Looking for Feedback on Azimut 62FB (2004-2007)

Osmosis and blistering is a small issue nowadays. The cases are a bit different, but you basically dry up the thing, blow the osmotic blisters up and then cover do the whole thing with epoxy, and you have a bottom only a high end custom builder will do.
Many surveys confuse buyers on blistering and osmosis. The real concern is when the blistering is osmosis, blowing the resin out. That is osmosis.
A gel coat air bubble blister without putting osmotic pressure out is more a cosmetic concern, then a real structural one.
Osmotic is natural process of GRP construction, now how care has been done in the build is the difference between one year in water and osmosis, and twenty years and a couple of blisters.
Azimut of this age tend to have superficial blistering usually on the spray rails.
The Azimut 62 produced from 2002 to 7, and as Evo from 7 till 10. The Evo has glued windows in the midship master cabin, and extra large window in the VIP suite forward.
Azimut use Diab Core so even if it gets wet it is less problematic then say balsa. They started using it since the nineties.
AFAIK the 62 has a solid bottom hull, but they did had a habit of building with the core going down the chines and below water lines.
The model was replaced by the 64 in 2010.
The 62 is a good sea boat for what it is, and was a better sea boat then the Azimut 55. I would also rate it a better sea boat then its bigger competitor at the the Manhattan 64, even though build quality on Sunseeker usually is a bit better. Not by much but it is better.
It was a best seller for Azimut in the time selling over 200 units, and its greatest competitor was the slightly larger Sunseeker Manhattan 64 which sold over fifty units, and the Ferretti 620 in Italy.
Princess challenged this battle when they entered with the four cabins 62 in 2007 which was a huge success for them.

All of the hardware on marquis is undersized. Hinges, cleats, etc etc. they run like a pig, bow high with a slow cruise speed, and just the overall quality is not there.

The 64’ manhattan is a better seaboat. Although azimut are usually pretty good sea boats.

Boarding is an issue on many euro boats not just mutts.

boarding from the swim platform only works with floating docks. At a fixed dock (very common in SoFL and on the east coast) you re out of luck getting on and off from the platform

passerelle can work as long as you are stern in and not alongside a long dock. Even when youbare stern in, marinas often have dock boxes and electrical boxes which may be in the way

I ve seen some European boats with boarding gates on the sides but many don’t have them forcing people to climb over the rails. Dangerous.

mom the other hand US builders design their boats for the US market and marinas

this is a new requirement following issues CAT had with the original C32 aftercooler design. It s bit of a CYA move by cat. I had the original aftercoolers replaced on the lazzara 84 I run after it was purchased 4 years ago. We ve put close to 2000 hours. We ll see what we do two years from now but my cat tech isn’t really advocating replacing the new style aftercoolers at the new interval

Problem isn’t the freeboard it is not having boarding gates on the sides. If you have boarding gates (preferably opening inward not to interfere with high docks or pilings) you can easily board from a fixed dock long side or a finger pier. No door/gate and you have to climb over

The Cat inter-cooler has expanded and (IMO) getting more FUBAR every time I read more updates.
Probably the best way to think about it;
Cats inter-coolers are not built to last a long time.
Cat inter-coolers use some kind of special solder that make any further solder repairs near impossible.
Cat wants to CYA during extended warranties.
Cat wants after warranty income.
When a Cat cheap inter-cooler does dump in an engine, any Cat liabilities are covered.

yes it looks like at it applies to various CAT engines

I posted the following in another thread. To put things in perspective this is everything we ve had to do in the last almost 4 years and close to 2000 hours on pair of 2009 C32s (besides oil changes and zincs)

port engine ECU replacement $3900
Raw water system descale $400
2 impellers $1000
Valve cover seals stbd $200
IAP sensors $400
Remove clean and seal ZF coolers $1200

Could Anyone with MANs post their costs over 2000 hours ?

Would be apples to oranges if we posted including all recommended service and you're not including all recommended in yours, specifically the inter-coolers.

Alex, I was with you 'til I found out widows had windows.

Awwww, come on, show us your apples or your oranges. You could even point out the differences between the two.

LOL is exactly what we need right now! Thanks!

This most definitely applies to CATs in the 350-500 HP range. Although the actual aftercooler cores may be bronze, it is at the collars that they start to leak. They are required by CAT to be removed and cleaned every couple years and then replaced at the 6 or 7 year interval. I replaced my aftercoolers in my 3208 CATs 1 1/2 years after buying our current boat, and 8 years and 1600 hours later I replaced them again last year. They NEEDED to be replaced last year as the tell tale signs of corrosion at the core/collar interface had started to show again.

Failure to replace aftercooler cores when they start to fail will lead to engine failure. No reputable shop will repair and braze aged CAT aftercooler core as the material to be brazed cannot be made sufficiently clean with confidence, considering the result of an aftercooler failure. I guess the nice thing was that a pair of OEM aftercoolers last year cost me $8K out the door. I got tired of waiting for one of the recommended CAT shops in Miami to come out and do the install, so I did it myself at no charge, and I know it was done correctly.