Azimut Yachts Trawlers & Explorer Yachts

Azimut Magellano 43 Review, Test Numbers and Used Buyer's Guide

A 44-foot Italian semi-displacement cruiser that sips 2.6 gph at 7 knots, still reaches 22, and squeezes three cabins into a trawler-shaped hull.

2012 to 2022 Discontinued Updated October 2026

For reference, Azimut flybridge motor yacht moored in Cannes, not the Azimut Magellano 43. Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Length: 44.8 ft13.63 m
Beam: 14.4 ft4.4 m
Cruise: 15.6 kn
Cabins: 3 (forward master, port double, starboard single that can be ordered as a storage room)
Used price: $400K to $1M

On this page

Overview
The Azimut Magellano 43, a trawler in a tailored suit
Bill Dixon's Dual Mode hull and how it rides
Reading the Magellano 43 fuel curve
305 or 355 horsepower Cummins
Three cabins on 43 feet
Helm, decks and short-handed handling
Used Magellano 43 values and the hardtop alternative
Specifications
Price and value
Strengths and weaknesses
Used buyer checklist
Rivals
Our verdict
FAQ

The Azimut Magellano 43 is a 44-foot semi-displacement cruiser built from 2012 to about 2022 on Bill Dixon's Dual Mode hull, with twin Cummins diesels, three cabins, 444 gallons of fuel and a tested range of 1,137 nm at 7.4 knots.

Best for

Couples doing long coastal cruises
Great Loop or ICW cruising in the hardtop version
Owners moving from sail who value ride comfort
Buyers who want trawler range with a 20-knot reserve

The Azimut Magellano 43, a trawler in a tailored suit

Azimut launched its Magellano line in 2009 with a 74-footer, added a 50 in 2010, and introduced the Azimut Magellano 43 in the autumn of 2012. Power and Motoryacht's Richard Thiel argued that the smallest of the three was actually the truest to the concept: an efficient, seaworthy cruiser that uses every inch of interior space. MBY's Dave Marsh compared it to a Range Rover, rugged underneath and plush inside, and noted that it felt more like a glamorous sport cruiser than a trawler from the saloon.

Cor D. Rover styled the exterior, replacing Ken Freivokh who drew the first 74, and the profile is unmistakably Magellano: a near-vertical bow, tall bulwarks and a single central mast on the flybridge rather than a goalpost arch. Carlo Galeazzi did the interior in matte canaletto walnut, the same finish used on the larger Magellanos. YachtBuyer dates production to 2012 through 2022, and the smallest current Magellano is now the 60.

Azimut Magellano 43 by the numbers

Plan view drawn to scale from the published length and beam.

Speed to length ratio at cruise: 2.50A planing cruise. Fast passages in exchange for much higher fuel burn per mile.
Estimated range at cruise: 291 nmUsing 90 percent of tank capacity at the cruise speed and fuel burn listed on this page.
Fuel economy at cruise: 0.73 nmpgNautical miles per gallon at cruise, both engines combined.
Horsepower per ton: 41 hpStrong power to weight for a planing hull.
Length to beam ratio: 3.10 : 1Moderate proportions.

Length compared with the 66 trawlers & explorer yachts we cover

Azimut Magellano 43

22 ft90 ft

Bill Dixon's Dual Mode hull and how it rides

The key is what Azimut calls the Dual Mode hull, designed by British naval architect Bill Dixon. It is an interpretation of the semi-displacement form, with full, rounded forward sections carried to about amidships, a plumb bow that lengthens the waterline and raises displacement speed, and enough flatness aft to generate lift and run well beyond hull speed. Before production, Azimut built a full-size 43, ballasted it to the correct displacement with the weights at the right height, and tuned chines and tunnels on the water.

Testers found the payoff in the ride. MBY crossed the English Channel and back, including the Alderney Race, and reported that the hull refused to slam; the worst it produced was a muted thud in a short-lived wind-against-tide sea off Jersey, and there was not a single squeak below in six hours. Under way the boat trims to no more than 4 degrees, keeping the view over the bow clear. The criticism was the steering: hydraulic power assist is standard, which is unusual at this size, but it was set up with six turns lock to lock, which makes the boat feel vague downwind.

Blue-hulled Azimut motor yacht in a Stockholm guest harbor. Photo: Simiha, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Reading the Magellano 43 fuel curve

Power and Motoryacht's August 2013 test, with the optional 355 hp Cummins QSB5.9s, light fuel load and two people aboard, produced one of the most useful fuel curves in this class. At 1,000 rpm the boat made 7.4 knots on 2.6 gallons per hour for a calculated range of 1,137 nautical miles. At 9.3 knots it returned 1.5 nautical miles per gallon. Wide open, it reached 22.3 knots on 36 gph with 248 miles of range.

The curve has no cliff. Consumption climbs steadily rather than jumping at a planing hump, so a skipper can pick any speed and accept a predictable cost. The only obvious sweet spots are below about 9.5 knots, where the boat is genuinely frugal, and the mid teens, where range holds near 290 miles. Between 10 and 13 knots you pay planing prices without planing speed, so most owners either loaf or cruise at 15 to 18 knots.

