Azimut Fly 53
| LOA | 16.78 m |
|---|---|
| Beam | 4.95 m |
| Cabins | 3 plus crew cabin |
| Engines | 2 x Volvo Penta IPS 950 (D11, 725 hp each) |
| Top speed | up to 31 knots |
| Propulsion | pod drive with joystick docking |
| Collection | entry model of the Flybridge range |
| Interior | Italian design, hull windows to lower cabins |
The entry to the Flybridge line
The 53 is the smallest of the current Fly models and the natural first step into the collection. It offers three cabins and a crew cabin, enough for a family and for occasional professional support. The pitch is simple, the space and light of a bigger flybridge on a boat that stays manageable. It suits owners moving up from a sportboat or a smaller cruiser. The step up in comfort is immediate and obvious.
The design leans on the same barrierless philosophy that runs through the range, with glazing and open sightlines that make 17 metres feel more generous. Italian interior detailing lifts the finish above the class. Pod propulsion keeps the boat easy to own and easy to berth. The whole package is built around approachability. For a first flybridge, it removes most of the intimidation.
Deck and design
The Fly range is drawn around illuminated, barrier-free spaces, and the 53 carries that through with a cockpit that opens fully to the saloon. The flybridge is the social centre, with a helm, seating and sunbathing under an optional hardtop. Wide glass keeps the main deck bright from bow to stern. The upper deck gives a family a real second living space at anchor. It is the natural gathering point on a sunny day.
Outdoor living is the point of a flybridge boat, and the 53 gives owners a cockpit, a foredeck lounge and the upper deck to choose between. A bathing platform and a transom garage handle water toys and swimming. Wide side decks make moving around the boat safe for children and older guests. Stowage keeps the deck clear for lounging and dining. For a family weekend or a longer coastal trip, the deck spaces do the heavy lifting.
Three cabins, joystick pod docking and a barrierless deck bring flybridge life within reach at 17 metres.
Inside the 53
Below deck the 53 sleeps guests across three cabins, with a full-beam owner's cabin amidships making the most of the width. Italian interior detailing brings warmth and a sense of quality above the class. Hull windows draw daylight into the lower cabins so they never feel enclosed. The finish is contemporary and calm throughout. It is a comfortable, liveable interior for the size.
The main-deck saloon and galley are arranged to keep the cook part of the conversation and close to the cockpit. A crew cabin gives the option of hired help without eating into guest space. Storage and headroom are worked out for week-long trips. The layout keeps the family close while giving the owner a private retreat. It suits couples and families who cruise in comfort for a week at a time.
Engineering and handling
Twin Volvo Penta IPS 950 pod drives, built on the D11 block at 725 hp each, push the 53 to around 31 knots. Pod propulsion brings joystick docking, which makes the boat approachable for an owner berthing without crew. Efficiency and a quiet ride come as part of the package. The setup keeps close-quarters work calm and predictable. Few boats of this type are so easy to bring alongside.
The hull is set up for easy planing and a stable feel through the mid-range, so family passages stay comfortable. Light controls flatter an owner-driver stepping up in size. The boat holds a clean attitude at cruise without fuss. Handling stays confident even as conditions build. It rewards the step up without demanding professional skills to enjoy.
Who it is for
The Fly 53 is for the owner taking their first step into a flybridge yacht who wants space and light without a big operation. It suits families who cruise on weekends and holidays and want three proper cabins. The pod handling makes it a boat an owner can run alone. The size keeps berthing and running costs sensible. For many buyers it is the ideal introduction to the type.
It also appeals to experienced owners downsizing into something they can manage single-handed while keeping real comfort. The crew cabin adds flexibility for longer trips. For coastal cruising with the option of the occasional crew member, the 53 is a well-judged size. Its place at the foot of the range keeps it keenly priced within the line. Owning one is refreshingly straightforward.
Двигатели и системы
| Engines | Twin Volvo Penta IPS950, D11 block, 725hp each - consistent across Azimut's spec sheet, itBoat, Motor Boat & Yachting, Boat International, and TradeABoat. |
|---|---|
| Propulsion type | Volvo Penta IPS pod drives with joystick maneuvering, not shaft/strut driveline - a deliberate change from the earlier-generation 53 Fly's shaft drive. |
| Generator | Kohler genset confirmed fitted on at least one 2023 example (via brokerage listing); an uprated generator is also offered as a factory option. |
| Stabilisation | Seakeeper 9 / NG9 gyroscopic stabiliser offered as an option, per dealer/manufacturer specification pages - not independently confirmed by a named sea-trial reviewer testing it in use. |
| Bow/stern thruster | Bow and stern thrusters integrated with Volvo Penta joystick maneuvering for docking; specific thruster power ratings were not found in available sources. |
| Tankage | Fuel 2,400 litres (634 US gal); fresh water 590 litres (156 US gal), per Azimut's official specification page, corroborated by itBoat. |
Что сообщают владельцы и экипажи
Lower-helm visibility and cockpit door size
A forum member who had seen the new 53 Fly noted potential visibility issues from the lower helm station caused by the fridge and staircase placement, and said the cockpit door apertures felt smaller than expected.
