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I found another noteworthy feature hidden in plain sight in the VIP. Each leg of the V-berth is fastened only at the top, so their bases can move. You can lift and pull them alongside each other like the blades of a scissors to form a centerline queen berth. The friction from the carpet holds the berths together; and although laying on a seam isn't as comfortable as sleeping on a single mattress, guests will no doubt appreciate the flexibility.
About the only place where everything is set out in plain view is the engine room. Access is via a hatch in the cockpit floor. A ladder leads into the compartment, with the twin 880-hp MANs forward. Because headroom is only 5'2", you have to hunch over, and there's not much room on the outboard sides of the MANs. Access to everything else is a breeze. The Racors for each main are aft on the respective outboard hull side, as are twin 3.5-gallon FE-200 foam fire-suppression units. A 20-kW Kohler genset lies transversely, abutting the aft bulkhead. Chillers are to port, while three batteries, all in boxes, are stacked to starboard. Placement of all this equipment against the sides of the engine room leaves a large area in the middle for you to move around freely as well as to enter and exit with supplies.
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But there was one hidden feature aboard the 58 that really took me by surprise. Our test boat was equipped with optional crew quarters that occupy what would normally be the lazarette, all the way aft. I doubt many American owners will opt for it, since most drive their own boats anyway, but also since headroom in the cabin area is less than six feet, and in the head it's just 5'3", meaning your crewmember will have to shower sitting down. Furthermore the only entrance is through a hatch under the aft-deck settee—there's no transom entrance. Even if this area is kept as a giant lazarette, a transom door would be handy to access this full-beam compartment.
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The helm station on the 58 has a simple and intuitive setup. Note the docking controls to port, which allow you to spin her around within her own length. |
After spending a few hours uncovering the hidden features on the 58, I was itching to get behind her wheel to see what she would reveal on the water. It's not everyday you get to cruise a luxury yacht like this on the Ligurian Sea. We pulled out of the industrial port of Savona and into the Mediterranean's three- to five-footers, the twin Raymarine E120s showing plenty of depth and no obstructions. Turning east, I needed only a hint of starboard rudder to counteract the swells. The wheel felt heavy, but that's not a bad thing; I could take my hands off it, and the 58 tracked straight along at 25 knots, the swells barely detectable. Slowing to 1800 rpm, I made a series of three-boat-length loops generating only modest heel. With just six turns lock to lock, the boat handled responsively and predictably.
Heading back inside the protection of the harbor, I decide to test the optional Azimut joystick controls. Starting from a dead stop, I spun the wheel on the top of the joystick—just like an IPS control—to engage the bow and stern thrusters. I then pushed the joystick forward, which added propellers to the equation. The boat spun easily in her own length. When I manipulated the joystick to walk her sideways, I found the setup a bit less responsive than some of the azipod systems I have used. Yet it undeniably offers great control for a boat of this size.
When it came to docking this $2-million beauty, I gave the Azimut company captain the helm and worked my way back to the aft deck. A large concrete retaining wall made maneuvering difficult, but the captain tweaked the joystick and slipped the boat into the rows of other Azimuts. I couldn't help but notice that every boat bears the signature styling of the builder: the large windows in the side of the hull, circular windows that spin open, a pronounced radar arch, and a sleek, swept-back look. Beyond the unity of the external visages, I could see an individuality in the internal designs. Even as my test boat blended into the fleet, her hidden features stuck fast in my mind, as I believe they will for anyone who's fortunate enough to see them.
For more information on Azimut Yachts, including contact information, click here.
SPOTLIGHT ON: Treben Helm Chair
There's a lot of great leatherwork onboard the 58, from the upholstery on the settee to the detailing in the master. But one of the most comfortable pieces onboard is the helm chair.
Treben, an Italian manufacturer, named this model Master, and it's easy to see why. It comes with features that you'd expect to find, such as push buttons to adjust your seat position. But Treben builds its chairs to the specifications of the boatbuilder: Style, type of foam, and leather are just a few of the options. It also supplies builders with prototypes for testing and fit.—G.R.
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This article originally appeared in the August 2008
issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.
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