305 or 355 horsepower Cummins

Standard power was a pair of 305 hp Cummins QSB5.9 diesels with ZF gearboxes on shafts; the option was the 355 hp version of the same 5.9-liter block. Azimut said the smaller engines would cost about 4 knots of top speed. Both test writers recommended the 355s: since the two ratings share the same block, they burn virtually the same fuel at any given speed, and the extra knots are cheap insurance against a building sea. Later boats are listed by YachtBuyer with 355 hp Cummins QSB6.7 engines, so check the plate on any boat you view.

MBY measured 22.4 knots with the 355s and noted that the 43 is a heavy boat, about 13.6 tonnes empty and 15.6 tonnes with full fuel and water, more than 23 percent heavier than Beneteau's Swift Trawler 44 of the time. That weight is part of why it rides so well, and part of why it is not the fastest boat in its class.

Three cabins on 43 feet

The bluff bow and a 14-foot-5-inch beam carried well forward give the 43 the interior of a boat several feet longer. There are three cabins: a forward master with an en suite head larger than most in this size, a double to port, and a third cabin to starboard with a large single berth that can instead be ordered as a giant storage room with shelving. A day head serves the guests. Thiel thought the boat made most sense for a couple or a couple with a child, with that third cabin set up for stowage.

On the main deck, a U-shaped dinette faces the lower helm and its table folds in half. The galley is aft by the cockpit, which serves both inside and outside dining well, though MBY found it marginal for long-range cruising, with only one eye-level locker and limited counter space. Engine access is through hatches in the galley sole and cockpit, and the engine room is roomy but poorly lit.

Helm, decks and short-handed handling

Sightlines from both helms are excellent forward and good aft, and the flybridge hatch gives the skipper a view of the bathing platform when backing into a Mediterranean berth. Wide side decks, plenty of handholds, a tall bow rail that runs almost to the cockpit and an almost flat foredeck make line handling safe for two. The optional Xenta joystick integrates the gearboxes with the bow thruster, and MBY found the boat docile in a tight marina despite its windage.

The flybridge has a dinette that converts to a sun pad and generous stowage, and the swim platform is big enough for a decent tender. There is no lazarette, so bulky items such as a liferaft need dedicated boxes on the flybridge.

Used Magellano 43 values and the hardtop alternative

Azimut built a hardtop version alongside the flybridge model. On the hardtop the mast hinges down to bring air draft to about 11.5 feet, which matters on the Intracoastal Waterway, the Great Loop or European canals. In the US, used Magellano 43s are mostly listed on the East Coast and tend to sell quickly; YachtBuyer recorded an average of 168 days on the market with a reduction of under 5 percent.

Expect asking prices from about $400,000 for an early boat to about $1 million for a late hull with low hours. Annual costs for an owner-operator typically run $55,000 to $95,000, including slip, insurance, Cummins service and haul-outs. Given the steady fuel curve, a careful owner cruising at displacement speed will spend far less on fuel than on dockage.

Azimut Magellano 43 specifications

Length overall	44.8 ft13.63 m
Beam	14.4 ft4.4 m
Draft	3.9 ft1.2 m
Displacement	34,392 lbs15,6 kg
Fuel capacity	444 gal1,68 L
Fresh water	158 gal6 L
Cabins	3 (forward master, port double, starboard single that can be ordered as a storage room)
Berths	5
Heads	2 (master en suite plus day head)
Maximum persons	12
Standard engines	2 x Cummins QSB5.9, 305 hp each
Optional engines	2 x Cummins QSB5.9, 355 hp each (later boats listed with 355 hp QSB6.7)
Maximum power	710 hp
Cruise speed	15.6 knots
Top speed	22.3 knots
Range	1,137 nm
Hull type	Dual Mode semi-displacement hull with plumb bow, full forward sections and flatter planing sections aft
Hull construction	GRP
CE design category	B
Builder	Azimut Yachts (Azimut Benetti Group), Italy
Naval architect	Bill Dixon (Dual Mode hull) with Azimut
Other design credits	Cor D. Rover (exterior), Carlo Galeazzi (interior)
Production	2012 to 2022
Status	Discontinued

Figures come from builder documentation and independent tests where available. Displacement is usually quoted light, so a loaded cruising boat will weigh more. Compare these specs with another model.

Performance data

RPM	Speed (kn)	Fuel (gph)	Range (nm)	Sound dB(A)
1000	7.4	2.6	1137	68
1250	8.2	3.6	910	70
1500	9.3	6.2	599	72
1750	10.3	11.8	349	72
2000	12.6	17.8	283	74
2250	15.6	21.4	291	75
2500	18.1	26.6	272	75
2850	22.3	36	248	76

Power and Motoryacht test, August 2013 issue. Twin 355 hp Cummins QSB5.9, ZF85-IV gears at 2.01 to 1, four-blade nibral props. Load 110 gallons fuel, 158 gallons water, two people. Seas 2 to 3 feet.

