Azimut Verve 47 the ultimate sports boat

Nicknamed “the ultimate boating machine”, Verve 47 is designed for the extreme thrill-seeker. High-performance coupled with superior handling is at the fingertips of those brave enough to jump into the helm and try. This all-new model line up has been developed using the years of sports yachts experience and know-how from the historic Italian brand, firmly placing them in the middle of the highly competitive centre console, large outboard market. SO does the new Verve 47 measure up?

The bow design is based on offshore competition boats but retains the signature personality expressed by all Azimut Yachts, while the glazed surfaces in the hull reach up past and are integrated into the gunwale in order to establish a real bond with the sea. “We took the typically American love of a sports-oriented lifestyle at sea as our starting point and then developed our own take on the concept based on Italian design criteria,” said exterior and interior designer Francesco Struglia, who has always been attracted to the shapes created by dynamics and physics.

The young Italian designer’s work on the Verve 47 takes the intensely exciting ride typical of centre consoles to the next level: the helm station has been enhanced with a side window that creates a remarkable sense of continuity with the outside world. Indeed, the driver enjoys a special bond with the water, particularly at high speed, when the wake that is clearly visible on either side of the boat seems to become part of the yacht’s structure.

This authentic, exciting and unprecedented bonding between the driver and the outside world, a typical feature of Struglia’s work, is in a certain sense reminiscent of famous car designs like the Lamborghini Marzal designed by Marcello Gandini (1967), the Maserati Boomerang by Giorgetto Giugiaro (1971) or, more recently, the Vision GT line by Lamborghini, all featuring a driving experience that seems to connect the driver and the road through a play of forms and reflections.

The flow line defined by the windows sets the tone for the deck’s development in a circular play of contrasts and light. At high speed, the wake can clearly be seen forming on either side of the glazed surfaces and merging into the seascape. The design of the windows also facilitates communication between the driver and the yacht’s interior, which is designed to form part of an ensemble with the exterior, in such a way as to create a product in which a sporty personality and ultimate comfort live together in perfect harmony.

Turning to the materials, the new-concept laminates chosen for the interiors offer the high-quality wood in a very hi-tech setting, while the “shockwave” pattern of the synthetic teak aims to exploit the full potential of a choice that is both ecological and practical.

Azimut Yachts has worked to obtain the maximum from the interior and exterior spaces. The roomy cockpit, with its fully recessed high-low table and a swing-down side wall equipped for entering the water, can be used for different purposes at different times of day: a dining area, somewhere to relax and sunbathe or, alternatively, as a completely unencumbered, sea-facing ‘party’ space that is perfectly aligned with the design philosophy. The relaxation area in the bow has an asymmetrical layout that can accommodate additional comfortable seating and a big sun pad. The refrigerators and the outdoor and indoor storage compartments are all generously sized to cater for longer stays on board.

The spacious and welcoming outdoor area in the stern has everything needed to relax and enjoy the open-air life, including a multipurpose unit fitted with a wet bar, fridge, ice maker, barbecue, hob and sink. The setup is completed by a TV that can be raised and lowered. The helm station features a plug and play layout and a glass cockpit dashboard with an extremely clean hi-tech design accentuated by scenic LED lighting. The helm seat can be adjusted electrically and is flanked on the right and left by two more seats. All three have an ergonomic design that tips its hat to the automotive industry.

The full-beam dinette-galley amidships is designed to offer even more relaxation, with an L-shaped sofa seating three, a table with a fixed stainless steel base and, on request, a wine cooler. Two-night cabins: the owner’s double cabin in the bow and a second cabin in the stern with twin beds. The bathroom has a separate shower stall. The storage area in the stern can accommodate two seabobs and an inflatable paddleboard, with easy-to-reach stowage space for the fenders next to the console.

The hull has a deep V and a central stern tunnel, based on the famous Stepped ‘V’ Ventilated Tunnel (SVVT) developed and patented by the outstandingly talented US designer Michael Peters. The classic deep V with two steps and a central stern tunnel improves the boat’s longitudinal stability when turning at high speed. Peters has been a prolific designer since the early 1970s and is regarded as the leading authority on fast hulls. Verve 47 not only boasts a hull designed by him but is also the largest boat on the market with this type of hull.

Designed to reduce water resistance significantly and deliver excellent performance without affecting the size and proportions of the hull, it guarantees extraordinary directional stability even when turning. High precision rudder response ensures that any obstacles in the boat’s path can be avoided, even at very high speeds. The yacht is also extremely easy to handle and in particular to moor, not least because of the latest generation joystick.

One major innovation is the first extensive application in a marine setting of virtual prototyping and immersive reality techniques, which were used to develop the dashboard, as well as for the visibility study and the ergonomic assessment of the wet bar and the interiors using the Oculus-type virtual headset.

Performance for the Verve 47 comes in the form of four Mercury Verado V8 four-stroke outboard engines rated 450 hp each, that’s right, 1800hp on tap gives the Verve 47 a top speed of 50 knots and a cruising speed of 37 knots. The 47 is a very attractive centre console sports boat package, the bags of Italian flare with interior materials that seduce you with ambient luxury set the scene for a cat amongst the pigeons in this competitive segment of the sports boat market.

Azimut Yachts