Power Cats are ideal for cruising with a crowd. Find out more about the latest power cat models from the world’s most popular manufacturers. In addition to product specification, an array of photos and dealer contact information, you’ll find details about fuel efficiency, stability and hull design.
ILIAD 53F: A New Era of Luxury Power Catamarans Arrives in the U.S.
ILIAD Catamarans will make its U.S. premiere at the 2024 Miami International Boat Show from February 14-18 with the ILIAD 53F on display. ILIAD Catamarans has been making waves in the U.S. market with its long-range luxury power catamarans, including the ILIAD 53S, ILIAD 53 Hybrid, ILIAD 62, and the grand ILIAD 75. Visit B Dock in Herald Plaza during the Miami International Boat Show to see the ILIAD 53F in all her glory.
What sets the ILIAD 53F apart? Well, for starters, she boasts one of the highest bridge deck clearances in its market segment. With a high freeboard, this yacht ensures a comfortable passage even in challenging conditions.
Step aboard and see the extraordinary volume of the interior living space. The forward lounge, optional helm station, and dining area for 6-8 people create a luxurious atmosphere. The accommodation is generously sized, with the master suite taking up an entire hull. It features an oversized island queen berth, panoramic windows, and a spacious ensuite. The galley is a chef’s dream, fitted with the finest European appliances, an island bench, a full-size refrigerator and freezer, and clever storage solutions.
But it’s not just about the interior. This catamaran excels in outdoor spaces for entertaining and relaxing, too. The cockpit has a bar area and dining table for up to 10 guests. The flybridge features a galley with a bar, refrigerator, and barbecue, as well as a comfortable helm area that seats two. And for those who love water activities, the optional tender platform provides easy water access for swimming or diving, doubling as a great sunbathing spot when the tender is deployed.
Powering the ILIAD 53F are robust 440-hp Volvo or Yanmar engines (Cummins optional), allowing for an impressive top speed of 21 knots. Cruising at a leisurely pace, this catamaran offers a staggering range of more than 3,135 nautical miles. The ILIAD 53F showcased at the Miami International Boat Show comes equipped with 550-hp Cummins QSB 6.7 engines and is available for immediate delivery.
ILIAD Catamarans is also expected to reveal details about its new U.S. dealer at the event. Stay tuned for more updates! (See Specifications Below)
Fountaine’s Pajot Power 67 is all about living in the lap of luxury.
Not only is the world going to the cats, it’s also angling toward powercats where everything is a pushbutton affair and no sails need to be raised. Because the power segment is growing quickly, some builders are reformulating sailing models into powercats. This is the case of the Fountaine Pajot Power 67, which is based on the Alegria 67 sailing cat that was introduced a few years ago. The FP Power 67 aspires to playing in the realm of superyachts and is targeted at a discerning clientele used to a bit of luxury.
By the Numbers
Everything about the Power 67 is big. In terms of square footage, the flybridge is 345, the aft cockpit is 388, and the foredeck is 527 square feet or about two-thirds of the size of a pickleball court. The hydraulic swim platform is 70 square feet and can carry more than 1,000 pounds. And the master stateroom is 236 square feet with seven feet of headroom. The whole boat feels like Papa Bear’s chair.
On Deck
The Power 67 is mindboggling when you stand on deck. With a 32-foot beam, there’s acreage of teak as far as the eye can see, all bordered by a high stainless steel rail that adds security when underway.
The foredeck alone is the worth the price of admission. Accessed via the wide side decks or through a door that leads from the salon, the foredeck is pure decadence. To port, there’s a two-person hot tub (optional) and to starboard is recessed seating in the form of a straight sofa and L-shaped settee. There’s also access to the master cabin, and the bows contain optional twin crew cabins each with a head and sink. The forward deck is rigid rather than a trampoline, providing plenty of space for loose furniture like deck chairs or bean bags that make great lounging pods.
Since the center of activity on a catamaran is usually the aft cockpit, Fountaine Pajot dialed this one in. Come up the swim steps and take it in. A wide seat along the transom is nestled between a storage space to port and a summer kitchen to starboard where you’ll find a refrigerator, a sink, and a propane plancha grill. An electric shade connects the hardtop above to the transom backrest providing both privacy and a respite from the sun. The port forward corner is home to a dining table large enough for 8-10 people, and there’s a massive sofa to starboard just behind the circular stairs that lead to the flybridge.
Speaking of the flybridge, this is the third sumptuous outdoor space aboard and it doesn’t disappoint. The stairs end right behind the starboard helm and a dash binnacle that holds twin multifunction displays, engine screens, autopilot control, joystick, and throttles. You can sight down the starboard side when docking, but optional cameras are available as is another docking station in the aft cockpit.
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To port is a forward-facing sunbed and behind that is a U-shaped dinette. Another outdoor galley with a grill, sink, and fridge means you don’t have to run down each time you want cold drinks or a snack.
Just aft of all this is a walk-through with a sunbed on either side. High railings will keep occupants of these pads onboard even if they fall asleep and roll around. Most of the flybridge is covered with a hardtop that has an opening fabric sunroof in the middle. All the way aft on the bimini are two solar panels to help charge batteries and increase energy autonomy at anchor.
If you need another outdoor place to retreat from others on board, there’s the massive swim platform. It’s roughly 15 by 5 feet and lowers to the waterline where it makes a great teak beach to relax or don your snorkel gear.
Accommodations
A boat of this size has quite a few options in terms of layout. You can specify four or five cabins (each ensuite) as well as two locations to situate the galley. Our boathad the galley up on the main deck in the port aft corner of the salon. A sofa was in the forward port corner across from the lower helm. An L-shaped settee was placed starboard aft.
If owners opt for the galley down, there are twin L-shaped settees aft and the forward sofa becomes a wet bar while the galley moves down to occupy the space of one of the port hull cabins. The galley up has a five-burner cooktop (that can be propane or induction), a double sink, loads of storage, and a large central island which houses refrigerator drawers. For distance cruising or crewed charters with numerous guests, there’s also another freezer down in the hull for extra provisions.
The helm is more of a navigation desk than an actual helm station and has engine throttles and autopilot control. There’s no wheel here, but when it’s time to dock or maneuver, the captain will drive from up top anyway, so this area is more for tweaking navigation on passage than close quarters maneuvering.
Two things of note in the salon. The first is what looks like a compression post in the middle, which is odd on a powerboat and may be there to simply support the flybridge above. The second is a thing of beauty—the door that leads to the forward cockpit. It’s massive, watertight, and impressively designed.
The aft cabins each have direct access to the cockpit and are a mirror image of each other. The starboard hull on our boat had this aft cabin as well as the master stateroom forward. At nearly 400 square feet, this owner’s suite has a desk, a large head with his-and-hers sinks, and its own dedicated access to the foredeck as mentioned above. The bed is athwartships and faces the outboard hull window so you can wake up each morning to a beautiful view or watch the pop-up TV hidden in the bulkhead below.
Performance
Per company reps, this cat is all about distance voyaging and living in the lap of luxury. Because she offers the equivalent living space of a 75-foot monohull powerboat, she’s also likely to see some single hull boaters becoming cat converts. Standard power is provided by twin 300-hp D6 Volvo Penta diesels, but the boat in Miami was upgraded to 480-hp engines.
