propulsion keeps it easy to handle in close quarters. The coupe layout extends the usable season. It is aimed at buyers who want a fast day boat that also cruises for a week with the family aboard.
Lines and deck
The 51 wears the collection's sporty lines with a coupe hardtop, a sunroof and long glazing. The cockpit converts between lounging and dining, and the open plan aligns the galley with the dinette to unify the space. The swim platform draws guests to the water at anchor. The profile looks quick even at rest. Every line serves the sporty character, sharpened by the coupe hardtop and the long bands of glass.
Deck spaces favour a sun-filled, sociable life afloat, with a versatile cockpit and a foredeck lounge. The convertible layout adapts the boat to the weather and the mood. The bathing platform brings swimmers down to the sea. Wide walkways keep movement around the boat easy. It is built around fast, flexible cruising with friends and family.
A 16-metre sport cruiser with three cabins and a convertible coupe deck that still runs to 32 knots.
Interior and accommodation
Below deck the 51 sleeps guests across three cabins with two heads. The master suite features full-height windows and a retractable vanity, and a midships VIP offers twin beds that convert to a queen. A third guest cabin adds flexibility for a larger group. Hull glazing keeps the cabins bright and connected to the sea. It is a comfortable, modern interior below a fast profile.
Neo Design gave the interior a clean, contemporary finish with clever, space-saving detailing. The open-plan main deck keeps the cook part of the conversation. Storage suits week-long trips aboard. The master suite gives a genuine sense of retreat. It keeps the sporty brief while offering real overnight comfort.
Engineering and pace
Twin Volvo Penta IPS 800 pods at 600 hp each drive the 51 to a top speed of around 32 knots, with a cruise near 26 knots. Pod propulsion brings joystick docking to keep a fast boat easy to berth. The setup gives brisk pace with quiet, efficient cruising. Close-quarters work stays calm and predictable. Few sport cruisers of the size are so approachable.
The hull is set up to feel agile and planted at speed for confident fast runs. Light controls flatter the owner-driver. The boat holds a clean attitude at cruise, flat and composed through fast turns and on a long run. Handling stays confident as conditions build. The 51 delivers its performance with real composure, holding a clean line through the turns and a steady ride on a long leg.
The owner it suits
The Atlantis 51 is for the owner who wants a fast coupe with three cabins and room to stay aboard longer. Buyers who prize looks and pace but need real accommodation will feel at home. Pod handling keeps it easy to run without crew. The coupe hardtop extends the usable season. For many buyers it is the sport cruiser that finally fits the family.
It also suits owners who want a versatile boat for both fast days and week-long trips. The three cabins support proper hosting aboard. For sporty Mediterranean cruising with family and friends, the 51 is a well-judged size. Its looks and pace keep resale interest strong. Owning one blends the drive with real practicality, which is what sets it apart in the sport-cruiser class.
Engines and systems
| Engines | Twin Volvo Penta IPS800 pod-drive diesels, 600hp per side, joystick-controlled. |
|---|---|
| Generator | Onan genset, 13.5 kW, included as part of Azimut's optional Advance Package rather than universally standard. |
| Stabilization | Seakeeper gyro stabilizer offered as an option, also part of the Advance Package - not standard at this size. |
| Bow thruster | Fitted, integrated with the IPS joystick control at the helm for close-quarters maneuvering. |
| Tankage | Fuel: 380 US gal / 317 imperial gal (~1,438-1,440 L). Water: 118 US gal / 99 imperial gal (~447-450 L). Consistent across BoatTEST, Power & Motoryacht and MBY once converted. |
| Engine-room access | Reported as notably tight and hard to move around in during a sea trial - a real consideration for anyone planning to do their own engine checks. |
What owners and crew report
Portholes leaked and hot-water heater tripped breakers on an early Atlantis
Owner TopGunOne, who ran a 2015 Atlantis 50 Open (the 51's direct predecessor), reported that all portholes on his boat leaked and the hot water heater repeatedly tripped breakers; he also flagged weak factory support and documentation.
TopGunOne, YachtForumsBuild quality called inconsistent, warranty routed through dealer not Azimut
A long-time forum member said hull and superstructure build quality is generally good, but electrical, plumbing and interior installation quality is inconsistent, and that all US warranty work is handled by the selling dealer (MarineMax) rather than Azimut directly, with historically weak service from that channel.
olderboater, YachtForumsHardtop cracking found on an older Atlantis hull during a pre-purchase inspection
A yacht captain doing a pre-purchase inspection on a 2014 50ft Atlantis found cracks in the hardtop on both sides just aft of the windshield and judged the build quality less than stellar.
Capt J, YachtForumsOne strongly negative voice on Azimut build/service reputation
A forum member dismissed Azimut's build consistency and advised buyers to avoid the brand - a harsher outlier compared to the more mixed opinions elsewhere on the same thread.
Capt Ralph, YachtForumsOwners praise the dry, soft ride of the hull
An owner of a 2012 Atlantis 50 said the hull is dry with no pounding and soft landings, and that it handled larger seas better than his previous boat.
