When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Azimut Yachts 39 Evolution 2008 and the Azimut Yachts 55 Evolution 2008 are modified vee designs with fiberglass construction — the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Azimut Yachts 55 Evolution 2008 measures 57,0 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 18,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Azimut Yachts 39 Evolution 2008 at 39,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Azimut Yachts 55 Evolution 2008 tips the scales at 522 lbs — 230 lbs less than the Azimut Yachts 39 Evolution 2008 at 292 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 2 hp for the Azimut Yachts 39 Evolution 2008 and 2 hp for the Azimut Yachts 55 Evolution 2008. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Azimut Yachts 55 Evolution 2008 carries 665 gallons versus 264 gallons in the Azimut Yachts 39 Evolution 2008. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Azimut Yachts 55 Evolution 2008 is rated for 17 passengers, while the Azimut Yachts 39 Evolution 2008 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Azimut Yachts 55 Evolution 2008 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Azimut Yachts 55 Evolution 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 17 passengers and at 57,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Azimut Yachts 39 Evolution 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 12 that costs less to run day-to-day.