With the larger propulsion package, expect top speeds of 18-20 knots depending on load and conditions. That’s not bad given that this boat has a displacement of more than 100,000 pounds. At a 10-knot cruise, she’ll burn around 9 gph giving her a range of nearly 1,100 miles. If you slow to 8 knots, you can explore up to 1,700 miles in any direction.
Overall Impressions
Fountaine Pajot’s powercat range now includes four models with the Power 67 being the flagship. About 20 feet longer than the next model down, the Power 67 seems to leave the door open for a 50-something model in between, but rumor has it that an 80-footer is next on the drawing board. If the Power 67 is this posh, I can’t wait to see what the bigger sister will bring. (Fountain Pajor Power 67 specifications found below.)
Exploring the Aquila 42: A Catamaran Designed for Modern Cruisers
Aquila 42 is a compact cat with a big appeal.
Aquila Power Catamaranshas just grown by one—a 42-foot model designed by VPLP Design that may just be the right choice for couples who want a stable platform with lots of room, plenty of personalization choices, and a good turn of speed. Cruisers looking to set off for the horizon may find the new Aquila 42 a perfect escape pod.
A Closer Look at the Aquila 42 Catamaran: Innovation Meets Comfort On Deck
There are many examples of the well-established Aquila DNA starting with the familiar wide foredeck topped by twin sunbeds and the molded stairs which lead up to the flybridge. The value of not having to go aft, down, and around when moving between the upper helm and the foredeck cannot be understated.
Also present is the bar top in the aft cockpit with two stools beside a small counter and a window which connect the galley with the dining area. This intermediate space between indoors and outdoors is an Aquila trademark and it’s an immensely popular place to hang out at anchor or underway.
The cockpit’s long transom seat and folding table make this a perfect place for breakfast or cocktails, especially if a brisk breeze is blowing because this space is protected by the cabin house and the hardtop. Speaking of the hardtop, a dinghy crane protrudes from its aft end and is used to hoist the tender onto the fixed platform between the two swim steps. No davits are needed and with the tender launched, this is a special spot to relax on a chaise and watch fish swim by.
The cabin house is on the centerline making this model symmetrical which leaves wide side decks to both port and starboard. Two welcome surprises on the bow include a large, well-organized midline locker that houses the anchor, bow roller and windlass, and a cavernous stowage space in the starboard bow that’s large enough to carry loads of gear as well as an optional freezer. It will take restraint to not overload this deep lazarette or the cat will become bow heavy and may hobby horse. This space may be put to another use but more on this later.
The aft cockpit is inviting but so is the flybridge which will be a favorite spot to gather. It feels as if the outdoor living space nearly doubles with the addition of this flybridge where you’ll find a long L-shaped settee running along the port side and aft end. Two tables can be combined with an added leaf so six may dine together, and there are companion seats to both port and starboard of the helm.
An island occupies the center of the flybridge. The backside of this module holds a summer galley with a sink, refrigerator, and a Kenyon electric grill. The front side forms the double helm seat with a flip-up bolster. The seat faces the dash which is bordered by a thick handrail. A single Raymarine Axiom multifunction display (MFD) is on the centerline with a small wheel offset slightly to starboard. Engine throttles are to starboard and two cupholders are to port.
The benefits of this helm station include good forward visibility and the rail which helps to steady anyone heading toward the forward steps. However, there are also a few drawbacks to this design. First, the midline placement means that you can’t sight down either the port or starboard side when coming into a slip. Second, the wheel has seven turns lock-to-lock so it will take some getting used to. Third, there is room for only one MFD which is a surprise on a boat in this class. Finally, the helm “island” chops up the available space, forcing odd traffic patterns.
Customized Layout
Inside, the Aquila 42 is a bit of an origami boat with lots of options. Hull No. 1 that we visited featured an unusual layout. Once we stepped through the bifold door, we had a fridge/freezer to starboard and a straight-line galley to port with cabinetry and storage space outboard. Production models will offer a traditional and more functional U-shaped galley with higher cabinetry that extends up to the headliner for more stowage space.
The main seating area in the salon includes a U-shaped dinette to starboard that will accommodate four to six people comfortably, especially if extra chairs are added. On our model, a funky “nav station” was to port. It had no seat and no MFD and seemed like an afterthought that topped a sizeable storage locker below. We have learned since that this will be replaced by either a corner seat (a good choice for charter) or a full interior helm (an excellent option for private owners).
Forward is a utility cabin that holds an optional washer/dryer, a bottle fridge, and a single bunk. This space would work for kids or a professional captain although North American couples who work remotely may want to create an office here instead.
The Aquila 42 Catamaran can be specified with two to four cabins and three heads. On our boat, the entire port hull was dedicated to the owner’s suite with a bed aft, a vanity desk amidships, and a large head in the bow. The VIP ensuite cabin was in the starboard hull.
When four cabins are spec’d, it gets interesting. The owner’s hull holds two cabins with a shared head, and the utility room goes away as does that large lazarette space in the starboard bow that we described earlier. These two areas are then joined into another ensuite cabin with an athwartships bed.
Indirect and courtesy lighting throughout the interior create a warm ambience, and the surrounding tempered glass windows provide great views even from a seated position.
Aquila 42’s Performance
The Aquila 42 comes standard with twin 230-hp Volvo Penta D4 diesels, but with the upgraded 300-hp engines, expect a top speed around 21 knots at 3,400 rpm.
Cruising speed is 16 knots at 2,800 rpm where the engines burn 16 gph, delivering one nautical mile per gallon depending on load and conditions. With 290 gallons of fuel, that translates to an approximate 275-mile range with a small reserve.
The VPLP hull is designed to pop up on plane in less than nine seconds, and the elongated underwater bulbs help keep the bows high and prevent hobby horsing. Aquila also plans to offer a Yanmar engine with a V-shaped semi-foiling system which will lift about 40 percent of the boat’s weight, enabling faster speeds and better fuel consumption. For easy close quarter maneuvering, a bow thruster can be added to the starboard bow.
Aquila Has Some Intriguing Options
Aquila offers owners myriad ways to make this model their own with a long list of options. Besides the choice of layout and wood colors (dark walnut or light ash), owners can add two AGM house batteries, two 100-watt solar panels, a 17-gallon per hour Spectra watermaker, and a Kohler 9kW generator. Comfort options include a washer/dryer, the 23-bottle wine fridge, an icemaker, a propane cooker, and of course, the entire lower helm.
Why the Aquila 42 Catamaran Stands Out: A Comprehensive Review
Verdict
Aquila, which launched its first hull just over a decade ago, continues to fill out its line. Smaller models include the Molokai 28 and the Aquila Sport 32 and 36. At the luxury end, Sino Eagle Group offers the Aquila 70. In the middle, we find three models including the Aquila 54, 44, and now the 42 which the company hopes will attract seasoned cruisers downsizing from bigger boats as well as young families stepping up through the line.
Although Hull No. 1 seemed to be a prototype with an atypical layout, Aquila has left the door open for many future iterations of this design, one of which is bound to suit a cruising couple looking to get away from it all.