Tom Vendel, YachtForumsOwners who like the boat rate it a good sea boat
A forum member in Malta called the Atlantis 51 a nice boat and judged it the better sea boat against a comparable Princess model.
Liam, YachtForumsDeck finish and sunroof criticized on sea trial
The reviewer wrote that the Atlantis 51's decking looks cheap and would be a nightmare to keep clean, that the sunroof is undersized and rattles, and that the helm wheel is cumbersome to spin.
Jack Haines, Motor Boat & YachtingEngine-room access criticized as too tight
The reviewer found access to the engine room so narrow it is difficult to get down to the engines, and also flagged insufficient handrails and an unsafely placed ignition button beneath the wheel.
Peter Laessig, BOOTE
What is good, and what to watch
Strong points
- Stable, dry ride at speedMultiple independent tests (Motor Boat & Yachting, Yachts Croatia) found the deep-V hull stable and composed at 28-29 knot cruise speeds, with no pounding reported even by long-term owners of the earlier Atlantis 50.
- Effortless close-quarters handlingThe twin Volvo Penta IPS800 pod drives with joystick control and integrated bow thruster let the 51 maneuver in tight marinas without drama, noted across nearly every test.
- A genuinely open sport-cruiser cockpit in a market of sliding doorsUnlike most rivals its size which enclose the cockpit, the 51 keeps a fully open aft deck with dual sunpads and a U-shaped lounge, which both MBY and Power & Motoryacht flagged as its defining differentiator.
- Unusually spacious three-cabin accommodation for a 51-footerA master forward, VIP amidships, and a third stateroom sleep six, with an open galley/dinette saloon below that continues the boat's alfresco design language.
What to watch
- Deck and detail finish criticizedReviewers called the deck composite cheap-feeling and hard to keep clean, and found the sunroof undersized and prone to rattling.
- Tight, hard-to-service engine roomSea-trial access to the engines was described as narrow and difficult, a real consideration for maintenance and pre-purchase surveys.
- Inconsistent interior build quality and dealer-routed warranty serviceA long-time Azimut owner described electrical and plumbing installation quality as inconsistent, and noted that US warranty claims go through the selling dealer network rather than the factory, with a spotty service record historically.
- Fuel burn rises steeply once you push past efficient cruiseBoatTEST's own instrumented trial recorded 54.5 gph at 31.2 knots (3,000 rpm) versus 31 gph at a much slower 19.7-knot best cruise (2,250 rpm) - a buyer expecting to run at the manufacturer's quoted 28-30 knot cruise should budget for the higher burn rate, not the efficient-cruise figure.
Practical detail
| New price (as tested/base, 2019) | BoatTEST's base US price was $818,157; actual 2019 dealer listings ran $899,000-$925,000. MBY notes the 51 is priced roughly EUR 90,000 above a Princess V50 Open and EUR 170,000 above a Beneteau Gran Turismo 50. |
|---|---|
| Typical used asking price (2018-2022 hulls) | Current brokerage listings span roughly $562,000 to $1,375,000 depending on year, spec and market, with a 2018 hull recently offered around $990,000 per YachtBuyer's market data. |
| Time on market / price movement | Aggregated brokerage data shows an average of about 205 days on market and roughly a 2.1% reduction from initial asking price - a relatively fast-turning, value-holding segment. |
| Before buying used, check | Porthole seals (reported leaks on early hulls), hot-water heater breaker behavior, hardtop for stress cracking near the windshield on older hulls, and engine-room service history given the reported tight access for maintenance. |
| Warranty/service channel | In the US, warranty work is handled by the selling dealer (e.g. MarineMax) rather than Azimut directly, per an owner report - worth asking about the local dealer's service reputation specifically. |
Questions owners ask
How big is the Azimut Azimut Atlantis 51?
LOA: 16.18 m. Beam: 4.55 m.
Who is the Azimut Azimut Atlantis 51 for?
The owner who wants a fast coupe with three cabins and the versatility to cruise for a week, not just a day.
What is the Azimut Azimut Atlantis 51 good at?
Stable, dry ride at speed. Multiple independent tests (Motor Boat & Yachting, Yachts Croatia) found the deep-V hull stable and composed at 28-29 knot cruise speeds, with no pounding reported even by long-term owners of the earlier Atlantis 50.
What are the drawbacks of the Azimut Azimut Atlantis 51?
Deck and detail finish criticized. Reviewers called the deck composite cheap-feeling and hard to keep clean, and found the sunroof undersized and prone to rattling.
What do owners and crew report about the Azimut Azimut Atlantis 51?
Owner TopGunOne, who ran a 2015 Atlantis 50 Open (the 51's direct predecessor), reported that all portholes on his boat leaked and the hot water heater repeatedly tripped breakers; he also flagged weak factory support and documentation. (TopGunOne, YachtForums)
Who it is for: The owner who wants a fast coupe with three cabins and the versatility to cruise for a week, not just a day.