Azimut 55s

The reputation of Azimut is better in Europe than in the US, especially for service and warranty work. US boats are built in Brazil and then serviced by MarineMax.

As to your other question, if all you've operated is a 8 meter speed boat, then you do not have the experience to handle either of the boats you've mentioned and would need some training to be able to do so. Until you receive that training and gain some experience, your insurer might require you to use a professional captain as well.

Actually in the US it's design coupled with being sold by largest boat retailer in the country with a lot of very slick salesmen to somewhat inexperienced customer.

The Azimut 55S is one of the best triple IPS boats on the market, if not the best.
Loads of nice features on the 55S as being able to cruise at about 22 knots using two engines only and consuming like 110 liters per hour.

The study and R and D behind the build was impressive. Also it is costly as boat has loads of carbon components, especially on the upper structure.
Look for the video on Youtube by Maurizio Bulleri, and even though it is a good PR spin he gives some important technical details of the 55S.

I would always leave guardian on boat during winter, and by guardian I mean someone who can inspect it, turn on engines and equipment once a month (if left in the water), and do necessary repairs.
Someone who is boat capable.

If you want IPS in this size you have the Absolute 56 STY, or the Sunseeker 57 Predator which is available with a list of other propulsion options along IPS as shafts and surface drives.
Pershing is also going to launch the new 5X available with IPS and surface drives.

Yes IPS or ZF Zeus pods is easy and all, but is a full electronic system. With the right teaching and a good bow-stern thruster shafts are as easy to handle.
Agreed Pershing is synonymous with speed and surface drvives.

Azimut's are not built in Brazil for the US market. They are built in Italy. There is a Brazilian line if that is what you are referring to.

They had a Brazilian factory opened up a few years back. As far as I know it is still open.
The factory was a split with hulls and parts coming from Italy, and fitting out carried in Brazil. Some models where started being molded in Brazil as the small 43 with extended aft deck built solely for the Brazilian market.

Many Italian companies opened up in Brazil (Sessa and Ferretti did this too) when the market was very much interesting a few years back there, and did this to avoid the high import tax Brazilian government imposed on imported luxury goods.
In some year I heard Azimut sold about 100 boats in Brazil, I think it was 2012 or 13.
I think the Ferretti Group operation closed down, Sessa is still open.

If that's the case, then I'm mistaken and have been misinformed by someone I would expect to know. Regardless, their reputation in Europe is much better than in the US. How much is Azimut and how much is Marine Max, I can't say for certain.

Here is the PR from 2010; http://www.charterworld.com/news/azimutbenetti-group-opens-boatyard-brazil

As far as I know the 55S was never one of the models build in Brazil, but I cannot fully confirm or deny this. Best to ask Azimut themselves I guess.

Sessa Italy closed and reopened again last year in 2015.

Getting back to the topic, I've had my 2008 for about 1 year in CA. Had my eye on a 55 Azimut for years, but only wanted to buy on the west coast. Finally, the opportunity came up and I jumped. I took my 46 Maxum to San Diego where is sold in 30 days (it was the nicest one available and showed that sparing no expense when taking care of a boat pays off when selling).
I've been very happy with the Azimut. No issues except the transmission pressure sensor on the port side was lighting up at 1500 RPM's. I had a CAT guy out and we found that the threshold was set to low (about 325, instead of 375 like the starboard side). I bought this boat due to the style, that was the number one reason. I bought the 55 because it was the smallest boat that gave me 2 helms and a full size master in the middle where my wife can actually make the bed without banging her head on the ceiling (like our master in our previous boat at the bow). As a collector of cars both exotic and classics, I know that getting what you love can result in compromises such as time and money. Like most of my cars, my Azimut is not my "daily driver", so I'm o.k. with the down time as I can enjoy the boat 12 months per year. Every time I'm on this boat, I utter the words under my breath "man, I love this boat".