Two Oceans 555 Power Catamaran is madeto fit like a glove
Owners love to make a new boat their own, which isn’t always easy with production models where little more than fabric colors and wood finishes are up for personalization. However, that’s where the semi-custom nature of the recently launched Two Oceans 555 Power Catamaran comes in. With the emphasis on “custom” rather than on “semi,” this model from South Africa is tailored to each owner’s specific needs and desires.
Experience Luxury On Deck with the Two Oceans 555 Power Catamaran
There’s a lot to take in on deck including three separate social spots. The recessed forward cockpit, which is three steps down from the main deck, will be a great place to enjoy happy hour when swinging to anchor in the tropics as the sun blazes down on the transom. Here, a C-shaped dinette with a hi-lo table is the perfect spot to enjoy breakfast, play a game, or relax with a book. A raised sunpad flanks each side. This zone is accessed directly by an interior door or from the side decks.
Because of the extensive foredeck area, the aft cockpit is a bit understated. Rather than molded structures, this zone is outfitted with loose (but secured) furniture, and our boat had twin rattan loveseats with a coffee table in between. The optional hydraulic platform aft has chocks to carry the tender, or it can become an extra play space when lowered. Otherwise, the area is clean and simple. The sole provides access to the engine compartments on either side, and there are storage lockers along the glass door and window that lead to the interior. An optional docking station is to port, and the stairs to the flybridge are to starboard.
The flybridge is the star attraction on the 555 Power. Starting aft, there’s open deck space to put a chaise or two and work on a tan. You can also carry a PWC here that’s loaded with the optional crane. Moving forward, a dinette with a hi-lo table is to port and a long, curved companion seat is in the starboard forward corner. An optional galley module adds a summer kitchen with a refrigerator, sink, electric grill, and icemaker. It’s easy to see why people would gather up here more than in the aft cockpit.
The helm is on the centerline behind a windshield that protects only the console and seat. The angular dash is molded into the forward bulwark ahead which is another sunbed that’s accessed through a short bulkhead door. Most equipment at the helm is standard including a Stidd bench seat with armrests, twin multifunction displays, engine screens, autopilot control, and a spotlight. The wheel is offset slightly to port, behind and below the compass. One large wiper services the whole tempered glass windshield, and the hardtop covers most of the flybridge with the exception of the aft deck and the grill area.
Discover the Tailored Interior of the Two Oceans 555 Power Catamaran
The standard layout includes three to four cabins and three to four heads with the master placed either on the main deck and forward (standard) or down in the hull. With the master down, the forward part of the main deck features a wet bar and sofa or a full interior helm. The boat we visited in Miami was reflective of very specific owner requirements which made it somewhat memorable. Our boat had the master down but had no helm or wet bar. Instead, there was a sofa to port and a dinette in the starboard corner, both flanking the watertight door to the forward cockpit. Some people prefer to separate where they eat from where they lounge, and the plan we saw accomplished this effectively.
The main social salon is aft with a C-shaped sofa for six to port and facing a galley island with a hidden TV on a lift. The L-shaped galley doesn’t skimp on storage lockers or Corian countertop space. On one end is a side-by-side refrigerator clad in wood to disguise its location. A four-burner electric cooktop, a double sink with garbage disposal, and a microwave are within steps of each other. A dishwasher, wine fridge, and icemaker are options.
The galley, dinette and salon are all on the same level so moving about is easy with no tripping hazard anywhere. Ample direct and indirect lighting as well as large windows brighten the interior and air conditioning vents are integrated discreetly above the windows.
The staterooms in the hulls below are accessed via steep steps on both sides just ahead of the galley and salon. On our model, the master was to starboard and had a queen-size athwartships bed, a desk, and a large head. The toilet compartment with one sink is separate, but there are additional twin sinks near the shower stall. Two guest staterooms were in the opposite hull—one outfitted with two berths that can be joined together using a filler cushion.
Performance Insights of the Two Oceans 555 Power Catamaran
Standard power is provided by twin 370-hp Yanmar 8LV diesels, but the boat in Miami was upgraded to 550-hp Cummins QSB 6.7 engines. The exhaust is underwater, and the five-blade propellers are ensconced in tunnels with a sacrificial keel just ahead for protection. Top speed is 25-27 knots with a cruising speed of 18-19 knots at 2,600 rpm. At cruise, the 555 Power will burn 31 gph providing a range of 410-420 nautical miles with a small reserve.
The 555 Power has a high bridge deck clearance to reduce pounding into head seas and a spray rail to stay drier on deck. The engine compartments are cavernous and easily accessed. Large 24V alternators and twin Racor filters are at each engine. A 21.5 kW generator is to port but with an Integral power system to charge the bank of lithium house batteries, it will most likely see little use.
Options and Upgrades
There’s a long list of available options beyond the placement of the master suite and the choice of engine size. Comfort items include a Fisher & Paykel dishwasher, a Splendide washer and dryer, icemakers in the galley and on the flybridge, a Kenyon electric grill, air conditioning, a Glendinning Cable Master, a Steelhead davit on the upper deck, a KVH TracVision TV antenna, FLIR cameras, and more.
The Verdict
Two Oceans Marine Manufacturing builds a range of custom power catamarans, and the 555 Power is now the smallest and, therefore, the entry point into the line. Just like its siblings, the newest design can be made unique and aims to make owners feel special. Between technical items like the underbody design and the Integrel power system, and the highly personalized interior, the 555 Power will likely appeal to a clientele looking for exclusive experiences that fit each owner like a glove.
-by Zuzana Prochazka
SPECIFICATIONS
LOA w/ platform: 57′ 7″
Beam: 25′ Draft: 3′ 6″
Displacement (dry): 49,600 lbs. Fuel/Water: 750/200 U.S. gals.
Leopard 40 Powercat: The Ideal Cruiser for Couples and Families
Leopard Catamarans, the South African builder of power and sail multihulls, has just expanded its line by launching the Leopard 40 Powercat, a model that’s bound to become a favorite with power cruising couples. A from-scratch design, this boat is easily managed by two but still has plenty of space for friends, family, and loads of gear. It offers the deck and living space of a 50-foot monohull but will fit in a much shorter slip. It’s generous yet compact, and sophisticated yet simple—all at once.
The design is by naval architects Simonis Voogd, and it’s a bit of a marvel. The challenge was to create similar comfort and performance as offered by her two (46- and 53-foot) sisterships but on a much smaller platform. Cats become weight- and trim-sensitive as they get shorter so the designers used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to develop a well-balanced hull form that could carry loads of cruising gear but still offer a top speed over 20 knots.
On Deck: Unique Features of the Leopard 40 Powercat
Starting forward, the first thing to notice is the tidy ground tackle setup. The windlass, anchor, and pre-rigged bridle are hidden but easy to access so you’ll never have to reach deep into spaces where your hands could get caught. Whether attaching the bridle or retrieving the anchor, it’s all quite simple and safe. There is also cavernous storage space forward which is good for large, light gear like fenders. Owners will need to resist temptation to fill it with heavy objects that will make the bows ride low in the water.
Two sunbeds are on the foredeck and impressively high stainless steel rails hug the perimeter for easy and safe movement on deck when offshore. The aft cockpit is compact with a forward-facing seat and table. This is one distinct departure the Leopard 40 Powercat makes from most cat cockpit layouts that are generally faced aft. It’s largely due to the oversized engine room hatches which don’t allow much furniture to be built out and to the sides. Of course, this means that the engine compartments are exceptionally spacious with access to just about all parts of the engines so you can do regular maintenance without having to twist yourself into an impossible space.
