Azimut 42 Evo

The 42 Evolution is the second generation of Azimut's 42-foot flybridge cruiser, introduced in 2003 as a reworking of the Azimut 42 that had been in production since 1999. The earlier boat is covered on its own page in this wiki; the two share a family resemblance and the same design team, but they are separate entries in the catalogue and should not be merged. Within Azimut's line-up the 42 sat at the entry point of the flybridge range, below the 46, 50 and 55, and it was the yard's smallest flybridge model for most of the decade.

The changes that came with the Evolution designation were incremental rather than structural. Overall length grew from about 12.99 m to 13.21 m, largely through a revised transom and bathing platform, while beam stayed at roughly 4.12 m. Full-load displacement rose from about 14,000 kg to 14,800 kg, fuel capacity from 1,100 to 1,200 litres and fresh water from 400 to 500 litres, and a black-water tank was added. The clearest difference is below deck: the first generation was sold as a two-cabin boat, while the Evolution could be ordered with an optional third cabin, taking guest berths from four to six. Exterior styling remained the work of Stefano Righini, with interiors by Carlo Galeazzi.

Construction is conventional for the yard and the period: GRP hull and superstructure and a planing V-bottom, with twin diesels on straight shafts. Both documented engine packages are inboard shaft installations, and the boat was not offered with sterndrives or pods. The commonly fitted option is twin Caterpillar 3126TA diesels rated 385 hp each, which is what most surviving boats carry; later hulls were also delivered with twin Cummins QSB5.9 rated 380 metric hp, about 375 hp each. Quoted performance is around 30 to 31 knots maximum and 27 to 28 knots cruising, and independent test figures broadly agree with that.

The accommodation puts a beamy master amidships and a forward cabin, each with its own head and shower compartment, with the optional third cabin taking space alongside the companionway. Above, the flybridge carries the main helm, seating and a wet bar, and there is a second helm in the saloon. The cockpit and bathing platform are laid out for Mediterranean stern-to berthing rather than for fishing or tender work.

The boat was aimed at private owners cruising short passages with family or guests rather than at long-range or crewed use, and it sold in reasonable volume across Europe. Production is usually given as running to 2010, although listings thin out after 2008 and the model was in practice succeeded by the Azimut 43. The CE design category is not recorded here: brokers variously claim category A and category B for boats in this family, and no primary Azimut document settling it was found.