The brand new Aquila 50 Yacht was designed to interchange the model’s 48 Yacht, however this not too long ago debuted mannequin just isn’t a easy rehash of an present vessel. The voluminous motor cat has a brand new working floor, an enhanced master bedroom, a extra elaborate tender launching system, and dozens of small particulars that differentiate it not solely from its predecessor but additionally its opponents.
The brand new 50 suits nicely between Aquila’s 44 Yacht and 54 Yacht flybridge fashions. Due to their broad beams, all of the Aquilas designed by J&J Design in Slovenia supply inside quantity just like monohulls with for much longer lengths.
Whereas boarding the boat at Lauderdale Marina, a number of days after the official premiere at Fort Lauderdale Worldwide Boat Present 2024 (October 30-November 3), the primary distinction was apparent: it has a tall, explorer-style profile that appears method cooler than different massive, boxy energy cats in its class.
“It’s the primary boat of its dimension with this type of look,” mentioned Nick Harvey, Aquila’s Chief Income Officer, who hosted the ocean trial. “You [usually] see that look solely on 100ft-plus energy cats.”
The 50 Yacht can also be about 0.60m (2ft) taller than the 48, largely as a result of the designers gave the main bedroom a flat flooring reasonably than a sunken one, therefore needing to construct a taller hull in order to not compromise on the suite’s headroom. “It additionally lets us create these superb facet home windows,” Harvey added.
This further peak just isn’t sufficient to influence the boat’s efficiency in winds, nevertheless it does add to visibility from the helm station, which was the one steering space on this primary hull.
A second helm station in the principle saloon is an choice, but when I have been a purchaser, I’d go for the only on the flybridge. It’s protected sufficient, with nice visibility, and including one other to the saloon would devastate the feng shui that Aquila designed into this 25.6sqm (276sqft) social space.
Wraparound home windows extending alongside either side and throughout the entrance ship glorious pure gentle. The decor right here is the Mild choice, incorporating a light-coloured wooden composite and white accents, with impartial greys delivering subtlety. The Darkish model is what it feels like, with darker woods and trims.
The aft full-featured galley is supplied with a full-size American-style fridge, microwave, convection oven and a big ‘nation’ chrome steel sink – with a overlaying to remodel right into a countertop – and is joins the rear cockpit via a big door and fold-down home windows.
These openings flip the inside and outer part into one giant social house extending again to the strict. Outdoors, two bar seats adjoin a counter that connects to the galley.
Again inside, the massive U-shaped lounge with desk serves because the grasp eating space, however the desk additionally drops down electrically to kind a big berth to create an additional sleeping space. Stairways to port and starboard to the opposite staterooms, in several areas of the saloon, give an asymmetrical enchantment to the structure.
The management panels are positioned on the starboard rear facet, with AC and DC controls and a CZone management and monitoring system for onboard features. “It’s all digital switching, so you’ll be able to handle the lighting, pumps and a number of techniques simply from this display,” Harvey mentioned.
In addition to a second steering station, choices embody captain’s quarters, though Aquila’s many international homeowners are additionally operators. Encouragingly, the engine room has good house across the 480hp Volvo Penta D6 engines, which might be upgraded to 550hp Yanmars.
Our sea trial into the Atlantic occurred on a relaxed, sunny day, with seas working below a metre. Being a giant cat, the 50 feels completely different underway than a similar-sized monohull, nevertheless it handles properly as we head south alongside the Florida coast.
The brand new Aquila comes with a bulbous hull design, which helps navigation in massive seas and limits wave influence. The 50 Yacht additionally has an elective foil system that will increase gasoline effectivity and efficiency. On our sea trial, the cat topped out at simply over 20 knots, turned decently on its twin hulls, with minimal rock and roll.
Visibility of the water and the Raymarine electronics on the console have been each good. There was no likelihood to see how it will deal with severe waves, nevertheless it ran nicely in near-ideal situations.
The hardtop, with photo voltaic panels on its rooftop, has isinglass (gelatin) that wraps across the giant, 361sqft (33.4sqm) higher deck throughout inclement climate. That will possible be a fire-drill to arrange in a
squall, however a full, glassed-in hardtop would make this cat a unique animal, a feat of engineering that might change weight distribution and add important prices.
For social occasions, this upper-deck space is the place to be. Aquila designed numerous house into it, together with a big lounge and desk, and a pair of.6m (8ft 7in-wide) sunbeds on the rear of the cat. This boat additionally had a full out of doors galley, together with an electrical Kenyon Signature Grill with an induction range, moist bar, and stainless-steel ice maker.
One other good contact is the two-step facet passage all the way down to the foredeck. Relatively than being a centre passage like different massive cats, this extra discreet characteristic permits fast entry for dock-handling or different wanted entry.
On the ahead house, double sunbeds on both facet supply social gathering factors, together with flip-up seats on the base. There are additionally two seats on the outer ahead edges for a few individuals to look again and converse with others. The excessive guardrails are good security options, as is the rail peak alongside the broad gunwales.
Aquila left the decrease, ahead a part of the bow open throughout the complete beam – it is a very nice contact that enables full visibility from the main bedroom. The complete-beam fundamental suite measures 25sqm (270sqft), with good headroom and the flush flooring that may be a differentiator in its class.
To starboard is an L-shaped lounge, with an arrogance and seat beside, and on the opposite facet of the king-size mattress are two sinks and drawers. The complete head, with a separate rest room and bathe with teak-grate flooring, is split from the bed room by a frosted-glass door that’s fashionable and practical.
The sense of house is nice, because of the wide-open structure and huge home windows, which Harvey mentioned are “twice the dimensions of others on this class, because of the additional peak of the boat”.
The suite additionally has glorious cupboard space, because of the cat’s pontoons, which let homeowners stow not solely private gadgets but additionally gear and even a mattress for the saloon desk, saved under the ground. The closet house can also be first rate.
The second stateroom is a VIP, with a big, personal head and bathe, and a way of privateness, given the way in which Aquila has designed the lengthy entryway. Throughout is the third stateroom, a double for the youngsters. The boat is available in a four-stateroom structure however would compromise the dimensions of the VIP.
On the strict is likely one of the 50’s most noteworthy options. Its 14ft tender catamaran, which Aquila additionally manufactures at its manufacturing facility in China, is on an electrical crane system that lifts the boat outwards for launch and retrieval – a particular characteristic amongst opponents.
When the tender has been launched, the deck drops down so it’s flush with the aft decks, creating a big platform for straightforward entry to the water. “The best way the winch retracts out and in of the flybridge is exclusive,” mentioned Harvey. “It’s actually a part of the 50’s DNA.”
The designers left sufficient house within the engine compartments to create a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system when that turns into obtainable. The present choices checklist permits homeowners to improve normal home batteries to 4 lithium batteries with an inverter and charger, permitting for longer instances to run at anchor on charged battery energy.
“We’ve designed it in order that homeowners can order the hybrid system when it turns into obtainable,” mentioned Harvey. “Our objective was to futureproof for sustainability as a lot as attainable.”
This story was first seen on Yachtstyle.Co.
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