Capelli Stradivari 52 Video Review: A Dayboat Built Like a Violin
By the YachtWay editorial deskUpdated October 2026Video walkthrough7 min read
The Stradivari 52 is a 51 ft outboard dayboat from Capelli, an Italian builder working since the 1970s, named after the Stradivarius violin. We toured one at the factory just before it shipped to Australia. She has four Yamaha 450 outboards, a garage under the aft sunbed, an outdoor galley with a hidden espresso machine, a helm with a joystick, a bow lounge and two cabins below.
Violin details everywhere you look
Capelli makes its own moulds and hulls in house, and it shows in the fit and finish. There is no raw fibreglass even in the lockers, the gate folds into the railing, and the speaker grilles and drains carry the Stradivari logo. Four LED strips below deck stand for the four strings of a violin. The boat we filmed was still being finished, so some details were not final.
What stood out on board
- A garage under the sunbedThe sunbed lifts at the push of a button over finished steps into the systems room.
- A table that opens like a butterflyThe teak table unfolds, lowers electrically and turns the seating into a lounge bed.
- A hidden espresso machineIn a leather-pull drawer, with the cups held in the backsplash.
- A gate built into the railIt folds out of the railing instead of being bolted on.
- Wide teak planksWider than on most boats, for a superyacht look.
- A quiet layoutThe generator sits far aft, behind a sound-insulated systems room.
Spec sheet at a glance
| Feature | What you get | The benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Length overall | 51 ft (15.54 m) | A big, open dayboat |
| Beam | 16 ft (4.88 m) | Room for a centre corridor |
| Draft | 2 ft 6 in (0.76 m) | Shallow enough for coves |
| Dry weight | 9.9 t (21,900 lb) | Light for its size |
| Tanks | 489 gal fuel, 79 gal water (1,850 L, 300 L) | Long days at speed |
| Power (as filmed) | 4x Yamaha 450, 1,800 hp | Triple Mercury 600s are also offered |
| Top speed | 52 kn (builder figures) | We did not sea trial this boat |
| Layout | Owner's cabin forward, guest cabin, one dry head | The guest area can be closed off |
| Helm | Raymarine screens, joystick, bow thruster | No trim tabs needed, says Capelli |
| Galley | Sink, cooktop, wine cooler, three fridges | With a hidden espresso machine |
| Systems | Victron power, two chillers, Seakeeper | Generator set far aft for quiet |
| Build | Moulds and hulls made in house | Control over fit and finish |
Aft deck and garage
Four Yamaha 450s sit at the stern, with walkways around them and a ladder to the water. A Besenzoni passerelle can be added to the side.
- Fenders.A quick-access hatch without opening the garage.
- Garage.Lifts at the push of a button, with safety poles.
- Shower.A carbon rain shower and a handheld wand.
- Cleats.With metal edges to protect the teak.
- Gate.Built into the railing.
Systems room
Finished steps lead down to the systems room, lit by LED strips. The generator is pushed far aft, behind a sound-insulated space.
- Power.Victron electrical management.
- Stability.A Seakeeper behind the bulkhead.
- Cooling.Two chillers on board.
- Storage.Space for the carbon Bimini poles.
Cockpit dining
A centre corridor runs from the cabin to the C-shaped seating. Speakers and spotlights sit in the hardtop, and lighting behind teak slats does not dazzle boats ahead.
- Table.Unfolds, then lowers to make a lounge bed.
- Storage.Under the cushions, finished inside.
- Drains.With the Stradivari logo.
- Handrails.Wrapped in stitched leather.
Outdoor galley
The galley sits in the cockpit, with a sink under a lid that doubles as a counter.
- Espresso.A machine in a drawer, with cups held in the backsplash.
- Cooking.A cooktop or grill.
- Cold storage.A wine cooler and two fridge drawers.
- Charging.USB-A, USB-C and power in the hardtop.
Helm
The guest seat has its own Raymarine screen and cup holders, and a mirror is built into the hardtop column. The VHF sits by the passenger to keep the helm clean.
- Controls.Joystick, throttles, bow thruster and chain counter.
- Trim.No trim tabs, which Capelli says the hull does not need.
- Ice maker.Right at the helm.
- Windshield.Real glass, with a gap for breeze or a closed version for the US.
Bow and cabins
The bow has a lounge with speakers in the cushions and an anchor locker on a gas strut. A clear sliding door leads below, under a skylight.
Lower deck
- Galley.A third fridge and space for a small kitchen or seating.
- Breakers.Behind a clear door, with LED rings.
Owner's cabin
- Bed.Leather headboard, with storage under the mattress.
- Vanity.A mirror and drawer that clear the hull by millimetres.
- AC.Hidden in drawers, with no visible grilles.
Head and guest cabin
- Head.A handmade glass sink and a shower with colour lights.
- Guest cabin.Mirrored panels and USB chargers on both sides.
The Stradivari 52 is a boat for owners who notice details. From the finished lockers to the logo in the drains and the violin-string lighting, it is clear Capelli thought about every surface. The deck is open and social, with a garage, a big cockpit and a bow lounge, and below there are two cabins and a dry head. We have not run her yet, but the build quality we saw at the factory is impressive.
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- Presented by
- Heigo Paartalu
- YachtWay Spotlight host
- Filmed by
- YachtWay Studios