I’m telling you right now, the new Aquila 50 Yacht is a boat that’s destined to change the way we think about powerboating. Elegant, extraordinarily robust, and resolutely designed to offer space, it sails sublimely and possesses all the qualities to convince us to rethink our way of experiencing the sea.
But let’s go in order and discover the reasons behind such claims.
Aquila 50 Yacht: space, the final frontier
The new Aquila 50 Yacht isn’t just big, it’s truly immense! With a length of 16 meters (over 52 feet) and a beam of almost 8 meters, she offers surfaces that are simply unimaginable, not only for monohulls, but also for catamarans of the same length.
These dimensions have been achieved by the shipyard without compromising a design which, on the contrary, manages to be very graceful and elegant, light years ahead of those catamarans which, unfortunately, always end up looking like a sailing catamaran that has lost its mast. The Aquila 50 Yacht, on the other hand, has an identity of its own that gives it the typical charm of an “Explorer Yacht”, a characteristic which, as you will see, is not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional.
For all these reasons, and for what you’ll read in a moment, I believe the Aquila 50 Yacht today represents the pinnacle of motor catamaran evolution.
Aquila 50 Yacht – The main deck
Stepping aboard the Aquila 50 Yacht, one is immediately greeted by a large living space which, without architectural barriers, extends in continuity from the outside dinette to spill out onto the interior of the main deck. A very interesting feature is the bar overlooking the galley inside, which, with its opening window and mirror underneath, extends the natural limits of the boat beyond its physical boundaries.
Continuing inside, we find ourselves immersed in a huge open-plan living room where, to the left, is the large L-shaped galley, the companionway to the left hull, and a dining area furnished with a U-shaped sofa capable of seating 8-10 guests. On the right are the large double refrigerator, large cupboards offering incredible storage capacity, the companionway to the right hull, and a double sofa.
The whole space has clearly been designed with great attention to detail: by simply closing the bar window and the entrance gate, it transforms from a huge living space into a comfortable, enclosed room, protected from the elements or, depending on the outside temperature, air-conditioned to cope with the hottest climates.
Under the main deck floor, thanks to its depth, are installed the batteries and some on-board systems, but given the dimensions and level of finish of this space, this huge storage area is certainly usable to store suitcases, food, and many other things.
Aquila 50 Yacht – Interior
It’s hard not to be enchanted by the owner’s cabin of the Aquila 50 Yacht, which is unquestionably not just a cabin but a true private apartment, taking advantage of the maximum width to create a loft of over 20 square meters. Dimensions of this kind are found only on superyachts.
The King Size bed is centrally positioned, equipped with bedside tables, and takes advantage of the windows overlooking the forward saloon to flood the entire room with light, which already benefits from the large side windows offering unobstructed views of the outside.
To starboard of the bed is a large L-shaped sofa facing an elegant work/woodworking table. This area also opens onto a vast dressing room, which not only allows long evening gowns to be hung, but also offers considerable space for storing all the necessities for long stays on board.
On the left, there’s a double shower which, closed by a glass door, lets in light from the corresponding window. The bathroom cabinet is fitted with double sinks and is enhanced by a large number of cupboards and closets, considerably increasing storage space. The toilet room is enclosed and uses the left bow so as not to encroach on this incredible apartment entirely dedicated to the owner.
The other cabins of the Aquila 50 Yacht can be configured according to the owner’s choice, drawing on the many variants offered by the shipyard. You can opt for the version with 3 cabins and technical compartment, or the version with 4 cabins + 2 crew cabins.
The 3-cabin version + technical room is my favorite. The two VIP cabins are very spacious and welcoming, and the technical compartment can accommodate an office and a laundry room with dryer.
An extraordinary bow
The bow of the new Aquila 50 Yacht is not only large, it also functionally adds another livable deck to the yacht. Here, every inch of space has been exploited, from the extra-wide gangways leading to this area, to the two ends of the bow featuring armchairs that are as comfortable as they are spectacular when underway.
At the center of this huge area (measuring over 30 square metres) is a vast saloon featuring a five-metre sofa at the extreme bow, which, facing a first row of seats, actually forms a second large outdoor dinette. A folding table and shade cloths can be added to transform this space into the most airy dining area on the boat.
Behind the first row of seats is a second row whose backrests, when raised, transform these mattresses into four magnificent chaise longues. But if you want to enjoy the sun, simply lower all the backrests in this area to create two enormous mattresses, ready to accommodate a large number of people.
Aquila 50 Yacht – The Flybridge
The flybridge of the Aquila 50 Yacht is accessed both from the aft dinette and – a really clever solution – from the bow. In both cases, as soon as you enter this area, the wow effect dominates. The view of this infinite space (approx. 60 square metres), thanks to its elevated position and the total absence of architectural barriers, is quite simply extraordinary.
