Azimut’s new 84 aims to one-up European counterparts targeting U.S. owners.

By Jill Bobrow

Andrew Schneider, yachting industry veteran and Azimut’s brand manager for MarineMax, has been proffering the Italian brand for 15 years. It’s not surprising he takes pride in the fact that the new Azimut 84­—designed expressly for the American market and introduced at The Yacht & Brokerage Show in Miami Beach this past February­—is proving popular. By early April, three had already been sold.

Schneider caters to a clientele that craves Italian pizzazz and style, and though he had to accept a few design compromises, he worked closely with Azimut to provide many features Americans want. It may be cliché to say Americans prefer an “upstairs” open galley, but clichés are often based on unassailable truths. Less cliché but also true is that Americans want plenty of 110-volt outlets, more ice makers, more TVs, more space and more stowage—much more stowage.

Styling and design details aside, Americans also like to get there in a hurry, so the 84 is equipped with two powerful MAN V12s generating a mean 1,800 horsepower apiece that render a top speed of 26 knots. The hull, designed by Stefano Righini, is an evolution of the popular Azimut 82. Included in the standard package are two 32kW Kohler generators, Cruisair air conditioning with a total output of 144,000 BTU and the latest-generation electronics for navigation and entertainment. The yacht accommodates up to three crew. All American-version yachts come equipped with fin stabilizers and a hardtop, unless specified otherwise.

Schneider was instrumental in tweaking the redesigned flybridge and the main and lower decks. The expanded flybridge includes a fridge, freezer, barbecue, elongated marble-topped bar with stools, ample lounging space and entertainment system. Double liferafts are securely fastened outside the deck area so as not to encroach on living space. A large hydraulic platform with a 1,540-pound-capacity loading system can accommodate a 15-foot 8-inch (4.8-meter) tender.

The main deck offers aft cockpit dining and flows seamlessly through glass doors into the chic and airy salon, which is paneled with sycamore and accents of Makassar ebony and contemporary leather furniture. We Americans like our bars and kitchens, so the requisite galley is open to the living area, where a rainforest marble countertop with three adjoining barstools allows for casual eating or drinking, and a dining area offers an expandable round table.

The audiovisual cabinet was built for ease of servicing. Brandon Rundquist, the build captain, notes: “Everything swings out so you can easily get to the back of all the equipment, say, to change out sat TV receivers depending where you are cruising.” Rundquist also points out iPad control and monitoring systems throughout the boat.

Belowdecks, reconfigured guest accommodations yield a symmetrical layout with a twin cabin plus two en suite VIPs that convert from queens to twins. Enlarged three-pane windows offer exceptional sea views. Separate from the guest cabins, the master suite, with its own private staircase and a king-size bed, boasts a large head with a double vanity, a linen locker and his-and-hers closets.

The buyer of this 84 requested a removable childproof gate for the master foyer stairs. Azimut’s answer was a gate that, when secured open, blends in with the surrounding stairwell enclosure so there’s no need to remove the gate when not in use.

The bridge on the main deck has dual helm seats and is, in effect, an extended main salon living space with settee seating and a dining table. Next to the helm seat, I noticed the ubiquitous American cup holder in two sizes, a feature only recently becoming de rigueur in Europe. It’s the small things that make us happy. Schneider knew what his clients wanted, and Azimut was all ears. The result is a winner. Perhaps the Italians will be able to live without so many TVs, but the Americanized 84 has features that are sure to appeal to both sides of the pond.

For more information: 631 424 2710, marinemax.com, azimutyachts.com

SPECIFICATIONS

LOA: 84ft. 3in. (25.69m)
Beam: 21ft. 2in. (6.45m)
Draft: 5ft. 10in. (1.79m)
Displacement: 75 metric tons
Construction: GRP
Engines (standard): 2 x 1,800-hp V12 MAN
Speed (max./cruising): 26/23
Fuel: 1,795 gal. (6,800L)
Water: 356 gal. (1,350L)
Price: approx. $6.8 million