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NAUTICA MAGAZINE
NAVIGATION TEST

Article selected from thousand boat trials performed by Nautica in nearly 50 years

Navigation trials

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Text and photographs by Antonio Bignami

AZIMUT 85 ULTIMATE

The Azimut 85 Ultimate is advertised by the Avigliana-based yard as a "private club on the sea". Actually, the advertisement perfectly reflects the design and construction spirit of this motor yacht. It is a private club because the outside areas of the boat are logically connected with the interiors even if the first are for open-air activities and the latter for life in enclosed spaces. The logical and rational layout is enriched by the sophisticated elegance of forms and ergonomics. The beautiful stern area includes large transom garage, two cockpit-access stairwells, one table with sofa and high-tech mooring stations.

The flying bridge includes aft Jacuzzi tub and especially designed aft pulpit. Amidships, there are one oval table, a large sunning area, one access door to the salon and a full bar cabinet aft of the large helm station. Forward, the deck is in teak and there is a sunning area and a large settee. Interiors are comfortable and sophisticated. The salon is on two levels: the detailing of lights, recesses and elegant shapes is superb. There are two beautiful opposite settees aft, the access ladder to the flying bridge is in wood and transparent polycarbonates, the galley is recessed to port. Opposite, separated by a practical worktop, there is the dinette. Forward, there is the large helm station, a comfortable U-shaped settee and access to the cabins is gained via the stairway. There are 4 ample cabins with special attention to detail. The crew quarters are aft. They are very well connected with all technical areas of Azimut 85, such as the engine room, the control room, the transom garage and most storerooms. We have often described Azimut boats in the small to medium-size range as "small large motor yachts": the 85 ultimate is a large motor yacht with features and size of living spaces typical of "small large" leisure ships.

TECHNICAL DATA

Designer: Stefano Righini
Interior decorator: Carlo Galeazzi
Yard: Azimut Spa - Via Martin Luther King 9 / 11 - 10051 Avigliana (Torino) Italy - Phone +39 011.93.161 - Fax +39 011.93.67.270
EC Category type: A
Italian VAT: 20%
LOA: 86'1"
Beam: 20'
Draft from lower tip of propellers: 6'4"
Light displacement: 145,695 lbs.
Full boat displacement: 166,225 lbs.
Berths: 8+4 in 6 cabins
Test boat power: 2x1,350 hp MTU 12V 200 M 90
Total installed power: 2,700 hp
Total engines and reduction gears weight: 13,245 lbs.
Light displacement/installed power ratio: 53.96 lbs./hp
Type of transmission: in-line shaft
Maximum declared speed: 29 knots
Cruising speed: 26 knots
Declared fuel consumption at cruising speed: 122 gallons/hr
Range at cruising speed: approximately 430 miles
Fuel capacity: 2008 gallons
Freshwater capacity: 449 gallons.

CONSTRUCTION CHARACTERISTICS

Hull: V-hull with 17° deadrise aft
Hull construction material: fiberglass (with a 5-year guarantee against osmosis)
Deck materials and characteristics: fiberglass sandwich
Forward area: teak deck with pulpit, anchor, anchor locker, anchor chain, windlass, mooring bitts and scuppers, one hatch, front settee, sunning area, deck washing hose, shower, side door on portside deck
Cockpit arrangements and fittings: teak deck, two side lockers with mooring bitts and mooring winches. Aft there are an oval settee with an oval table, lockers and storing bins and the access ladder to the flying bridge
Characteristics of the aft platform: transom garage with hydroelectric opening and tender hauling and launching system, two cockpit-access stairwells, both are fitted with hydroelectric opening for access to technical areas and plants, electrical swimming ladder concealed when not in use
Superstructures and windows materials: stainless steel fittings and windows in tempered glass
Characteristics of the flying bridge: full helm station with pilot and co-pilot settees, cabinet with pneumatic opening and grill, sink, refrigerator and ice-maker, door of access ladder from salon, C-shaped settee with table and large sunning cushioning, roll bar, round Jacuzzi tub, stainless steel pulpit

INTERIORS

Layout and characteristics: the salon is on two levels, aft there are two opposite settees, several cabinets, access ladder to the flying bridge. The dining area is opposite the galley. Forward there is the access stairway to the cabins, the helm station with ergonomic and electrically regulated pilot seat, the dinette and the service areas. Accommodations include 4 cabins: the master suite is amidships (with dressing area), there are two guest cabins with twin beds and one VIP cabin forward. All cabins have en suite bathroom. Aft there is the crew area, with two cabins, each with two overlapping berths and en suite bathroom. Interior paneling is in cherry wood and walnut root. Upholstery, lining and décor may be chosen among the various solutions offered by the yard
Lower helm station: steering wheel, electronic engine controls, full engine instruments, intercom, Shipmate RS 8300 D VHF, Raytheon R41XX radar, Raytheon Ray Chart 520 plotter, Raytheon Raypilot 650 auto-pilot, Autohelm ST 80 speed and depth indicator
Chart table: near the helm station
Galley: double stainless steel sink, granite worktop, extractor, four ceramic hobs, combined multifunctional oven, refrigerator and freezer, dishwasher, cupboards and cabinets, sliding access door, access door to port side deck, communication window with the dinette.

FITTINGS

Standard fittings: water heater, air conditioning in all cabins and living spaces, bow thruster, refrigerator and icemaker in the salon, 21' color TV set with VCR and hi-fi system with CD player in the salon and in the master suite, 14' color TV set with VCR and hi-fi system with CD player in the VIP cabin and hi-fi system with CD player in the two guest cabins, two 25-kW Kohler generators and CO2 fire-fighting system in engine room.

IMPRESSIONS

SEA AND WEATHER CONDITIONS DURING BOAT TESTING
Wind: none
Sea: calm

PERFORMANCE
Time needed to reach planing speed: 12 seconds
Minimum planing speed at 1,500 rpm's: 15.4 knots
Maximum speed at 2,300 rpm's: 29 knots with 2,700 hp

EVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE

Seakeeping ability, turning and behavior on waves: the 85 Ultimate showed excellent stability and maneuverability. The motor yacht speed is excellent if one considers the weight/power ratio
Wheel and flap response: precise and smooth, notwithstanding the size of the yacht
Visibility in different weather conditions: excellent visibility both from the flying bridge as well as from the salon
Docking maneuverability: excellent thanks to the bow thruster and to the rational and efficient layout of the forward and aft mooring fittings.

EVALUATION OF COMFORT AND FUNCTIONALITY

Deck: elegant and functional with superb finish and attention to detail
Flying bridge: it is one of the most beautiful areas of the 85 Ultimate. Extremely reliable and very comfortable, it is fitted with beautiful components and it may be truly considered to be a terrace overlooking the sea
Interiors: elegant, functional and very spacious both for the guests as well as for the crew. The interiors offer several innovative and sophisticated solutions
Passengers' comfort: excellent
Helm stations: both helm stations are very comfortable and functional
Chart table: extremely spacious and comfortable
Galley: beautiful with interesting layout and rationally connected to the dinette
Bathrooms: very spacious and extremely comfortable with refined design and decorations
Engine room: access is possible from the portside side deck as well as aft; the engine room is very spacious and is fitted with top quality fittings
Electrical switchboard and plants: top quality and extremely reliable components and plants.