EricJ, YBW ForumMaster cabin headroom
A forum poster flagged that the master cabin has reduced headroom over the bed and a floor step, raising it as a practical annoyance for taller owners.
YBW Forum thread on the new Azimut 53 FlyDesign direction praised over predecessor
A prospective buyer said he preferred the new 53 Fly's more sober, elegant Mancini styling to the previous Azimut 55, and liked the light, contemporary saloon colours.
EricJ, YBW ForumSea trial handling in real chop
Testing in roughly one-metre wave conditions, the tester reported the hull stayed settled with no excessive heeling from the flybridge and smooth, balanced steering even through crossing wakes.
Niccolo Volpati, Barche MagazineCabin volume trade-off from IPS placement
The reviewer noted the IPS pod installation frees roughly two extra feet of usable lower-deck length compared to an equivalent shaft-drive layout, which is what allows three well-proportioned cabins in a 53-footer.
Hugo Andreae, Motor Boat & YachtingFlybridge styling avoids the top hat look
The reviewer praised how black wraparound elements on the flybridge structure disguise its bulk, a common styling problem on flybridge boats this size.
Clare Mahon, Boat International
Сильные стороны и что учесть
Сильные стороны
- Ride and sea mannersMultiple independent sea trials (Barche Magazine, Motor Boat & Yachting) describe a settled, well-mannered ride with light but well-weighted steering, and no bangs or rattles through the hull in moderate chop.
- Interior volume for the size classAft-mounted IPS950 pods push the engine room back and free extra usable lower-deck length, giving the 53 Fly a master suite with both ensuite and walk-in wardrobe - unusual at this length.
- Design executionAlberto Mancini's exterior design was singled out by Boat International and forum owners alike for avoiding the boxy top hat flybridge look common in this class; the model won a World Yachts Trophies 2021 award for Best Exterior Design in its size category.
- Docking ease via IPS joystickJoystick-controlled IPS maneuvering was consistently praised as intuitive for close-quarters work.
На что обратить внимание
- Limited aft visibility for stern-to dockingSeveral sources note visibility aft from the flybridge helm is restricted, meaning most owners add the optional cockpit docking station or camera system for stern-to berthing - a real trade-off despite the joystick's ease.
- Pod-drive service dependencyAs with other Volvo Penta IPS-equipped boats, owners in pod-drive forum communities report that IPS servicing needs specialist technicians not available at every marina, and that a pod repair or seal/gear issue can run well into five figures - a genuine ongoing-cost consideration versus a traditional shaft-drive boat, though this is a general IPS characteristic rather than a defect specific to the Fly 53.
- Layout niggles reported by prospective ownersA forum member inspecting the boat in person flagged smaller-than-expected cockpit door openings and a headroom/step issue over the master berth - minor but real ergonomic points worth checking on a viewing.
- Nameplate confusion on the brokerage marketThe 53 Fly name was also used on an older (pre-2021), shaft-drive, MAN-diesel-powered Azimut model with a different hull and interior - buyers searching brokerage sites must confirm which generation a listing actually describes.
Практическая информация
| New price (approx.) | Roughly GBP 1.1 million as reported by Motor Boat & Yachting (2022 UK price); general market reporting in 2023 put the base new price at approximately EUR 1.1-1.2 million ex-VAT. Only loosely corroborated across two source types. |
|---|---|
| Typical used asking price | One verified 2023-model listing (190 engine hours, VAT paid, Kohler genset) was asking EUR 1,450,000 via Yachtway. Separate brokerage listings placed 2023-2024 examples at roughly $1.599M-$1.849M. Treat as indicative, not a full market survey. |
| Confirm which generation before buying used | The 53 Fly nameplate also covers an older, shaft-drive, MAN-engined Azimut model. Verify the listing is the post-2021 Mancini/IPS950 generation before evaluating price or condition. |
| Pre-purchase checks on a used IPS-equipped example | Given the pod-drive maintenance profile reported by IPS owner communities, a buyer should check pod service history and hours, any prior grounding/impact repairs to the pods, and confirm access to a Volvo Penta IPS-certified service center near the boat's home marina. |
| Running/berthing costs | Not independently verified in this research - no owner-reported annual running-cost figures specific to the Fly 53 were found; general IPS-equipped boats in this size class typically carry meaningful annual service/haul-out costs but no Fly-53-specific figure could be confirmed. |
Для кого: The first-time flybridge owner or a downsizer who wants three cabins and easy pod handling in a boat they can run themselves.