To port are stairs leading from the cockpit to the flybridge which, per the builder, is the largest in this class. It will absolutely be the outdoor gathering spot for everyone aboard. The helm here is to starboard with twin Raymarine multifunction displays, thruster and engine controls, autopilot, and a wide bench seat for two or even three. The backrest flips forward for aft-facing seating when it’s time to relax around the U-shaped dinette. An optional summer galley and an additional straight bench are to port, and the whole thing is covered by a hardtop that can also hold a sizable solar panel for added energy autonomy at anchor. As a bonus, there’s room aft of the bimini for a couple of chaise lounges, perfect for sun worshipers.
Accommodations: Experience The Luxury
The Leopard 40 Powercat is currently only offered in a three-cabin, two-head layout. The entire starboard hull holds a sumptuous owner’s suite with a large bed aft, a vanity desk amidships, and an enormous head forward. The desk in the middle may be replaced with extra storage drawers, and additional storage cubbies may be substituted for the optional TV on a bracket above. With more drawer space below the berth, the one thing this boat doesn’t lack is a place for everything.
The master head takes up nearly a third of the hull and has a single sink, an immense shower stall, and strangely, the toilet right by the entry door. Losing a foot of the shower and moving the toilet basin a bit forward and away from the door would have been ideal but that may not have worked with the curvature of the hull as it narrows going forward.
The port hull has twin cabins and a very workable Jack-and-Jill head that’s shared by both cabins. Because Leopard wisely decided to forgo shoehorning in another head, the cabins are spacious and have better stowage options.
The main deck of the Leopard 40 Powercat is surprisingly feature-rich and very bright due to the large surrounding vertical windows. In the port forward corner, an L-shaped settee wraps around an optional coffee table and faces a single seat and a TV on a swing bracket opposite. Aft is an L-shaped galley with a ceramic cooktop, oven, single sink, and even an optional dishwasher. To starboard is a homestyle side-by-side refrigerator that’s bound to please everyone from the chef to the kids. There are also copious stowage options for dishes, cutlery, and provisions. This is a proper kitchen that’s just steps away from the dining table in the aft cockpit and the perfect setting for peaceful, intimate breakfasts.
An interior helm occupies the starboard forward corner. Many cats of this size don’t feature an inside helm, relying instead on the flybridge control station, but anyone traveling in pouring rain, freezing cold, oppressive heat, or through the night will rejoice about this protected lower helm. A single MFD, engine throttles, and optional thruster or joystick controls make this a small but sophisticated cat with a helm for true voyagers which adventurous owners will appreciate.
A wonderful addition is the forward watertight door on the centerline. It leads directly to the sunbeds on the foredeck, and when opened, it cools the whole boat down with a fresh breeze in just minutes. As a bonus, it lets the driver move quickly and directly to the foredeck to help with dock lines.
Performance: Speed, Efficiency, and Control
We had ideal testing conditions on Biscayne Bay in Miami. The water was flat, the wind was light, and the boat performed well with her upgraded 370-hp Yanmar diesels with shaft drives. (Standard propulsion includes 250-hp engines.)
The Leopard 40 Powercat idled at 1,000 rpm where she made good 5.7 knots of speed and 4.8 mpg. She reached a top speed of 22.7 knots at 3,880 rpm, generating .6 mpg. The sweet spot was right around 3,000 rpm where we popped up on plane at 17 knots, delivering .9 mpg. This means the 40 PC is capable of a 350-mile range at cruising speed (depending on wind and sea state).
On plane, our turns were easy but tight with no slipping or digging in. At idle, the twin engines spun us around in our own length. You can spec a tunnel thruster in the port bow for enhanced control when docking in a cross breeze. Visibility forward and down the starboard hull is good, and a camera can be added for backing. Using the lower helm for docking has its advantages including being able to quickly step from the wheel out on deck through the forward or aft doors which is great when short or single-handed.
The 40 PC offers numerous big-boat features as options including a generator in the port forward deck locker, a watermaker under the port guest berth, electric heads, upgraded AGM batteries, 16,000 BTU air conditioning, davits with an electric winch, engine upgrades of 320 or 370 horsepower, and a Yanmar JC20 joystick that combines the engine and the thruster for even easier maneuvering.
Overall Impressions: Why the Leopard 40 Powercat Should Be on Your Shortlist
You could easily bring 20 people aboard and find a seat for everyone so it’s likely that owners of the Leopard 40 Powercat will find themselves the center of the party in any anchorage. But when it’s time to cruise or relax, the 40 PC is also perfectly sized for couples who like to travel alone or with small families and occasional guests.
This boat is simultaneously a generous platform and a compact cruiser so kudos to the designers because it’s hard to stuff those two disparate characteristics into one package. Anyone shopping for a powercat should put the 40 PC on their short list or look for one to charter such as The Moorings 403 PC. You’ll have the vacation as well as the sea trial of a lifetime.
Something big is in the water, and it’s heading your way The Aquila 47 Molokai.
Fresh on the heels of the successful Aquila 28 Molokai and the Aquila 28 Molokai Cuddy, prepare to say aloha to the latest creation from Aquila’s Offshore line, the all-new Aquila 47 Molokai Power Catamaran. With inspiration coming from native Hawaiian watercraft born for the rigors of island hopping in the tumultuous waters of the Pacific Ocean, it was only natural that Aquila would create the next best vessel for these waters by blending performance and luxury. Combined, they ignite rich fishing and cruising adventures in water conditions of all types.
The Aquila 47 Molokai Power Catamaran, dubbed “The Big Kahuna,” is set to launch this fall.
Be sure to stay up to date with Aquila as it drops more sneak previews on its social media with its “Wave of the Future” campaign. This campaign showcases all the new initiatives for Aquila as it relates to sustainability advances, innovative design, eco-friendly features such as e-Motion hybrid propulsion, and more. All of these are aimed at improving efficiency, comfort, and the overall boating experience.
And stay tuned for Southern Boating’s review of the Aquila 47 Molokai Power Catamaran later this year.
For the all-new Aquila 42 Yacht Power Catamaran, the Chinese builder turned to renown designer VPLP Design for the new model. The 42 Yacht (41’ 6” LOA, 21’ beam) is CE certified and features two staterooms (available in multiple configurations) with individual heads. The catamaran offers a spacious foredeck and the expansive flybridge is accessible from stairs in the bow. For guests, the yacht features three alfresco entertainment areas serviced by a full galley and multiple wet bars. Volvo Penta offers various power options for the 42 Yacht Power Catamaran and buyers can select from several electronics packages. aquilaboats.com
South African custom sail and power catamaran builder Two Oceans Marine Manufacturing is debuting the all-new 555 power catamaran in Miami. Designed by DuToit Yacht Design, the 555 (55’ 6” LOA, 25’ beam) features fully painted hull and deck surfaces, high bridge-deck clearance for handling elevated sea states, proprietary performance-oriented hull design, and tunnels with sacrificial keels designed by Teignbridge LTD for a draft of 3-1/2 feet. Powered by a pair of Cummins 6.7l 550-hp diesels, the 555 has a top speed of 26.8 knots. Thanks to a 750-gallon fuel capacity, the 555 has a range of 510 nautical miles while cruising at 20 knots. hmy.com/two-oceans
Check out the new and enhanced Horizon Power Catamarans PC60 making her debut at FLIBS. Equipped with 800-hp MAN engines, the four-stateroom yacht features an expanded flybridge deck with a dayhead and storage for a 17-foot, 100-hp tender aft.
