Azimut vs Ferretti: Comparing Two Italian Yacht Icons

By Theresa Babic, Charter Specialist · Splendid Yachting

Azimut vs Ferretti is the debate every serious charter guest eventually has, usually while scrolling through fleet photos and wondering which Italian shipyard actually matches their idea of a week on the Adriatic. Both brands build some of the most recognizable motor yachts on the water, and both show up regularly in the Croatian charter market. The real difference comes down to design philosophy, onboard feel, and how each yacht behaves once you’re out past Hvar or cutting across the Pakleni Islands.

At Splendid Yachting we place guests on both brands every season, and we’ve watched how each one performs on real Croatian itineraries, not just marina photoshoots. This guide breaks down what separates them, and how to decide which one suits your group before you book through our charter fleet.

Azimut vs Ferretti: An Overview of Two Italian Yacht Icons

Azimut vs Ferretti is really a story of two shipyards built forty kilometres apart in spirit but worlds apart in approach. Azimut Yachts started in 1969 near Turin, in the industrial north, and grew out of a boat-rental business before it became a manufacturer. Ferretti Group formed a year earlier, in 1968, in Forlì on Italy’s Adriatic-facing side, closer to the sailing culture of Rimini and the Romagna coast.

That geography matters more than people expect. Azimut grew up thinking about speed, styling, and a younger buyer chasing performance. Ferretti grew up closer to old-money boating families and built yachts meant to feel substantial at anchor, not just fast underway. Both companies now build across a huge size range, from 12-metre day boats to superyachts over 40 metres, and both are staples of the Mediterranean charter fleets guests request through our Mediterranean charter program.

In the Croatian market specifically, Azimut and Ferretti overlap most in the 15 to 27-metre bracket, which is exactly the size range most groups of six to ten guests are chartering for a week around Split or Dubrovnik. That overlap is why the azimut vs ferretti question comes up so often during our consultation calls.

The Design Philosophy Behind Italian Yacht Brands

Italian yacht brands share a design language rooted in the same coastal culture, but Azimut and Ferretti interpret it differently. Azimut’s design partnerships, historically with names like Stefano Righini and later in-house teams, favour long glazed windows, low-profile superstructures, and hull shapes built for a livelier ride. The result is a yacht that looks fast at the dock in Marina Frapa or ACI Marina Split, even when it’s sitting still.

Ferretti, by contrast, has leaned on designers like Fulvio De Simoni for decades, producing rounder, deeper hulls with a heavier displacement. These yachts sit lower and steadier in a moderate swell, which matters more than people think when you’re crossing open channels like the Split Channel or the stretch between Korčula and Mljet, where afternoon maestral winds regularly push to 15-20 knots in July and August.

Interior Layout Differences

• Azimut interiors tend to favour open-plan salons with lower furniture lines and more natural light.
• Ferretti interiors favour separated zones, heavier joinery, and a more formal dining and lounge split.
• Cabin counts on comparable lengths are usually similar, but Ferretti often dedicates more volume to the master suite.

Materials and Build Quality

Both brands use fibreglass hull construction with resin-infusion techniques on newer models, and both meet CE Category A ocean-going certification on their larger yachts. The visible difference shows up in finish: Azimut favours lighter oak and matte lacquers, while Ferretti still uses darker walnut and glossier veneers on many of its Custom Line and Riviera-adjacent ranges.

Azimut Yacht Charter: Style, Performance, and Comfort

An Azimut yacht charter is usually the right call for guests who want a sportier profile without giving up cabin comfort. The brand’s flybridge and S-line ranges combine an upper deck lounge with a hull designed to cruise comfortably at 22-25 knots, which shortens the run between anchorages considerably compared to a slower displacement yacht.

A good example in our own fleet is Leeloo, a 16.9-metre Azimut with three cabins for up to six guests. She’s a practical size for couples travelling together or a family split across generations, and her layout reflects the brand’s usual approach: an open salon, a foredeck sunpad big enough for four, and a swim platform designed for easy access to the water off spots like Stiniva Cove on Vis.

Who an Azimut Suits Best

• Groups who want to cover more ground, such as a Split to Vis to Hvar loop in five or six days.
• First-time charter guests who prefer a brighter, less formal interior feel.
• Anyone planning day-trip-heavy itineraries with multiple swim stops rather than long lunches on board.

Azimut yacht charter bookings through Splendid Yachting typically pair well with our 3-day weekend charter from Split format, since the brand’s cruising speed makes a short itinerary feel more spacious.

Ferretti Yacht Charter: Craftsmanship and Luxury at Sea

A Ferretti yacht charter leans into a different kind of luxury: heavier joinery, a steadier ride, and interiors that feel closer to a private residence than a sport cruiser. Ferretti’s hulls carry more displacement per metre than most Azimut equivalents, which translates into a noticeably calmer motion when crossing open water, particularly on the exposed run past Biševo or out toward the Blue Cave.

Ferretti’s range includes the Ferretti Yachts line, the Custom Line semi-custom series, and flagship models built for extended cruising rather than short performance runs. On a typical Croatian summer charter, that translates into more comfortable evenings at anchor in places like Uvala Lučice on Hvar, where a stable platform matters more than shaving twenty minutes off a transit.

