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alt="Aquila driving popularity of powercats"/>
Aquila, co-founded by MarineMax and Sino Eagle in 2012, has played an enormous role in growing the popularity of powercats and celebrates its 10th anniversary with a strong portfolio of six high-performance models from 28-70ft, plus two more models coming soon.
Its production facility now employs about 450 staff and has grown to almost 100,000sqm, with three large production centres and a three-storey office building, while facilities include a private marina where testing takes place.
“Production and sales remain strong as Aquila continues as the world’s number one power catamaran manufacturer,” says Alain Raas, Aquila’s Brand Manager. “Aquila’s success has been noticed throughout the boating industry. We’re excited to see tremendous growth in the power catamaran market as it pushes our design and development teams to maintain our market-leading status.”
An Aquila 54 Yacht has been sold to Thailand by Simpson Marine
The brand’s rapid rise to become a market leader has been spearheaded by the remarkable ongoing sales of the 44 Yacht and 36 Sport. The 44 Yacht has now totalled 180 orders, making her one of the world’s most successful flybridge powercats since she premiered in 2014.
The 36 Sport, new in 2017, was the brand’s first outboard model and has about 200 orders, which Aquila says make it the world’s most successful outboard powercat cruiser. Aquila’s Hydro Glide Foil System has proved an increasingly popular option on the 36 Sport and has been chosen for about one in three orders in 2021 and 2022. Shaped like an upside-down ‘T’, the foil links the two hull bottoms forward of the engines and improves efficiency by 30-35 per cent, reducing emissions, fuel costs and even engine sizes.
After debuting the 32 Sport in 2019, Aquila premiered a new version in 2021 as it expanded its product range at both ends of the size spectrum, most notably with the fast-selling 54 Yacht and the flagship, semi-custom 70 Luxury.
A customised version of Aquila’s flagship 70 Luxury has been sold to Indonesia by Simpson Marine
“Both the Aquila 54 Yacht and 70 Luxury have had unprecedented success since coming to market in early 2021,” Raas says. “Both models are highly sought after globally, with sold units on order for the next 24 months.”
Simpson Marine has represented Aquila since 2018 and ‘big cat’ sales include a 54 Yacht to Thailand and 70 Luxury to Indonesia, with both hulls arriving this year. The 70 Luxury for Indonesia features custom-designed solar-panel coverage and a custom Lithium battery pack.
Although speed and performance are among Aquila’s selling points, the builder offers solar panels as an option on its Yacht and Luxury models, and is researching electric and hybrid power and propulsion systems.
Asia’s first Aquila 28 Molokai, a model that made its world premiere at the Miami show in February
Aquila’s newest model is the 28 Molokai, the first in its Offshore class. The first unit in Asia was sold in Malaysia after showings in Port Dickson and Penang in December, while further units have been ordered for Singapore and Hong Kong. The Offshore series is set to be expanded by the 47 Molokai due in early 2023.
Aquila is also developing the 41 Yacht, which could debut at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in October or the Miami International Boat Show in February 2023, with the brand planning to also display its existing six models at both events. A smaller option to the existing 44 and 54 Yacht models, the 41 is also a flybridge model and features naval architecture by French studio VPLP.
The design includes signature Aquila features like the aft cockpit bar with flip-up window, flybridge steps to the foredeck and bulbous bows, along with wide transoms that double as swim platforms and feature the brand’s slide-out ladder system. The 41 also features “extra-large” hull windows and two or three cabins plus a smaller flexible cabin for kids, crew or storage.
The 41 Yacht features many of classic Aquila features
It’s another exciting step from a brand that not only has made powercats more popular within the multihull sector but helped them play a larger part in the overall motor yacht market.
Jean Raas of Sino Eagle says: “The catamaran sector continues to grow globally around the world. As powercats progress and compete more living space, we’ll see more growth. And Aquila will continue to be at the forefront as we introduce more models within our line-up.”
French brand Bali is a relative newcomer to the powercat market, having primarily focused on sailing catamarans since it was created in 2014 by Olivier Poncin, owner of the Catana catamaran shipyard founded in 1984.
Bali entered the powercat sector with the 4.3 MY
Headquartered in Canet-en-Roussillon, Bali joined the motor yacht market in 2019 with the premiere of the Lasta-designed 4.3 MY at the International Multihull Show in La Grande Motte. The model has the brand’s signature features such as the solid foredeck and the ‘Bali door’ that lifts to completely open the saloon to the outside.
Bali also has a second motor yacht, the slightly smaller Catspace MY, which features a large flybridge that extends as far back as the aft end of the hull. Layouts include a three-cabin version with an owner’s suite in the port hull or four en-suite cabins with additional bunks available in each of the forward rooms, for 10 berths.
Leen-Trimarans shipped hull one of the Leen 56 to Alaska
Meanwhile, Leen Trimarans has had a busy period as the La Rochelle builder develops its range of motorised trawler trimarans featuring Pierre Frutschi’s exterior and interior design, and naval architecture by Bernard Nivelt.
The shipyard recently delivered hull one of its flagship Leen 72 before the owner embarked on a voyage from France to the US east coast via Scotland, Iceland, Greenland and Canada.
The tri-hulled motor yacht will exhibit at the United States Powerboat Show in Annapolis from October 6-9. Earlier this year, Leen shipped hull one of the hybrid-powered Leen 56 for an American client from La Rochelle to Alaska, with hull two completed soon after.
The Leen 50 is an upcoming addition to the 56 and flagship 72
Leen is also developing the entry-level Leen 50, with the first units scheduled to launch in late 2023. With a 26ft beam, the layout includes a master with en-suite on the starboard side of the main deck, guest cabins fore and aft in the central hull, and optional single berths in the outer hulls. The 50-footer carries 3,500 litres of fuel for a range of about 1,500nm at 9 knots.
Along with sister brand Neel (sailing trimarans), Leen is represented in selected Asia-Pacific markets by Multihull Solutions, which represents multiple brands including ILIAD Catamarans. More information can be found in the Multihull Solutions chapter.
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