The PC60 (61′ 7″ LOA, 24′ 6″ beam) comes with Garmin 8622 multifunction display screens at the helm, and this new design has VEEM propellers a ording a 29-mph top-end speed. The Powercat Company plans to share details of its new PC68 model, which will launch in January 2023. Available in an open salon or on-deck master layouts, the four-stateroom PC68 boasts innovative deck spaces including a walkthrough Portuguese deck forward. horizonpowercatamarans.com
Nearly 100 guests, 15 sets of owners, and 10 Horizon yachts gathered in the Abacos, Bahamas, for a weekend celebration.
Getting back on “island time” was the theme of the 9th Horizon Yacht’s Owner Rendezvous, which kicked off with a bang this year in the Bahamas’ Abaco Islands from May 20-22.
A favorite cruising area for many Horizon yacht owners, the Abaco Islands were the obvious destination for the three-day event, which drew 10 Horizon yachts, 15 sets of Horizon yacht owners, and nearly 100 guests to the island. In 2019, the Abacos were devastated by the Category 5 Hurricane Dorian, after which the COVID-19 pandemic hindered the recovery and rebuilding process, so the timing was right for the Horizon family to show its support of the resilient locals and these beautiful cruising grounds.
Horizon yachts, from multiple build series and ranging in size from an E70 to an FD110, arrived at the Abaco Beach Resort and Boat Harbour Marina where they greeted friends old and new. Among the many gestures of support from the Horizon Yacht USA team and owners, the yachts carried truckloads of pet food and supplies that were generously donated to the Abaco Shelter, the only pet shelter on the island. Many of the owners’ furry family members barked out their approval across the docks.
Opening Day
Mimosas and brunch at the resort’s Below Deck Terrace started off the first day with a huge welcome from Horizon Yacht USA Director Roger Sowerbutts. Guests were presented with gift bags filled to the brim with local goodies and items to use throughout the weekend’s festivities before heading to the docks for the christening ceremony of the brand-new E90, Lazy Daze. This was the first Horizon build for the experienced owners who were attracted to the model’s exterior styling and plentiful amenities.
Guests were then treated to an afternoon Beach Party with a Bahamian classic Goombay Smash and fresh conch salad, swimming, lounging, and beach games, including golf, while catching up and sharing their cruising stories.
The six-piece band “Suppa Time” set the festive tone for the cocktail hour and dinner at the Below Deck Terrace, where guests dined on baked lobster tail, fresh fish piccata, and New York Strip steak before hitting the dance floor. In what became an evening tradition, the first FD87, Skyline hosted an after-party with line dancing under the disco lights on the aft deck.
Day Two Adventures
Coffee on the ferry dock was a welcome brew before guests headed to the remote outpost of Elbow Cay to hop on golf carts and peruse the picturesque streets and pastel-colored homes of Hope Town. After exploring the restaurants, art galleries, and boutiques, everyone met at Tahiti Beach to partake in a refreshing afternoon cocktail and take in the view. This tropical paradise was the perfect setting to wade in the crystal-clear water and order a whimsical drink, like the Almond Joy Colada or the Green Banana, from the famous Thirsty Cuda floating cocktail bar.
Back at the resort, it was time for a relaxing evening at the Garden Pool with conch bites and a pasta station as well as a little friendly competition while racing remote-control Jet Skis in the pool. Horizon Yacht USA even invited all crew members to mingle on the dock at the Horizon tent with hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, and plenty of comradery.
The Fun Continues
Day Three was a day for excursions, and guests set out early for the activity of their choosing. Some ventured to see the famous swimming pigs at No Name Cay and indulged in more fresh dockside conch salad while feeding the pigs. A few adorable piglets made for snuggly photo ops, and the lunch and band at Big O’s were a hit, especially with Aqua Life’s group who played musical chairs with the band. Many of the guests enjoyed an impromptu cruise aboard Skyline for lunch at the famous Nipper’s Beach Bar & Grill on Great Guana Cay, and a few others decided to join longtime Abaco resident and artist Anthony “Big Mo” Morely for an intimate sip and paint experience at the resort.
After a fun-filled day, guests returned to freshen up and gather for the Farewell Bahamian Bash on the beach; the group reminisced about the weekend and reveled in one last evening together. By the light of the fire pit, guests and crew danced to the “Suppa Time” band, and the evening commenced with an exciting Junkanoo performance.
It was a fitting end to a festive weekend celebration that saw so many Horizon yacht owners gather to support the Abaco Islands, share their build experiences and cruising stories, and make plans for future rendezvous together.
Horizon Yacht USA extends its sincere gratitude to all the owners and guests who made this year’s rendezvous such a memorable experience.
Horizon Power Catamarans Hosts 5th Owners’ Rendezvous
Thirteen Horizon Power Catamarans with their owners and guests gathered for a celebration in Harbour Island, Bahamas
It was blowing a gale the day the Horizon Power Cats navigated “The Devil’s Backbone” and arrived on North Eleuthera in the Bahamas, but once comfortably nestled into their slips at the Romora Bay Resort and Marina on Harbour Island, the 13 beautiful catamarans in attendance paid no notice, their owners and guests immediately taking to the docks to mix and mingle with friends old and new.
After a three-year hiatus, the 2022 Horizon Power Catamarans (HPC) Owners’ Rendezvous unofficially kicked off with the celebratory christening of a brand-new PC65, Hideout. Guests enjoyed the signature fresh stone crab, champagne, and Taiwan beer during the christening and continued the merriment with a shared potluck dinner on the dock.
The first official day of the HPC Owners’ Rendezvous dawned bright and beautiful as the catamarans were prepared for their Rendezvous appearance. The Horizon Power Cat team spent this time checking on any service or maintenance needs—one of the many examples of the attention to service and detail that distinguishes the HPC brand from its competition. In the afternoon, the Romora Bay Resort extended a gracious welcome to the Rendezvous attendees with a steel drum band and Bahamian conch fritters washed down with tropical Goombay Smashes at the dockmaster’s office. Ready to celebrate, guests donned their tropical attire for the welcome dinner on the resort’s terrace, for which The Power Catamaran Company founder and CEO Richard Ford set the tone for fun with his pre-dinner welcome speech. Sponsored by AssuredPartners, the evening continued well past dessert with live music and dancing.
On day two, owners and guests bustled about the docks carrying bags and boxes and scurried to and from their golf carts huddled in whispered conversations: It was the day of the Pimp My Golf Cart Contest. Led by Spencer Lloyd of AssuredPartners, the team of judges carefully critiqued each golf cart entry, paying particular attention to the award-winning characteristics of uniqueness, fun, and creativity. Decked out in full regalia, each cart lined up for a scavenger hunt around the island. The raucous parade, ranging from astronauts to aliens, lifeguards to lobsters, and mermaids to dinosaurs, created quite a stir as it rampaged through Dunmore Town completing tasks and competitions.
