2022 Aquila 28 Molokai review

Aquila Power Catamarans, the brand behind the new 2022 Aquila 28 Molokai, is a world leading manufacturer of luxury powered catamarans and motoryachts. This progressive company is just 10 years old, established in 2012 by a consortium led by the US retailing group, MarineMax.

Aquila Power Catamarans' boats are designed in the US and Europe, and made by the Chinese Sino Eagle Group in a state-of-the-art facility in Hangzhou, China.

Over the past decade, Aquila has established a worldwide dealer network and grown its boat range to seven different models stretching between 9.5 metres and 22 metres in length.

The Aquila flagship is the shaft drive diesel-powered Aquila 70 Luxury flybridge motoryacht.

The entry model, and the subject of this review, is the newly launched, outboard powered Aquila 28 Molokai centre console.

The Aquila 28 Molokai is a versatile, wide beam fishing/sports boat with power provided by twin 150hp or 200hp Mercury four-stroke outboard engines.

Aquila Boats Australia has Aquila 28 Molokai packages starting at $367,740. This price includes a pair of 150hp Mercury extra-longshaft (25-inch) four-stroke outboard engines with Smartcraft digital instrumentation, as well as a vast inventory of standard features.

Most importantly, the dual-width centre console with port-side offset helm station is standard. So too is the surrounding toughened glass windshield with wiper, the front console change-room/head compartment, and the overhead fibreglass hardtop with dedicated radar, antenna and spotlight mounting locations.  

Also included is the foredeck anchor well and storage lockers; pull-out transom jump seats; transom walk-through door, platform and swim ladder; multiple sub-floor kill tanks and storage compartments; deluxe lean-seat helm box with tackle drawers; massive 113-litre live well; lean-seat bait board and sink with freshwater tap; various rod holders, cup holders and rod storage racks; moulded one-piece deck and cockpit liner with non-slip surface; three AGM batteries; two 750 gallon-an-hour bilge pumps; three USB outlets; coaming bolster padding throughout; freshwater transom shower; 60-litre water tank; recessed coaming rails, Fusion marine audio; and lots more.

Our test boat package was fully kitted with the larger 200hp Mercury outboard engines – in white – along with Aquila's Pro Comfort Upgrade package that includes cushions to the bow seating area; removable bow table; gunwale and underwater LED lighting; spotlight; pump-out toilet; hardtop Kingfisher rod holders; and a three-bank battery charger.

Optional electronics gear included a Raymarine 12 Axiom Pro S multifunction display, along with a Raymarine Ray53 VHF radio.

With the larger outboard engines and extra kit, the Aquila 28 Molokai test boat has a new boat package price of $422,297.

The Aquila 28 Molokai is based on a design by Hawaiian naval architect and powered cat expert Kirk Clark. The Molokai's wide beam, wave-slicing hull shape is said to be inspired by Hawaiian watercraft and catamarans which are used to cross the turbulent Pacific Ocean waters between the islands of Hawaii.

The Aquila's 2.96-metre-wide beam maximises stability, whilst the low profile, yet high tunnel catamaran configuration allows the boat to crest the wave chop, riding on a cushion of air trapped between the sponsons.

Yes, this does sound like marketing hype. But having now tested this boat in some rough water offshore, I can vouch for its excellent performance.

The hull does feel well supported and cushioned underway, particularly when running into a head sea at speed with the oncoming breeze aerating the tunnel and lifting the boat. This air cushion allows the boat to skip across the tops of waves, smoothing out the ride.

Of course, the Molokai's 9.0-metre waterline length and knife-sharp sponsons also contribute significantly to providing ride comfort.

Similar to the larger Aquila models, the Aquila 28 Molokai is also built and finished to a very high standard. The boat is made from fibreglass and fibreglass composite materials.

There is no wood used in the build, and all structural components (hull, deck, cockpit floor, bulkheads) are vacuum infused with vinyl ester resin to provide strength and resistance to osmosis.

The Aquila 28 Molokai is a big, rectangular catamaran with a centre console helm configuration and a flat, single level deck/cockpit.

There are living spaces at the bow and the stern, though the aft cockpit and transom is geared more to fishing than socialising.

The bow compartment is nicely configured for entertaining, thanks to the moulded fibreglass U-shaped seating/storage area.

The moulded front seats are topped with removable clip-on vinyl upholstered cushions. Beneath them, sturdy fibreglass hatch lids open up to reveal three large, insulated storage bins.

The centre bin is held open with a gas-strut support, while the two outer storage compartments have tough-looking 316 grade stainless steel hinge/brackets which adjust to hold the hatch lids in the open position.  

