52 Azimut Fly Buyer's Guide, Specs and Price Check

Yes, there was a real 52 Azimut flybridge

The Azimut 52 Fly is one of the least documented Azimuts of its era, and buyers sometimes doubt it existed. It did. European brokers list boats as the Azimut 52, 52 Fly, 52 Flybridge and AZ 52, all with three cabins and twin Caterpillar 3196 diesels, and the model years we found run from 1998 to 2002. A Yachting magazine owner profile from that period describes a buyer who moved from Sea Ray and Cruisers boats to an Azimut 52 before stepping up to the Azimut 55, saying the 55's extra beam and length gave more comfortable living space than the 52.

We did not find a full magazine sea trial or an Azimut press kit for the 52, so this guide is built from listings and period context, and we flag every figure that comes only from a seller. If you are searching for a 52 Azimut in the U.S., read the section on lookalikes first. Most American listings with that description are not this boat.

What the listings agree on

Several unrelated European listings describe the 52 in nearly identical terms, which gives reasonable confidence in the core numbers. Length is usually given as 15.66 meters, about 51 ft 4 in, with one German listing at 16.15 meters, probably including the platform. Beam is 4.40 to 4.50 meters, fuel capacity about 1,800 liters and fresh water 500 to 600 liters.

Every boat we saw had three cabins and Caterpillar 3196 engines on shafts, rated at about 600 hp or 660 hp per side. Head counts vary from two to three between listings, and weights quoted by sellers range from 16 to 18 tonnes, so we leave displacement blank.

• Length overall: about 15.66 m (51 ft 4 in)
• Beam: about 4.40 to 4.50 m (14 ft 5 in to 14 ft 9 in)
• Fuel: about 1,800 liters (476 gallons)
• Water: 500 to 600 liters
• Engines: twin Caterpillar 3196, about 600 or 660 hp
• Cabins: three

Living with Caterpillar 3196 power

Yachting's test boat of the Azimut 55 from the same period ran a pair of Caterpillar 3196s too, and the engine was widely installed at the time, so diesel mechanics in Florida and the Mediterranean know the engine well. A long record of regular oil, coolant and aftercooler service is the best sign of a healthy pair.

Speed claims for the 52 come only from sellers. One Italian owner lists a 34-knot top speed and a 20-knot cruise at 150 liters an hour, figures we cannot verify. Expect real-world cruising in the low to mid 20s on a well-maintained boat with clean bottom and props, and treat higher claims with caution until you see them on a sea trial.

Three cabins in 51 feet

The 52's three-cabin layout made it a family boat in an era when many 50-footers offered two cabins and a crew bunk. Listings mention berths for six to eight people, with several boats offering an extra sleeping option in the saloon. Most boats have upgraded electronics, air conditioning and a generator, and several European examples have been refitted in recent years.

The owner's comment in Yachting gives a useful comparison: the 52 felt smaller inside than the 55 that replaced it in his life. If you need maximum interior volume, the 55 or the later Azimut 50 will feel larger. If you want a three-cabin Azimut at the lowest possible price, the 52 is a candidate.

When a '52 Azimut' is really something else

U.S. listing sites sort boats by overall length, and several newer Azimuts measure about 52 feet. That creates a lot of confusion. The 2014-onward Azimut 50 Fly is 52 ft 1 in overall, so many 2016 to 2025 boats appear as 52-foot Azimuts; one 2016 listing with 2,200 liters of fuel and Easy Docking is clearly a 50 Fly, and a 2025 '52-foot Azimut' with Caterpillar C8.7s is a 50 Fly as well. A 2013 Atlantis 48 express cruiser was also listed as a 52-foot Azimut.

If a listing calls a boat an Azimut 52 and shows a model year after 2002, it is almost certainly another model. Check the photos for the mirrored windows of the 50 or the open hardtop of an Atlantis, and ask for the hull identification number.

Buying a 52 from Europe

Because nearly all 52s are in Europe, a U.S. buyer must budget for a survey abroad, transport by ship, import duty and the cost of converting 220-volt, 50 Hz systems if the boat will live on U.S. shore power. Together these can add a significant sum to a boat that only costs around €200,000, so the total may approach the price of a U.S.-based Azimut 50 from the early 2000s.

That makes the 52 most sensible for buyers who plan to keep the boat in the Mediterranean, or for experienced owners who find an exceptional example. Recent asks include €170,000 for a 1998 boat in France, €225,000 for a 1998 boat in Germany with about 800 engine hours, €250,000 for a 1998 boat in Tuscany with new electronics, and €240,000 for a 2002 boat in Italy.

Where 25-year-old 52s hide their problems

On a boat of this age the engines are only part of the story. Fuel tanks, exhaust systems, wiring, air conditioning units and hydraulic steering are likely to be original, and teak decks may be near the end of their life. A thorough survey should include moisture readings on the deck and superstructure, engine oil analysis, a sea trial at full load and a look at the generator's hours.

Budget around $45,000 to $90,000 a year to keep a 52 in the U.S., more in the first year when deferred maintenance shows up. In the Mediterranean, marina costs vary widely by country, but the mechanical budget is similar.