Photo Credit: Superyacht Creative
Laughter echoed off the docks early the morning of day three as owners gathered on their neighbor’s aft deck to sip coffee before tending to the preparations for the raft-up and beach barbecue. Despite the blue skies and brilliant sunshine, the aforementioned winds had forced a change of venue for the last two days of the Rendezvous. By mid-morning, each catamaran left its slip and cruised the few miles to the beach at Man Island.
Photo Credit: Superyacht Creative
Here, the spectacular orchestration of the annual raft-up was on full display and managed by the HPC team with excellent precision, as Ford greeted and boarded each Power Cat as it arrived and seamlessly helmed it into position as the crew set the anchor and adjusted the fenders. Within just one hour, all 13 yachts were lined up and the guests tendered ashore for an afternoon barbecue of burgers, South African sausages, and plenty of beer, rosé, and champagne. After lunch, it was time for the cocktail competition for which three self-proclaimed experts in the field visited every yacht for a formal presentation and tasting of that yacht’s signature cocktail. Music and conversation continued as guests mingled before each Power Cat broke away from the raft-up and set anchor for the night.
Guests took to the water on day four, some taking part in the official fishing tournament and others spending the day swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing before heading back to their berth at Romora Bay. The highly anticipated awards ceremony prefaced the dinner with the Horizon PC52 My Best Life taking home both the largest and the heaviest fish trophies as well as the Most Unique award for its Jurassic Park-themed golf cart. The PC65 Cell Fish won Most Creative for its Under the Sea-themed golf cart and the PC60 Brokedown Palace won Funniest for its Pimp Palace-themed cart. As for the cocktail competition, the sobered judges presented the two cocktail awards—both of which coincidentally were margaritas—to the PC60 Vitality for Taste and to the PC60 Mangata for Presentation, and the PC52 Cut and Run won the Scavenger Hunt.
“The 2022 Horizon Power Catamarans Owners’ Rendezvous brought together a group of fantastic owners for four days of fun, relaxation, and enjoyment of life’s simple pleasures, which is what being a Horizon Power Cat owner is all about,” says Ford. “Despite the weather forcing us to abandon our original plans to cruise the Devil’s Backbone and spend the last two days in Spanish Wells, all of our owners and guests were content to relax and enjoy each other’s company no matter where they were. We thoroughly enjoyed hosting this amazing event for our owners and their guests and look forward to next year!”
Leopard 46 Powercat, the second model in the series, does not disappoint.
Only two years after the launch of the Leopard 53 PC (a completely re-thought powercat model at the time), Leopard Catamarans introduced the Leopard 46 PC, a smaller—but equally impressive—sistership. The two were parked side by side at the recent Miami boat show, and I was urged to visit one right after the other to compare.
“You’ll see that the 46 feels nearly as large as the 53,” says Franck Bauguil, Leopard’s vice president of yacht sales and product development. “They’re remarkably similar despite the seven-foot difference.”
I took his advice and toured the 53 PC first. It’s significant and stout and lacks for nothing in terms of comfort. Then I stepped aboard Hull No. 1 of the 46 PC and realized Bauguil was right. The 46 PC borrows design elements from her bigger sibling and does wonders with her 46-foot by 24-foot platform.
South African builder Robertson and Caine have been building catamarans for 30 years and with that kind of longevity, they’ve seen and done it all. Like most cat builders, they’ve taken sailing cats in the past and modified them for power. With the 53 PC and the 46 PC, they took another tack and designed these two for power applications from the keels up. It makes a difference.
Untraditional Design
Three steps bring you from the swim platforms to the aft cockpit, most of which is taken up by a large dinette. This is a design departure because most cats have ample seating and lounges here. The factor for more gating structure is the result of the enormous engine room hatches on either side that can’t be topped with furniture, so the dinette is tucked in between. Also, it’s expected that other than dining, most outdoor entertaining will be done on the flybridge, so why duplicate the spaces?
There’s still lots of space behind the dining settee to walk from one side to the other or manage the tender. Davits are offered, but the optional hydraulic platform is more versatile and creates a teak beach at the waterline.
Starboard-side steps lead up to the flybridge, or you can walk up either side deck to the bow where you’ll find twin sunbeds and plenty of room to work the windlass.
Spacious Living
The Leopard 46 PC is available with three or four cabins and a matching number of heads. The owner’s version places the master along the entire starboard hull with a longitudinal bed aft, a desk amidships, a large closet (it can’t be called a locker), a head with twin vanities, and a huge shower in the bow. (FYI: For those who like spacious bathrooms, this head takes up nearly a quarter of the LOA so you won’t feel hemmed-in.)
The breaker panel sits alongside the steps down to the master cabin, so the owner doesn’t have to go far in the middle of the night to turn systems on/off or to check on the state of the batteries. A lower helm is optional and may be interesting to those who venture often into more challenging climates.
The salon redefines “open layout.” Not only is the aft galley well integrated into the salon itself, but also the forward door brings the outside in with a fresh breeze and plenty of light. Leopard’s traditional forward cockpit has been taken over to make a larger salon. However, you still have the twin lounges where you can hold happy hour when the sun is beating down on the aft cockpit as you swing on the hook.
The surrounding windows in the salon seem larger than on previous models and are made of tempered glass which, besides strength, offers better clarity. Lounge areas include the L-shaped settee to port with a straight sofa to starboard, just behind the optional lower helm. (There is no specified companion seat.)
The galley has a two-burner Kenyon induction cooktop and a Bosch convection oven below. The refrigerator/freezer are household-sized, and there are options for an icemaker, microwave, and dishwasher. To starboard is a serving area with cutlery and dish lockers, an integrated bottle locker, and space for an icemaker or bottle cooler all topped with ample counter space so the chef never has to work alone. The aft glass door opens to nearly 50 percent creating a seamless transition to the aft cockpit which is perfect when serving a meal.
Leopard notes that this series highlights “powerboat styling,” including more indirect lighting, larger hull windows that result in brighter cabins below, wider staterooms, cleaner lines, and a finish in matte greige that is very popular on motoryachts in this class. “The 46 borrows heavily from the innovations brought to the 53,” says Katie Baker, yacht sales marketing manager. “The focus is on luxury and comfort.”
There’s also an easy-living flow aboard this model that connects the sunbeds on the bow with the salon, and the galley with the aft cockpit, all within just a few steps and two doors. You can’t get this much space on a monohull motoryacht of the same length, and the stability of twin hulls means no gyrostabilizer is necessary to keep everyone comfortable day and night.
Fantastic Fly
The cockpit may be focused on dining, but the entertainment star is the flybridge where everyone will want to lounge and take in the fabulous views. To port is a companion bench for three, amidships is a U-shaped dinette that will accommodate up to eight with additional chairs, and aft is a large sunpad for up to three. Starboard aft is open space that can be used for extra lounge chairs and just ahead is a galley module amidships with a sink and an optional fridge and a grill.