The aft section of the fly is dedicated to the large solarium and bar/kitchen, which extends linearly to starboard and also includes a large grill. In the center, there’s an L-shaped sofa and a folding book table, capable of accommodating up to 8 guests.
The bow of the flybridge is dedicated to navigation, and hosts two helm chairs with armrests in the center, while on either side of the cockpit there’s a forward-facing sofa on the left and another large chaise longue on the right. The steering console houses all the electronics required for navigation and manoeuvring. On board the Aquila 50 Yacht, visibility is always excellent, both across the bow and in all directions.
Aquila 50 Yacht – Sea trial
It’s a windy day in Clearwater, Florida. Unfortunately, we’re in the middle of two hurricanes that have hit this beautiful region. The Aquila 50 Yacht has already weathered one of them and, proving the solidity of her construction, she didn’t suffer a scratch.
The catamaran we’re about to try out is equipped with the intermediate engine option offered by the shipyard: a pair of Volvo D6 engines, each rated at 480 hp. Alternatively, we can opt for two 550 hp Yanmar engines, but as we shall see, the Aquila 50 Yacht doesn’t really need them.
We leave port with ease; the bow propellers are a really useful option and do their job very well. Sailing slowly, the feeling of stability is immense, and the small waves formed by the wind have no effect on the progress of this powerful boat.
Once out in the open sea, we immediately encounter a steep, difficult wave which, fueled by the strong wind, would turn sailing any other boat into a rather uncomfortable experience. We, on the other hand, sail along at 8 knots without any problems, rolling only slightly, in the greatest comfort.
At this speed, our emissions are very low and our fuel consumption is almost zero; we could cover more than 800 (theoretical) miles without even refuelling. With the extra tank, the Aquila 50 Yacht has almost 3,000 liters of fuel, which is really useful when sailing in areas where there are few supplies.
When accelerating, speed increases without hesitation, as friction generated by the hulls is minimal. Between 12 and 14 knots, the Aquila 50 Yacht enters a glide, leaving behind two beautiful trails at the stern. The boat releases its weight, glides over the water and accelerates naturally.
At 18 knots, this catamaran achieves incredible balance; waves are barely felt and comfort is at a maximum. What an extraordinary ride, it feels like being aboard a superyacht! At this speed, despite her 35 tonnes fully loaded today, fuel consumption is really low, at around 8 liters per nautical mile, which is very low for a boat of these dimensions.
Pushing the throttles, we reach and exceed 21 knots, a speed which, in relation to this boat’s objectives, is really high and indisputably testifies to the quality of two well-designed hulls. This quality is also evident when you try your hand at tighter tacks, where, surprisingly, this catamaran succeeds in surprising you with the sensations it offers.
In conclusion, I can say that this new Aquila 50 Yacht really won me over. It’s certainly a well-designed “Explorer Yacht” with a lot going for it. It’s really easy to imagine yourself aboard this yacht, engaged in long, fun cruises which, as you’ve gathered, will be experienced in the utmost comfort. With this catamaran, you’ll never feel the need to enter a port, although, it must be said, even there, the Aquila 50 is destined not to go unnoticed.
Test data
RPM
NŒUDS
L/H
L/NM
AUTONOMY
600
3,7
1,9
0,5
5.560
1.000
4,7
6,1
1,3
2.207
1.200
5,8
9,8
1,7
1.676
1.400
6,7
13,6
2,0
1.398
1.600
7,1
18,2
2,6
1.111
1.800
7,9
26,9
3,4
836
2.000
9,1
36,3
4,0
712
2.200
9,8
46,2
4,7
604
2.400
10,3
59,8
5,8
490
2.600
10,9
73,4
6,7
422
2.800
11,1
95,8
8,6
330
3.000
12,9
115,8
9,0
317
3.200
15,3
129,5
8,5
336
3.400
18,1
148,4
8,2
347
3.600
20,1
174,5
8,7
328
3.703
21,1
186,2
8,8
322
Technical data
Overall length
15,99 m
Maximum width
7,76 m
Height above waterline
5,99 m
Draft
1,26 m
Light displacement
23.013 kg
Full-load displacement
32.281 kg
Sleeping positions
up to 10
Passenger capacity
30 max
Cabins
3 or 4
Bathroom with separate shower
3 or 4
Technical cabin
1 convertible
Fuel capacity
1.964 l
Capacity Additional fuel tank
880 l
Fresh water capacity
800 l
Black water capacity
250 l
Standard motors
2 x Volvo D6 380 CV
Optional engines 1
2 x Volvo D6 480 HP
Optional engines 2
2 x Yanmar 550 HP
CE certification
A12/B12/C20/D30