The brand new Aquila 50 Yacht was designed to interchange the model’s 48 Yacht, however this not too long ago debuted mannequin is just not a easy rehash of an current vessel. The voluminous motor cat has a brand new operating floor, an enhanced main bedroom, a extra elaborate tender launching system, and dozens of small particulars that differentiate it not solely from its predecessor but in addition its rivals.
The brand new 50 matches properly 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 much like monohulls with for much longer lengths.
Whereas boarding the boat at Lauderdale Marina, a couple 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 huge, boxy energy cats in its class.
“It’s the primary boat of its dimension with this sort of look,” stated 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 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 wonderful aspect home windows,” Harvey added.
This additional top is just not 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 possibility, but when I have been a purchaser, I’d go for the one 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 each side and throughout the entrance ship wonderful pure mild. The decor right here is the Gentle possibility, incorporating a light-coloured wooden composite and white accents, with impartial greys delivering subtlety. The Darkish model is what it seems 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 by a big door and fold-down home windows.
These openings flip the inside and outer part into one giant social area extending again to the strict. Exterior, two bar seats adjoin a counter that connects to the galley.
Again inside, the big U-shaped lounge with desk serves because the grasp eating space, however the desk additionally drops down electrically to type 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 aspect, 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 stated.
In addition to a second steering station, choices embody captain’s quarters, though Aquila’s many world house owners are additionally operators. Encouragingly, the engine room has good area across the 480hp Volvo Penta D6 engines, which will be upgraded to 550hp Yanmars.
Our sea trial into the Atlantic occurred on a relaxed, sunny day, with seas operating underneath a metre. Being an enormous 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 huge seas and limits wave influence. The 50 Yacht additionally has an non-compulsory 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 properly in near-ideal circumstances.
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 may probably be a fire-drill to arrange in a
squall, however a full, glassed-in hardtop would make this cat a special animal, a feat of engineering that may change weight distribution and add important prices.
For social occasions, this upper-deck space is the place to be. Aquila designed a lot of area 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 outside 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 aspect passage right down to the foredeck. Moderately than being a centre passage like different huge cats, this extra discreet function permits fast entry for dock-handling or different wanted entry.
On the ahead area, double sunbeds on both aspect 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 top alongside the broad gunwales.
Aquila left the decrease, ahead a part of the bow open throughout the complete beam – this can be a very nice contact that permits full visibility from the main bedroom. The complete-beam important 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 aspect 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 trendy and purposeful.
The sense of area is sweet, due to the wide-open structure and enormous home windows, which Harvey stated are “twice the scale of others on this class, due to the additional top of the boat”.
The suite additionally has wonderful cupboard space, due to the cat’s pontoons, which let house owners stow not solely private objects but in addition gear and even a mattress for the saloon desk, saved under the ground. The closet area can 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 children. The boat is available in a four-stateroom structure however would compromise the scale of the VIP.
On the strict is among 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 function amongst rivals.
When the tender has been launched, the deck drops down so it’s flush with the aft decks, creating a big platform for simple entry to the water. “The best way the winch retracts out and in of the flybridge is exclusive,” stated Harvey. “It’s actually a part of the 50’s DNA.”
The designers left sufficient area within the engine compartments to create a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system when that turns into obtainable. The present choices listing permits house owners to improve commonplace home batteries to 4 lithium batteries with an inverter and charger, permitting for longer occasions to run at anchor on charged battery energy.
“We’ve designed it in order that house owners can order the hybrid system when it turns into obtainable,” stated Harvey. “Our aim was to futureproof for sustainability as a lot as attainable.”
This story was first seen on Yachtstyle.Co.
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