Signature Ferretti Traits

• Deeper V-hulls that reduce roll at anchor, useful in busier bays during peak July and August traffic.
• Master cabins typically positioned amidships for a smoother ride and less engine noise.
• A more conservative exterior profile that some owners specifically prefer for resale value.

For groups chartering in the 25 to 30-metre bracket, the layout logic resembles what you’ll find on yachts like Haze, a 26-metre Extra Yachts model with four cabins for eight guests, or Stardust of Mary, a 26.3-metre Sunseeker also sleeping eight across four cabins. Both illustrate how that size class balances cabin privacy against open deck space, a comparison worth making even when neither is a Ferretti build.

Choosing Between Azimut and Ferretti for Your Croatia Charter

Azimut vs Ferretti ultimately comes down to how your group plans to use the yacht, not just which name looks better on the stern. If your week is built around moving fast between islands, snorkelling stops, and a lively upper deck for sundowners, Azimut’s lighter hull and sportier layout usually wins. If your priority is a stable, quieter platform for long lunches, formal dinners, and calmer overnight anchoring, Ferretti tends to suit better.

Budget conversations follow a similar logic. Running costs, fuel burn, and crew requirements differ by model rather than by brand alone, so current rates vary by yacht and season — the only reliable way to compare is to check live listings on our charter page or contact our team directly for a tailored quote.

Questions Worth Asking Before You Decide

• How many hours per day will the group actually spend underway versus at anchor?
• Does the group prioritise upper-deck social space or private cabin comfort?
• Is the itinerary weighted toward open crossings (favouring Ferretti’s stability) or short island hops (favouring Azimut’s speed)?

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Matching Each Brand to a Croatian Itinerary

Itinerary shape should influence the azimut vs ferretti decision as much as interior taste does. A tighter loop out of Split, hitting Brač, Hvar, and Vis inside three or four days, favours Azimut’s higher cruising speed, since you’ll spend less time transiting and more time in the water. Our guide to the 7-day sailing route from Split outlines exactly this kind of island-hopping structure, and it works well with a faster flybridge yacht.

A longer, more southern route toward Dubrovnik and the Elaphiti Islands often runs through more exposed water, including the channel past Korčula, where Ferretti’s deeper hull earns its keep. Groups running an extended two-week charter across both the Croatian and Montenegrin coasts, a route we plan often through our Mediterranean charter desk, frequently prefer the added stability for the longer overnight legs.

For guests who want a guided compromise, chartering with a professional skipper through our skipper experience lets either brand perform at its best, since a local skipper will route around afternoon wind patterns regardless of hull type.

Crew, Skipper, and Onboard Experience

Neither brand changes the legal requirements for crewed or skippered charter in Croatia. Per Croatian maritime regulation, any charter yacht above a certain engine power threshold must carry a licensed skipper, a rule enforced by harbor masters at check-in in ports like Split and Dubrovnik. This applies equally to Azimut and Ferretti yachts in our fleet, so the brand choice won’t affect your crewing obligations.

Where the brands do differ is in the onboard rhythm crew describe after a full season. Crew on Azimut models report guests moving around more, using the foredeck and flybridge throughout the day, since the layout invites it. Crew on Ferretti models more often describe longer stretches at the cockpit table, with guests treating the aft deck as the main social hub rather than splitting time between multiple zones.

Provisioning and Comfort at Anchor

Both brands handle generator-powered air conditioning and stabilised anchoring well on newer models, which matters during August nights in crowded bays like Palmižana. The practical difference shows up in tender storage: Ferretti’s garage-style stern storage on larger models keeps the swim platform clearer, while Azimut often favours a passerelle-and-crane setup that’s faster to deploy but takes up more platform space when down.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Azimut or Ferretti better for a family with young children?

Azimut generally suits families better on shorter trips, since the open salon layout and larger swim platforms make it easier to supervise kids getting in and out of the water. Ferretti’s separated interior zones can work well too, especially for families who want a quieter cabin area away from daytime activity on deck.

Which brand handles rough weather better on the Adriatic?

Ferretti’s deeper displacement hulls typically ride more comfortably in a moderate chop, which is relevant given how quickly the maestral wind can build in the Split Channel during summer afternoons. Azimut yachts still handle standard Adriatic conditions well; the difference becomes noticeable mainly above 15-20 knots of wind.

Can I charter either brand with just a skipper, or do I need a full crew?

Most Azimut and Ferretti yachts in the 15 to 27-metre range we manage are available with a skipper only, or with a full crew including a chef, depending on group size and preference. Our skipper experience page covers exactly what’s included and how staffing scales with yacht size.

Do Azimut and Ferretti yachts cost the same to charter in Croatia?

Not necessarily. Pricing depends on the individual yacht’s age, size, cabin count, and season rather than brand alone, so two yachts of similar length can carry different rates. Current rates vary by yacht and season — the most accurate way to compare is checking live availability on our charter fleet or reaching out through contact us for a direct quote.

What’s the best itinerary length to compare Azimut vs Ferretti in person?

A week is usually enough to feel the difference between the two, since you’ll experience both calm mornings and at least one or two windier afternoon transits. Our Croatia charter planners can build an itinerary specifically to test both conditions if you’re deciding between brands for a future purchase or repeat charter.