Magellanos are cruising boats that are not about speed, but about convenience, safety and comfort, and they have a famous namesake: the Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan, who tried to sail around the world at the beginning of the modern era and died in the process.
In terms of size, the shipyard starts with our test boat 43 Flybridge, which is also available with a hardtop. It also builds the Magellano 50 and 76 and, as we know from the Magellano 74 at the latest, the hulls cut a fine figure both as displacement boats and as gliders and are ideal for families or charterers.
The shipyard refers to the standard version as a "two-cabin boat plus walk-in storage space". This can either be equipped with a fifth berth, as in the test boat, or as the owner prefers. Officially, therefore, only four plus one berth are designated. This can be found in the bow cabin, where the owner sleeps on a double bed in queen-size format, and in the port cabin, where guests sleep on two single berths. The Magellano 43 Fly has two spacious bathrooms with separate showers and toilets. One is reserved for the owner in the forward cabin and the other is shared by the guests on the port side.
One floor up, the saloon with helm station, dinette and galley is on the same level as the cockpit. The shipyard has installed the galley on the port side, where it acts as a culinary centrepiece and bar between the forward dinette and seating area in the cockpit. Opposite are the refrigerator and freezer, a sideboard and the driving position with a bucket seat that can be adjusted on all sides.
The test boat is equipped with two 355 hp Cummins with shaft drives plus bow thruster (extra), which guarantees manoeuvring in the tightest of spaces in the harbour. During the slow passages, we do not allow the engines to turn more than a maximum of 800 rpm in order to keep the waves generated by the boat at an acceptable height. As the speed increases, the test boat begins to planing from 2000 rpm or at a speed of 13 knots, which is documented by a smooth water break at the stern.
The trim is low, which favours foresight. At full speed, we measured a top speed of 22 knots, while both Cummins diesels did not exceed 2700 rpm. That is 100 rpm less than the manufacturer allows and, in view of the low load, an indication that the propellers are slightly oversized.
Azimut advertises with the slogan that the Magellano 43 is the new Italian long-distance cruiser. However, this is only true if you don't push the throttle too far forwards and drive as a displacer. If both engines are running at 600 rpm, you can theoretically cover almost 2100 nm at a speed of 4 kn, plus 15% reserve. However, if you utilise the full power of both diesels, you should look for a bunker station after about 230 nm in order to maintain the reserve.
The shipyard recommends a speed of between 14 and 18 knots at high speed. In relation to the test boat, this means speeds between 2000/min and 2400/min and theoretical ranges of 250 nm plus reserve. The Magellano therefore only fulfils our requirements of at least 430 nm plus reserve for cruising yachts as a displacement boat when both engines are turning slightly more than 1400 rpm and pushing the boat through the water at a speed of just over 9 knots.
You have to turn the steering wheel a little more than six times from one side to the other for a full turn. This and the moderate top speed plus the special dual-mode hull prevent extreme reactions during the test. Nothing disturbs the boat, it oscillates minimally and safely over the longitudinal axis on the imaginary slalom course if you turn the rudder fast enough. And for a wave system, a turn of just under 100 metres at high speed is considered sporty.
It is normal that the view to port is restricted when cornering, as the saloon roof moves into the field of vision. Otherwise, the skipper has an excellent view to the outside as well as of the instruments and switches. The situation is not much different at the helm station on the fly. Although the view to port is restricted here, it is not to starboard, which is easily visible thanks to the convenient access to the fly. In addition to the helm station, the upper deck is adorned with ample seating and a table; the whole thing can be converted into a sunbed - a fixed mast in the centre plus a large standing area behind it.
The engine compartment is accessible from the cockpit and the saloon, so you would expect a higher sound pressure level, i.e. more noise. But this is not the case. In the closed saloon, we measured no more than 77 dB/A at full throttle, and in the cockpit we read 85 dB/A on our measuring device.
Safety above all else: This starts in the engine compartment with a fire extinguishing system and continues with alarm sensors in the fuel pre-filters and exhaust systems of the engines, electrically and manually operated bilge pumps for the engine compartment and cabin area, right through to the almost waist-high railing on the flybridge - not to mention the strategically placed handrails and grab handles. We also rate the accessible side decks and the sturdy railing as "good".
As is usual with boats these days, electronics dominate everyday life on the test boat. Whether it's the LCD monitors at the helm stations that provide all the information or the batteries that are switched via relays.
In terms of workmanship, the shipyard presents itself from its best side on the test boat: no complaints on the outside or inside. Nothing disturbs the eye, smooth lines, correct gap dimensions, fine technical and electrical installations - all in all one of the best azimuth boats we have tested. The fact that the shipyard is not stingy with accessories in the standard version is a positive aspect. However, the fact that you don't get a decent rubbing strake for a cruising yacht, or even do without one altogether, is thought-provoking.
Conclusion: The Magellano 43 Fly is designed as a cruising yacht and fulfils all the requirements of such a yacht. The reason we can't say anything about its behaviour in rough water is that none was available. However, the hull can undoubtedly take a beating ...
TECHNICAL DATA
THE BOAT
- Shipyard Azimut Benetti Group/I
- Type Magellano 43 Fly
- CE category B = outside coastal waters
- Hull and deck Plastic
- Length over all 13,63 m
- Width 4,40 m
- Displacement 13,6 t
- Draught 1,20 m
- Clearance height 5,60 m
- Fuel tank 1680 l
- Water tank 600 l
- Holding tank 130 l
- Cabins 2/3
- Bunks 4/5
- Test motorisation Cummins QSB 5.9 2 x 261 kW (2 x 355 hp)
- Possible motorisation 2 x Cummins QSB 5.9 224-261 kW (305-355 hp)
- Price Test boat Standard 535 500 x
- Dealer proof Boote Feichtner, Saxingerstr. 5, A-4020 Linz
THE ENGINE
- Manufacturer MerCruiser Cummins
- Type QSB 5.9
- Performance 261 kW (355 hp)
- Full load speed 2800/min
- Cylinder R6
- Displacement 5,9 l
- Fuel Diesel
- Cooling Water/double circuit
- Gear ratio 2:1
- Test propeller RH/LH 4 x 640 mm x 610 mm