There's provision for an optional cocktail/drinks table, while deck-level recessed coaming rails and padded bolster back-rests completely encircle the front deck area.

The two bow side seats also convert into front-facing chaise lounges with the addition of a drop-down, removable headrest.

There's also a front-facing, two-person cushioned seat in front of the console, behind which is the console head compartment.

The bow of the boat is set up mostly for socialising, but anglers will appreciate the ability to remove the front seat cushions to create a short casting platform.

In calm weather you can also stand right up on the front deck to fish over the bow. The foredeck is flat and there are no tripping hazards, as pop-up cleats are fitted.

As noted, the head compartment is accessed from the front of the centre console. A large hatch/door opens out from left to right (complete with the front bench seat) to reveal a wide and roomy change room and head compartment.

The head compartment door is held open with a gas-strut support so you can walk right inside. Aquila has even surfaced the floor with grippy SeaDek foam rubber so you won't slip over.

There isn't quite enough headroom to stand upright in the head compartment, but it's still remarkably spacious.

Our test boat was optioned with a dockside pump-out toilet.

The head compartment is also used to provide access to the back of the helm fascia for servicing/installing electronics, and for stowing the bow table, lift-out transom door, etc.

The Aquila's helm station has a modern, practical design featuring a dual-width centre console and hardtop with a three-piece front glass windshield, which is open at the top to ventilate the helm.

There's a full-width glass fascia panel with space for two 12-inch multifunction displays, a Mercury VesselView engine display, as well as a double switch panel with attractive push-button alloy switches with blue-coloured backlights.

As part of the Coastal Navigation Package, our test boat was optioned with a Raymarine 12 Axiom Pro S multifunction display, along with a Raymarine VHF radio. The latter was secured overhead in a flush panel beneath the hardtop.

Above the fascia there is a foam rubber-surfaced recess for stowing loose items, along with a built-in compass.

Beneath the fascia is the stainless steel, tilt-adjust steering wheel. It is situated on the port side with the binnacle throttle box mounted centrally. With this layout there is ample space for a passenger to stand or sit alongside the skipper.

Other features here include a pair of USB ports, glove box, cupholders, superbly positioned stainless steel grab rails, and a two-tier, foam rubber-surfaced footrest.

For the vertically challenged skipper, there's also a fold down platform that gains about 130mm of extra height for better sight lines over the bow.

The elevated helm platform is useful in smooth weather, and for dockside maneuvering, but offshore I preferred to stand on the main floor as I felt more secure leaning back against the helm lean seat.

In regard to the seating, Australian-delivery Molokais come with a deluxe leaning post set up with two extra-wide helm seats.

These armchair-like seats are super comfortable, but they are fixed in a position that makes it difficult to reach forward to the steering wheel and throttles.

Flip-up bolster seats mounted closer to the console would work better here.

In addition to incorporating the helm seats, the central leaning post has storage bins, pull-out drawers with Plano tackle trays, a freshwater sink beneath a bait cutting board, cup holders, and a huge, aft-facing 113-litre live well

The live well has a sky blue finish, gasketed clear hatch lid, and a perfect semi-circular interior shape to keep your baits alive and lively all day.

The leaning post is also encircled by a superb stainless steel grab rail. In rough weather this rail will get a lot of use as it is perfectly positioned.

Beneath the single-level self-draining deck there are four huge underfloor storage bins. The two front bins incorporate a full-length horizontal rod rack. The aft bins are insulated kill tanks with macerators and overboard pump-out.

Four additional floor hatches provide access to the two 285-litre stainless steel fuel tanks along with the bilge compartments for each hull sponson.

In the aft cockpit there is ample fishing room for three or four anglers. There is only a metre or so of space behind the helm leaning post, but the aft cockpit is 2.76 metres wide, which enlarges this deck space nicely.

Of course, anglers can fish a full 360 degrees around the Molokai thanks to the centre console helm station, the single-level deck, and the 650mm high, extra wide side coamings with full coaming bolster padding encircling the interior.

Other notable features include eight flush coaming rod holders, gunwale horizontal rod racks, six rod holders across the transom, hardtop rocket launcher, transom corner fold-out jump seats, and a walk-through transom with boarding platform and ladder.

The Aquila 28 Molokai is available with two Mercury outboard power options. The standard boat comes with a pair of Mercury's evergreen four-cylinder 150hp four-stroke outboard engines for a top speed in the range of 34 to 35 knots.

To make the most of the Molokai's excellent handling and ride, however, I reckon the best power option is the upgrade to twin 200hp Mercury V6 extra-longshaft (25-inch) outboard engines.

