Boat test for the 2007 Azimut 43S with boat pictures, boat specifications, and boat test results. Includes pricing, videos, engine test reviews, and ratings for the 2007 Azimut 43S.

Two more S-range design hallmarks work brilliantly on the 43. First, the mélange of wood and metal in the galley: Two steps down from the saloon and to port, the galley’s stainless steel countertop and backsplash are cool counterpoints to the dark wenge sole, cabinetry, and the panels that hide the optional full-size Vitrifrigo refrigerator/freezer. My one complaint is the area’s lack of stowage—a long weekend aboard may require dining out or trips for more supplies.

However I did like the Asian-inspired doors that lead to the lower-deck accommodations, accessible via a centerline companionway. The wenge contrasts with cream-colored door panels, giving the companionway a lighter feeling.

Just as I was appreciating those accommodations, the captain arrived, and in a few minutes we were out on Long Island Sound via Huntington Bay. Volvo Penta engineers helped Azimut design this hull to accommodate the forward-facing IPS drives, and after running her, I can say that the two teams played well together. The 43S was a blast to drive for a number of reasons. The Volvo Penta fly-by-wire electronic steering provided excellent wheel response—she executed 180-degree turns at an average WOT speed of 39.1 mph in fewer than two boat lengths with minimal (50 to 100) drop in rpm. Sightlines remained excellent in all directions, although bow rise was a little high (six degrees at 2500 rpm) in the midrange, partially obscuring the view ahead; an adjustment of the Bennett trim tabs corrected this.

I learned back at the dock that her close-quarters handling is superb as well, thanks to IPS units that can rotate 26 degrees to port and starboard and the Volvo Penta single-lever electronic shifter’s instantaneous response. Even with strong current and 20-mph winds, there was no need for the optional Side-Power bow thruster. My test boat was not equipped with the optional IPS joystick and didn’t need it.

The 43-footer shares the same bold exterior lines and wine-red hull stripe as the rest of the S range as well as an electronically retractable roof.

The style and substance that work so well across the S range are infused in the 43S. Talking to the photographer on the way home from the sea trial, I kept referring to the boat as the “little red Corvette” because of her one-two punch of knockout looks and performance. She may be the bambina of the S range, but with those looks and those excellent IPS drives, she’s all grown up.

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