Aquila Energy Catamarans has been rising its powercat vary quicker than its rivals, and even quicker than most typical monohull makers.
Final autumn, it launched the 50 Yacht inboard flybridge and at this 12 months’s Miami Worldwide Boat Present in February, it debuted the 42 Coupe and 46 Coupe, the primary fashions from its latest sequence. Yacht Type had an opportunity to see the 46 Coupe in Miami, then received a a lot nearer take a look at the small print at its house base in St Petersburg, Florida.
Aquila powercats are constructed by Sino Eagle Yachts in Hangzhou, China, and embody 28-70ft fashions throughout Offshore, Sport, Yacht and Luxurious traces – and now additionally the Coupe sequence.
Aquila just lately appointed Benoit Moreau as its Regional Gross sales Director for Asia-Pacific to strengthen its presence throughout the area and assist the corporate’s rising seller community, which incorporates Marine Italia in Hong Kong and Singapore, and Primus Marine in Thailand.
In April, Aquila and Marine Italia celebrated the 46 Coupe’s victory within the Energy Catamarans Below 15m class at Yacht Type Awards 2025, earlier than staging the Asia debut of the 50 Yacht flybridge mannequin on the Singapore Yachting Competition.
The 46 Coupe is a contemporary design for Aquila – an extended, sporty hull with a hardtop that covers about two-thirds of the boat, with tinted black home windows on the principle deck. It has an identical set of home windows alongside the hull line that provides to the boat’s fast-running look – very a lot not like the standard, boxy-looking hulls on most massive powercats.
The Coupe was born after Aquila seen a number of traits with its different traces. “About 70 per cent of the brand new homeowners for our 36 Sport wished both foiling or cruising packages,” stated Alain Raas, Aquila’s World Model Director. “That quantity made us take a step again and take a look at the market once more.”
The brand new Coupe sequence prompted a complete reset in design. “Our purchasers had been telling us they wished an enclosed saloon on a catamaran that provided the options of a yacht, however the versatility and velocity of an outboard-powered boat,” he stated.
The corporate responded by making a powercat with a big sporty inside with loads of pizzazz. On the surface, the 46 Coupe’s low-riding hull and slim 17ft 11in beam – in comparison with, say, the 25ft 6in beam on the 50 Yacht – not solely make the 46 Coupe sleeker than most flybridge rivals but additionally gave the boat a powerful high velocity.
Hull primary in St. Petersburg was outfitted with twin 600hp Mercury outboards, which ship a scorching high finish of over 43 knots.
The boat may also be accessible with 480hp Volvo Penta D6 DPI inboards. Their decrease horsepower can’t match the highest finish of the Mercury outboards, however the Volvos virtually double gasoline effectivity on the identical cruising velocity. The DPIs additionally supply advantages akin to creating extra open house on the aft swim platform, because the Volvos are under decks in separate engine compartments.
Aquila determined that the Coupe fashions would all have foils since they dramatically improve gasoline effectivity, typically by 30 per cent. “This carbon-fibre foil is extra superior than the one on our 36 Sport,” Raas stated. “It’s lighter with a proprietary vanguard that provides energy and rigidity.”
The brand new multihull additionally features a monocoque construction from a single mould that bolsters energy whereas lessening the general weight. The 2 Coupe fashions had been additionally designed across the rising demand for a climate-controlled inside.
Nonetheless, there’s additionally a fluidity between the rear cockpit and aft a part of the inside, resulting from a big window that lifts to disclose a bar (with three outside stools) related to the interior galley. The facet door additionally opens to the very edge, so the barrier between in and out disappears if an proprietor desires alfresco residing.
The rear dinette inside has a desk that lowers into the ground, whereas throughout from it, the beneficiant galley with a fridge, microwave and convection range, and loads of counter house, assist so as to add to the boat’s sense of wide-open house. The darkish inside wooden panelling provides the inside a residential look.
Maybe the inside’s coolest options are the three pilot seats within the central helm space (versus a typical helm structure ahead in opposition to the windshield), positioned excessive for good visibility of the water, with an enormous sunroof above.
The helm has massive screens with readouts from totally different electronics, whereas the fashionable Gussi steering wheel affords a take a look at helms of the long run, together with push-button controls under the wheel that permit the helmsperson to make tweaks with out taking their eyes off the water.
The inside is outlined by delicate curves and glorious pure mild, because of the massive home windows. The design staff additionally added recessed LED lighting that may change colors and moods, relying on what kind of impact the proprietor desires.
The grasp cabin (above) to starboard; the visitor cabin (under) to port
The starboard grasp stateroom, with its en-suite and glassed-in bathe, has massive facet home windows for glorious water views. The smaller – however not a lot smaller – visitor stateroom is positioned to port.
One of many highlights of this boat is the centreline door out to the bow space that lifts on pneumatic hoists, permitting entry to the foredeck. Aquila made the bulwarks excessive to make it a haven for a bunch, together with kids, to maneuver round safely, even whereas the boat is operating.
The strict can also be usable. Since Mercury powerheads don’t flip like different outboards, Aquila had extra usable house to play with. The swim platform has a davit system to launch and retrieve a Sea-Doo Spark in addition to a RIB tender. This boat additionally had a Kenyon induction grill and fridge for enhancing outside residing, and lithium batteries for emissions-free electrical cruising for restricted intervals.
The sum of those totally different components will lengthen the boating seasons in a number of methods, stated Raas. “You possibly can have an extended season in colder climes and in areas of the world which can be getting hotter summers.”
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This text was first seen on YachtStyle.com.
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