The Aquila 28 Molokai really gets up and boogies with the bigger engines, dancing across the wave tops offshore at speeds up to 41.5 knots.

You don't need to go that quickly of course, but it's great fun, and this high-speed and terrific performance will get you out to the wide offshore fishing grounds pronto.

I love a good powered catamaran, and the Aquila 28 Molokai is a great one. The high-tunnel hull works beautifully at sea, trapping air between the sponsons to provide a soft, cushioned ride.

The hull is relatively lightweight as well, which allows the boat to maximise the tunnel cushioning effect for the best possible performance.

As with most powered catamarans, I suspect adding weight will dull the ride and performance, so you need to think carefully before adding heavy stuff such as tuna towers and game chairs to this boat.

Keep a powered cat light and agile and it will outperform most comparable monohull craft at sea.

The Aquila does not have a wavebreaker in the tunnel, and this does result in some mild tunnel slap when trolling into a head sea. However, it is the absence of the wavebreaker here that helps the tunnel to trap air for the cushioning effect underway.

I was not able to view the Molokai hull out of the water, but the sponsons clearly have loads of buoyancy aft because the hull glides easily, almost imperceptibly onto the plane at around 2200rpm; the hull is clearly efficient, easily driven, and economical.

Up at the bow, the sponsons are knife-sharp to cut through the water at low planing speeds. The front section of each hull is miles out of the water at high speed, but throttling back or trimming the bow down does present the sharp entry to the chop.

That said, similar to most cats, the Aquila likes to run bow high, skipping from wave top to wave top with the wind flooding into the tunnel.

At rest the Aquila 28 Molokai is wonderfully stable. At speed it is both stable and well mannered.

Through the turns the hull sits flat with a slight, but not untoward outward lean. It feels well balanced, safe, secure throughout.

In blustery beam sea conditions you will take a bit of spray over the front quarter, but it is drier than many other powered cats I have driven.

Performance*

REVS    SPEED                          FUEL USE         RANGE

1000    5.6kt (10.4km/h)         7.2L/h              421.2nm

1500    8.3kt (15.3km/h)         12.1L/h            371.4nm

2000    10.6kt (19.6km/h)       19.1L/h            300.5nm

2500    15.5kt (28.7km/h)       24.1L/h            348.3nm

3000    19.5kt (36.1km/h)       34.3L/h            307.8nm

3500    24.7kt (45.7km/h)       47.4L/h            282.2nm

4000    28.6kt (52.9km/h)       63.0L/h            245.8nm

4500    32.4kt (60.0km/h)       77.0L/h            227.8nm

5000    37.3kt (69.0km/h)       106.6L/h          189.5nm

5500    40.5kt (74.9km/h)       129.2L/h          169.7nm

5650    41.5kt (76.8km/h)       132.2L/h          170.0nm

*Both engines
Range on 95% of the 570L fuel supply at 2500rpm: 348.3nm

The Aquila 28 Molokai centre console represents something of a departure from Aquila's traditional flybridge motor cruising powered catamarans, but it is a welcome one. I'd like to see more craft like the test rig.

There is also a cuddy cabin version of the 28 Molokai, and Aquila has teased a much larger bluewater centre console model on its website, but I hope the company also considers a smaller model. A narrower, lighter, trailerable version of the test boat would be epic.

That said, the Aquila 28 Molokai is the perfect size for many fishermen and family boaters. Keep it dry-stacked at a marina, and it can be readied quickly to hit the water for a day out bluewater fishing and/or family day cruising.

Specifications
Model: Aquila 28 Molokai
Length overall: 9.38m
Hull length: 8.6m
Beam: 2.96m
Draft: 340mm (engines up)
Deadrise: n/a
Weight (dry) with engines: 2,797kg (2 x Merc 150s)
Maximum power: 2 x 200hp
Engines as tested: Dual Mercury 200hp V6 four-stroke outboards
Fuel: 2 x 285L
Freshwater: 60L
Live well capacity: 113L
Passengers: 10

Priced from: $367,740 including a pair of Mercury 150hp extra-longshaft (25") four-stroke outboard engines with Smartcraft digital instrumentation.

Price as tested: $422,297 including dual white-coloured Mercury 200hp V6 four-stroke outboard engines, a Raymarine 12 Axiom Pro S multi-function display, Raymarine Ray53 VHF radio, and the Aquila Pro Comfort Pack – which adds cushions to the bow seating area; removable bow table; gunwale and underwater LED lighting; spot light; pump-out toilet; 2 x hardtop Kingfisher rod holders; and a three-bank battery charger.

Supplied by: www.aquilaboats.com.au