How much does a Azimut Magellano 43 cost?

New, typical sail-awayNo longer built

Used, typical asking$400K to $1M

Yearly running costs$55K to $95K

Power and Motoryacht's 2013 test boat was priced at $840,000 as tested and MBY quoted a UK base of about 437,000 pounds with the 355 hp engines. On the US brokerage market a 2017 boat sold in 2020 after asking $499,000 and a 2021 hull was listed at $1 million in 2026. Engine choice, the hardtop versus flybridge version, thruster and joystick upgrades, and whether the third cabin was built as a cabin or storage room all move value.

Estimated used asking prices by model year, US market, 2026

Estimate your yearly cost

Purchase price Engine hours per year Slip rate per foot per month Fuel price per gallon

A planning estimate using common rules of thumb: insurance near 1.5 percent of value, maintenance near 3 percent, haul out and bottom paint by length. Your marina, region and use will move these numbers. Open the full cost calculator.

Versions and options

Flybridge: The version tested by PMY and MBY, with a fixed central mast, upper helm and convertible dinette.
Hardtop: No flybridge; the mast hinges to cut air draft to about 11.5 feet.
Third cabin or storage: The starboard cabin came either with a large single berth or as a shelved storage room.

Azimut Magellano 43 timeline

2009Magellano line launched at Genoa with the 74.
2010Magellano 50 joins the range.
2012Magellano 43 introduced in the autumn; MBY tests it in Italy in November.
2013PMY publishes its full test; MBY takes it across the English Channel.
2022End of production according to YachtBuyer; the Magellano range now starts at 60 feet.

Strengths and weaknesses

What owners like

Very soft, slam-free ride from the Dual Mode hull
Range over 1,100 nm at 7.4 knots
Smooth fuel curve with no planing hump
Three cabins on a 44-foot boat
Excellent sightlines and safe side decks
Quality interior finish carried over from larger Magellanos

What to weigh up

Heavy for its size, so slower than lighter rivals
Six turns lock to lock steering feels vague
Small galley with little eye-level storage
Dark-tinted glass can limit night visibility
No lazarette

Used Azimut Magellano 43 buyer checklist

Take this list to a viewing. Your ticks are saved in this browser so you can come back to it.

Confirm engine model and rating (QSB5.9 305, QSB5.9 355 or QSB6.7 355)
Review Cummins service history, aftercoolers and heat exchangers
Check the power steering system and consider reducing turns lock to lock
Inspect window seals and the dark-tinted glazing for crazing
Check the galley and cockpit engine hatches for leaks into the engine room
Inspect the flybridge mast base or the hardtop mast hinge
Verify bow thruster and joystick operation
Survey shafts, cutless bearings and props

Always commission an independent marine survey and an engine survey before you buy. How a marine survey works.

Rivals to consider

Beneteau Swift Trawler 44

Lighter and quicker on 300 hp Volvos and cheaper, per MBY, with a more conventional French interior.

Compare side by side

Greenline 40

Slovenian semi-displacement cruiser offered with hybrid power and a more modern interior.

Compare side by side

Hardy 42

British rough-water cruiser, more expensive than the Magellano according to MBY.

Elling E4

Dutch long-range semi-displacement boat with a similarly distinct personality.

Our verdict on the Azimut Magellano 43

The Azimut Magellano 43 is what happens when an Italian sport-yacht builder takes trawler virtues seriously. Bill Dixon's hull rides beautifully, the fuel curve rewards whatever speed you choose, and the three-cabin layout is a genuine achievement on 44 feet. The price is weight, a small galley and steering that needs too many turns. For a couple who want to cover real distance in comfort with the option of 20 knots when a front is coming, a well-kept 355 hp boat is one of the best small Mediterranean-built cruisers on the used market.

Azimut Magellano 43 questions answered

How fast is the Azimut Magellano 43?

Power and Motoryacht recorded 22.3 knots with the optional 355 hp Cummins engines; the standard 305 hp version is about 4 knots slower according to Azimut.

What is the range of the Magellano 43?

About 1,137 nautical miles at 7.4 knots and roughly 290 miles at 15.6 knots, from 444 gallons of fuel, based on PMY's test.

How much is a used Azimut Magellano 43?

Roughly $400,000 for early boats to about $1 million for late hulls. The 2013 test boat was priced at $840,000 new.

How many cabins does the Magellano 43 have?

Three: a forward master with en suite, a port double and a starboard single that can be built as a storage room, plus a day head.

Is the Magellano 43 a trawler?

It is a semi-displacement cruiser with trawler-like range at low speed but able to plane to about 22 knots.

Who designed the Magellano 43 hull?

British naval architect Bill Dixon designed the Dual Mode hull used across the original Magellano range.

Photos from the Azimut Yachts range

We have not found a freely licensed photo of the Azimut Magellano 43 yet, so these show other Azimut Yachts boats, each captioned with the boat pictured.