There’s a lower helm on this model to starboard equipped with twin 16-inch Axiom Raymarine MFDs and autopilot, Yanmar engine controls and displays, and a bench. Sightlines down the starboard side are excellent so you’ll want to dock on that side, if possible. Visibility forward is good, but the aft is blocked as it is on all flybridge models; however, Leopard offers two optional cameras (forward and aft) that integrate into the MFDs. Docking with the backup camera is only a matter of getting used to it just like in your car.
Because the 53 PC and the 46 PC were parked next to each other, it was easy to compare the size of their respective flybridges. To my eye, they were nearly identical. Bauguil confirmed that one is just a bit smaller than the other, but it speaks volumes that you can hardly see the difference even with such a close comparison.
Fully Loaded
I tested the 46 PC with the upgraded 370-hp engines in 15 knots of breeze on very lumpy waters just outside Government Cut in Miami. We had a crowd aboard with 15 on the flybridge alone, and both the water and fuel tanks were 70 percent full so the boat was heavily loaded.
We came up on plane at 15-16 knots and went up to 22.4 knots at 3,660 rpm (wide open throttle) where the boat burned 38.6 gph. We found a more efficient cruise at 17 knots and 3,200 rpm burning 20 gph. With 489 gallons of onboard fuel, expect an approximate 400-nautical mile range at cruising speed depending on conditions.
The bows have a narrow entry to easily split the oncoming water, but they’re stepped above to create greater interior volume and more comfortable cabins. The propellers are ensconced in tunnels to improve speed, and the Yanmar diesels are contained within soundproof engine rooms that are farther from the living spaces to reduce noise and vibration.
The 46 PC is very maneuverable as you’d expect with engines set so far apart. However, it’s a lot of boat so although it’s not strictly necessary, some may find peace of mind with
the optional bow thruster.
A Lot to Recommend It
Bauguil says Leopard is in the process of fleshing out its powercat line so the 46 PC doesn’t replace a model, it just adds to the offering. Approximately 50 percent of the upcoming Leopard 46 PCs will go into charter while the other 50 percent will be sold to private owners.
If you’re in the market for a new yacht, consider a powercat and perhaps add the Leopard 46 PC to your shortlist. If you’d like to try before you buy, keep an eye out for one in charter at an exotic destination via The Moorings. You won’t be disappointed.
The Horizon PC60 is built with comfortable cruising in mind.
“We have owned and operated six boats in the last eleven years, all power, mostly monohulls,” recalls one owner aboard his new PC60. “Like Goldilocks searching for the perfect mattress, we have gone through five different brands, sizes, and styles. But one day, we struck up a conversation with a Horizon Power Catamaran owner, saw his beautiful vessel, and signed to build our own a month later. Love at first sight!
“A year of intense planning, measuring, technical drawings, photos, floor and wall samples, fabrics, tiles, batteries, generators, pumps, systems, floor plans, and more completely consumed our life while we went through the ‘Christmas List’ of choices and options for our newly planned vessel,” he says. Christened in a private ceremony held in Florida, this latest PC60 was commissioned by experienced owners who knew exactly what they wanted on their sixth boat.
All Hands on Deck
The semi-custom Horizon Power Catamarans are designed by both the builder and the owner to make their boat a dream come true.
When I became a charter captain in the BVIs awhile back, it was on a sailing monohull. I was then transferred to a sailing catamaran and entertaining six passengers became a lot easier, not because of personalities, but because of the room—everyone could have their own space if desired. When a beam goes from 16 feet to 24 feet, the boat becomes a really comfortable platform from which to explore the islands or the coast in any location.
Boating around the Virgin Islands is pretty benign, but what about sailing farther afield? When I spoke to Richard Ford, CEO and founder of The Powercat Company, the exclusive distributor for Horizon Power Catamarans, he mentioned that one purpose in the design is to withstand tough, irregular sea states.
“What is different about the Horizon is the highly refined and efficient semi-displacement symmetric hull designs that are developed from extensive tank testing and offer an unmatched stable, soft, and smooth ride on a level platform, particularly in rough conditions,” he says.
The PC60 has symmetrical semi-displacement hulls with “planing wedges” aft that produce lift. The keel begins in the middle of the hull to enhance tracking and protects the prop and rudder. The result is performance and seakeeping so that it can outrun a storm that moves at 15 to 18 knots average.
Different Designs
The PC60 is not new, but with each build, The Powercat Company and the new owners continue to improve the design and create interior layouts that keep the yacht fresh and innovative. New materials, new techniques, and the latest technologies along with the engineering, craftsmanship, and quality of Horizon Yachts’ construction methods, make the powercats a solid investment and a boat that has the volume of much larger yachts.
Ask the owners of Mangata, who took delivery at the 2021 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. They transitioned from sportfishers to the powercat to cruise in the Bahamas and beyond. The design showcased an open salon and an expanded enclosed flybridge. The PC60 also has an open flybridge option as well as a main-deck master, but these owners chose two large staterooms in the portside hull and a master suite that utilizes the entire starboard hull. That leaves a huge main-deck entertainment area with a spacious raised “living room” under the big windows that look forward over the bow.
In this open plan, the galley is to starboard while a long settee is to port along with a service bar aft and additional countertop space forward atop a refrigerator. Speaking of which, the galley’s Miele 30-inch refrigerator/freezer has a satin wood finish to match the interior design.
On Mangata, accommodations are luxurious, and with the master occupying one hull, the king-size walkaround berth, dressing area, head with double sinks, and separate shower offer plenty of space to call it a night. To port, an ensuite VIP cabin with a king berth is forward and a queen cabin is aft. A large head with shower serves the aft cabin as well as a day head.
The open aft deck is protected by the flybridge above and large curved steps access the swim platform on each hull with enough room for divers, snorkelers, swimmers, and the toys as well as hot and cold freshwater showers recessed into the aft coaming. The aft deck includes a high-glass, fixed-height wood table that seats six, and a comfortable curved settee along the transom is a perfect spot to watch swimmers off the stern.
On the Fly
Teak treads line the circular stairs to port that lead up to the flybridge. When Magnata took her test ride after the Fort Lauderdale show, it was understandable why everyone was on the flybridge—the perch with a 360-degree view. The enclosed portion of the bridge has large windows, and the aft section is fitted with vinyl windows that zipper closed or roll up depending on the weather. Then there’s the comfort—raised double bench seating on each side of the STIDD helm chair face forward with the starboard side able to configure into a large lounge/daybed to stretch out. An L-shaped sofa offers room for at least eight along the starboard side aft, and a wet bar is to port.
The flybridge continues aft with a large deck that has an entertainment center with a barbecue and refrigeration and plenty of room for sun lounges or a 17-foot tender with a 100-hp outboard, of which a davit is positioned to starboard.
The PC60 is comfortable for an owner-operator, and there are multiple layout options to personalize the boat for comfort and lifestyle, in which case the PC60 easily becomes a home away from home, or in the case of one owner, just home.
Aquila steps into the realm of the semi-custom with the debut of a luxurious 70-footer.
Catamarans are having a moment. The double-hulled approach has been steadily winning over cruisers weary of the roll for years now; meanwhile, the pandemic has inspired more people to take to the seas in a safe bubble of family and friends. There are arguably few better ways to do this than on the expansive platform a catamaran hull offers.
