Aquila 44: Power Catamaran Review

The worldwide enthusiasm for sail cruising catamarans is now spilling into purpose-designed powercats. One craft that really illustrates the point is the Aquila 44, a genuine motor cat from the keels up.

OVERVIEW
- Chinese made and American designed
Originally developed by the MarineMax US marine group, the Aquila 44 is a
versatile cruising craft that can be a private cruiser, self-drive
charter or a skippered charter boat. You can order her also in a
four-cabin
version to maximise charter returns.

The mid-range model of the three Aquila models including the 38/44/48 is built by well-respected Sino Eagle Yacht Group in China. The hulls have hard chines and V-bottoms so they can plane at higher speeds.

The Aquila 44 runs big turbo diesels so it can operate at higher speeds than typical cats. Despite upgraded Volvo D4 300hp models over the 225hp standard engines, it's not massive power in the normal motor-boat sense so she's very economical to cruise. Barrier Reef, here we come!

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- A US-designed powercat with survey options
The finish on the test boat was very good. The cherry wood timber
panelling was matched by the attractive cream dinette upholstery.
The double stainless steel sink and black Corian benches are a top
feature of the galley, as is the electric convection microwave oven.

The
big picture windows in the topsides give extra light in the sleeping
cabins. But on summer nights the best entertaining spot is the upstairs
lounge/dining table with optional BBQ.

The massive width of the
Aquila ensures you can carry a good-sized RIB tender on davits across
the transom. So you can go ashore quickly without needing to book into
an expensive marina.

Our test boat also had the optional reverse-cycle air-conditioning fitted with separate controls in each cabin.

Base price starts around $1,038,220, but the test boat was commissioned for commercial work and had some extras over and above the usual rec spec to meet survey, plus the bigger Volvo D4 300hp engines. It was a $1,2540,000 (ex-GST) boat.

HULL AND ENGINEERING
- Water-ballasted at rest for even greater stability
A key design feature is bulb bows on each hull. Combined with extended
transom pods this makes the Aquila ride very level and helps reduce hydrodynamic drag and lower fuel consumption. Also self-flooding water
ballast tanks aft help keep her very stable at slow speed and at rest.

Water tankage is better than average at 680-litres, but you might need a water-maker as well for serious long-range cruising.

Construction is (vinylester) resin infusion for the hull, deck and bulkheads for high strength and stiffness, while the engines have underwater exhausts, vee drives, and thought has gone into servicing room throughout.

Following the Sydney Boat Show launch, I hopped aboard the Aquila 44  before she headed back home to Queensland. It wasn't a great day for testing — cold, windy and occasional showers — however, on the plus side, it was a perfect opportunity to test the cat in rough seas.

You come aboard via spacious transom steps into a big, spacious rear
cockpit with large rear lounge. There are bar-stools and a bar on the
portside with opening window into the rear galley. Having the galley aft
in the saloon means drinks or food can be served directly to guests in
the cockpit area, or forward to the large U-shaped dinette in the
saloon.

Apart from a huge saloon/galley
there's a massive owner's suite spread across the front end of the boat
with king-size island berth and spacious bathroom on the port side.
There's also a walk-in wardrobe study/dressing room/office to starboard.

The expansive living space of the saloon-cum-galley is impressive and includes a dedicated entertainment centre with wine cooler and remote-controlled retractable TV. There's also a separate navigation station aft with double shelf electric fridge/freezer.

A for'ard passageway gives you direct access to that amazing owner's suite. You go down a few steps into the en-suite bathroom, which has a separate shower stall with teak floor grate and a teak seat. Toilets throughout the boat are all freshwater electric macerators.

Back in the saloon, passageways lead down into the two hulls where there's a queen-berth guest cab and toilet/shower compartment each side. One of these shower/toilet compartments could convert to a laundry if desired.

In these conditions the
Aquila 44 was right at home riding the waves nicely and sitting very
level most of the time. She rode along comfortably at 17 knots using her
tunnel with central wave-piercer to cushion the bumps.

It was a very
impressive performance and makes you confident about doing longer
offshore trips.

Whilst some aspects of the Aquila reminds you of
the smaller outboard-powered cats, she actually takes her cue from modern
commercial cats (fast ferries etc). The hull/tunnel configuration
allows her to operate equally well at slow displacement speed,
semi-displacement or plane-speeds.   

On the relatively flatter water
of the harbour she got along as fast as you want for harbour touring —
21-22 knots. Interestingly performance actually improves with the fresh
wind and wave-chop.

The island helm station on the bridge allows
plenty of seating around and behind for guests. Here you have excellent
360-degree vision and nice steering control via hydraulic steering to
twin skeg rudders.

You can add a rear camera to enhance your views back aft when docking, or possibly Yacht Controller docking remote or cockpit controls, while forward access down a central walkway from the flybridge leads straight to the foredeck. It's certainly a bonus if you are
short-handed, or operating the boat all on your own.

You can synchro the twin diesel throttles or
work them independently to turn the boat as needed. No bow thrusters were
fitted on the assumption the wide-spaced engines will deliver
close-quarter control.

While the general market trend in motor
cruisers is to one-level steering, the beauty of the elevated Aquila helm
position is you have a better view for docking, or if navigating
through Queensland reefs.

On the test day we were protected from
the rain by the optional fibreglass hardtop and optional zip-up vinyl
clears. A Raymarine navigation display let us set courses on the big LCD
chartplotter without needing to go below.

Another great feature
of the bridge is direct stairway access to the foredeck. From here you
can quickly walk to the bows, or down to the stern via the rear
stairwell to the cockpit. It's certainly a bonus if you are
short-handed, or operating the boat all on your own.

Aquila delivers all those other cat benefits like high stability, roomy
decks and the ability to moor in shallow waters. No wonder quite a few
lookers at the 2016 Sydney Boat Show debut were ex-sailing types.

Now
operating as a charter boat in the Whitsundays with Cumberland Yacht Charters, the Aquila 44 will see
even more traffic aboard. But the powercat has the space to handle a
crowd and class-leading access to all its deck living areas.

The size of the Aquila 44 is apparent
alongside the dock. She is a seriously big craft and definitely suitable
for permanent onboard living, especially with that full-beam forward stateroom with en suite and office. Beam me up and let's head north.

LIKES
>> Fuel economy and long cruising range
>> Massive size owner's stateroom
>> Rear galley and cockpit bar

NOT SO MUCH
>> Front bridge door needs better water/wind sealing
>> Lacks slotted glass/bottle racks in galley area
>> Low step across saloon floor can annoy 

Supplied by:
Multihull Central
Rozelle Bay Sydney
Phone 02 9810 5014 or email info@multihullcentral.com
See www.multihullcentral.com.