Enter the new Aquila 70, which makes the very best of first impressions. “When you step on board the boat, you feel like you could actually live on board the boat, or spend extended periods of time on board; it feels like home,” says Alain Raas, Aquila brand manager for MarineMax, the exclusive worldwide distributor of the yachts.
What greets those passing through the sliding glass cockpit doors is villa-like living with a sumptuous sectional sofa and armchair by Natuzzi Italia, a formal dining area, bamboo silk rugs underfoot, and a chic sit-down bar facing the open plan galley. In fact, the only nautical consolation is a sleek and discreet helm station tucked into the starboard corner that practically blends with the stylish galley just behind it.
The bi-level master stateroom forward brings an even bigger wow factor. Spanning the full 27-foot beam, the vast bedroom area with king berth stretches between the hulls while its ensuite and dressing area dip into them.
This is the first hull of the new flagship model, which made its debut at the Palm Beach boat show last March and was recently sold. It has served as the showpiece for the brand and prompted orders for three more hulls, each customized for its owner. This marks a major shift for Aquila, which until now has only produced production boats from 28 to 54 feet.
“We sell the 70 all over the world. It’s a different type of clientele,” Raas says. “They have different specifics that they’re looking for, whether it’s a family owner-operated boat or if they’ve got a captain and crew on board, or just a captain full time, or if they’re looking to put it into a charter fleet. There are a lot of different options that can be selected on the 70, whether you want galley up, galley down, three, four, five, or six staterooms.”
The configuration of Hull No. 1 certainly appeals to the American market. It seems tailor-made for cruising the Bahamas with its flybridge open to the temperate elements and a congenial layout where owners and crew can co-exist. All guests are treated like VIPs, accommodated in two generous cabins—one in each hull—with queen berths that face the large windows. The starboard hull aft also houses something any experienced boater will appreciate: a utility room with pantry, laundry facilities, workspace, and dayhead. If an owner desired an extra guest cabin or galley below, this is where it would go. Aft in the port hull, the crew quarters with bunks, ensuite, and a petite navigation desk, are accessed via a separate entrance from the cockpit. The level of finish makes it also suitable for guests.
While these eminently livable accommodations hog the spotlight, interestingly, they are not the yacht’s best quality. “We wanted to focus on speed and efficiency, which is really one of the hallmarks of the Aquila 70,” says Raas. Thanks to a careful choice of interior materials that keep her weight down and a tank-tested catamaran design, she tops out at close to 29 knots. At a 24-knot cruise, the catamaran burns 77 gallons per hour, a stark savings over an equivalent length monohull, which can run twice that. Pare it down to 11-and-a-half knots and you’re looking at sipping about 30 gallons per hour—and that’s total, between both 1,000-horsepower Volvo Penta D13 engines.
Aquila is relatively new on the boat scene. Formed in a partnership between MarineMax and Sino Eagle Group, an advanced composites specialist in Hangzhou, China, Aquila Power Catamarans only entered the market nine years ago, but has quickly developed a reputation for quality builds. “[The 70] has carbon fiber bulkheads so everything is carbon resin infused in terms of the bulkhead, and the hull of the boat is vinylester resin infused, a step above polyester resin infusion,” says Raas. “It’s a harder product to work with but for longevity and durability, the boat is going to perform and stand up much longer than some of our counterparts just because of the quality of the resins that are being done.”
She’s also quiet. The engine rooms (one in each hull) are under the cockpit, accessed from a watertight door aft in each hull, so the machinery’s rumble doesn’t resonate to the salon. Guests inside won’t hear or feel close to anything underway. In fact, Charlie Helgeson, a broker with MarineMax, says that’s the selling point when he gets prospective clients off the dock and on the water. “It’s one thing to just hear a sales professional talk about how great the boat performs, but when you get this boat out there, what’s most impressive is how quiet it is,” he says.
The engine rooms can also be accessed via gas-hinged hatches in the deck, allowing for maintenance work without anyone tramping through the interior. It’s one of many examples of thoughtful design. Helgeson points out more: the easily accessible AC breaker panel in the utility room overhead and even the way the televisions in the guest cabin overheads don’t stop at 90 degrees when they swing down, instead reclining to 100 degrees for the best viewing angle from the berth.
The brains of the boat, as Raas describes it, is the C-Zone system. From a touchscreen on the interior or flybridge helm, the user can intuitively control everything from lighting, electronics, and cameras to pumps, generators, and black water valves. It can also be linked wirelessly with an iPad or iPhone for full control of the systems from anywhere on board.
The user-friendliness extends to the tender stowage aft. A remote-controlled platform fitted between the hulls lowers on an incline to deploy or recover a custom 14-foot catamaran dinghy. “It’s a one-person operation. You don’t have to mess with cranes,” Raas says.
It’s hard to believe, given the 70- by 27-foot dimensions, but parking the big boat is another easy operation, thanks to wing systems with Volvo joysticks that integrate the hydraulic bow thruster, props, and rudders.
As I spoke with Raas, Hull No. 3 was in build for a client and he anticipated the fourth sold hull to get underway shortly, as soon as the engineering work was done for its unique layout. It shows the lengths the team is willing to go to customize each 70, which is the first in Aquila’s “Luxury” division and a sign of the good things to come from the brand.
“Our production boats are great, but for me, it’s the 70. She’s definitely a step up for Aquila heading in the direction where we want to be headed,” says Raas. “Overall, she’s a great boat.”
Perfect for extreme offshore adventures, fishing outings, and family fun.
The challenging waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands has given rise to a tested and proven hull design that provides the new Aquila 28 Molokai a better air cushion and reduced hull noise when out in the ocean.
Designer Kirk Clark, who has spent 30 years building power catamarans on the island of Molokai, joined with multihull pioneer Lex Raas to refine the hull design and establish Aquila Power Catamarans. The 28 Molokai is the first model in Aquila’s new Offshore segment in which the company’s expertise in big boat construction is brought to a smaller platform. The advantage is the new model has all the strength, fuel efficiency, reliability, and durability known with the larger Aquila models in their Sport, Yacht, and Luxury classes.
Built with 100 percent vinylester resin infusion throughout, there is no wood used in the boat’s construction, including the supports for the high-tech composite hardtop made to handle larger seas. The hulls are spaced wide apart to give better stability and handling (and more comfort), while the center console with a wraparound glass windshield offers a 360-degree view with protection from the elements.
The helm dash is large enough for two multifunction displays, the Mercury engine monitoring display, system push-button controls, and a Fusion sound system unit. Primarily designed as a fishing platform, the Pro Comfort Package includes side bow seating, Kingfish rod holders, underwater lights, blue LED under gunwale deck lighting, and a Lumitec razor spotlight with options for additional gunwale rod holders as well as engines. There are four electronics packages from no electronics (for custom systems) to two 12-inch Axiom screens, transducers, and VHF.
Aquila offers two layouts for the 28, the center console and the cuddy. The cuddy version is designed as a semi-pilot house for cooler climates or commercial fisherman running six-pack charters. Center consoles are popular throughout the U.S. and because of its wide, stable characteristics, the Aquila 28 is well-suited for all water sports activities. Whether fishing, diving, towing the tube, hanging at the sandbar, or cruising to a dockside restaurant, the Aquila 28 Molokai Power Catamaran is a versatile boat adaptable to your boating lifestyle. aquilaboats.com
