Aquila 42

Chest pains postponed my scheduled sea trial with Aquila’s new 42-foot yacht.

Turns out, however, that during the three week delay, Aquila finalized a more ergonomic design change in the galley from hull No. 1 and announced that future models will be available with an optional underwater foil.

Aquila launched 11 years ago in the British Virgin Islands as a partnership with MarineMax Vacations. Designed for chartering, the catamaran-style hull was built for relaxation, which coincidentally is what the doctor suggested I do more often.

Sit back and relax

The Aquila 42 has ample room for a coffee maker, a cocktail blender and an electric grill. Must drink plenty of liquids sayeth the doctor! Two bar stools belly up to the aft cockpit bar where a hinging window and door opens to the galley. Rounding out the aft cockpit is seating the length of the transom wall with a table that folds and integrates stainless steel cup holders. Instead of a long buffet countertop in the galley, the redesign adds a traditional 90-degree L-shape return closer to midships that is far more pleasing to the eye and likely more functional for the chef.

Normally one would expect plenty of up and down exercise to tend to lines, set and retrieve anchors, and fetch food and drink for the crew. But Aquila expects you to stay put. I easily accessed the bridge via a molded-in staircase where a summer kitchen with a refrigerator/icemaker positioned behind the upper helm station is most convenient. As for tending to forward lines or the anchor, a walk-through bridge with safety handrail makes the forward bow easily accessible. And since relaxation is part of the new regimen, your guests won’t mind the two padded sun loungers in the bow. Vitamin D anyone?

The flybridge sports an expansive FRP hardtop with well-polished stainless steel supports and a combination of natural overhead lighting and LED fixtures. Along the flybridge guard rails, acrylic wind protection inserts are an option to enclose the area when bad weather approaches. Three couples can easily sit around the flybridge table, with room for many more guests seated in a large L-shape lounger. A Corian work surface for the wetbar, sink and large storage area below round out the creature comforts up top.

Aquila offers the 42 with a single helm station here. However, newer versions have a layout for a lower station as well. If there is one thing that could be improved, it’s here at the console. We are so used to seeing boats with massive flat-screen monitors. The 42 had but one Raymarine MFD with three separate 6-inch screens for autopilot and engine/system monitoring.

Get away from it all

Since this is vacation time, one thing is for sure, you won’t be stressed at docking, as the Aquila 42 has an electric bow thruster and twin diesels that any good captain can use in concert to parallel park with ease.

Performance-wise the catamaran hull offers a gentle, secure ride. Our test day was a bit choppy with a solid 20-knot wind. Equipped with twin 300-hp Volvo engines, it took about nine seconds to plane and achieve a cruising speed of 17 knots. We had four people onboard, a full load of 290 gallons of fuel and just shy of 132 gallons of water. Designed for extended Getaways! (a Marinemax program that offers a series of customer events), Door County, Mackinac Island and the 1000 Islands are just a few destinations where this vessel would shine.

Put your feet up

Another thing the doctor ordered: Plenty of rest. Available in two-, three- and four-cabin layouts, like all the larger Aquila cousins, overnight comfort and privacy for multiple guests is the real thing. Cabins reside in both hulls. Step down two to three stairs and you’ll be genuinely surprised at room layouts. After all, the 42 sits on a 21-foot beam. Queen-size berths and an ensuite head and showers offer the modesty necessary for the first days of cruising. By day six, my guess is you’ll be far less reserved.

I was a bit of a kid while exploring the owner’s stateroom, opening door after door, cabinet after cabinet. Giddy would be a better description, as this yacht has a true his and hers closet space. Having spent many a long vacation boating on cruisers, Aquila hands down wins for storage space. Even your toilet paper has its own dry locker within arm’s reach!

Interior layouts are customizable. Inquire about space for the fourth cabin that may well serve as an office at sea, assuming you don’t mind the optional combo washer/dryer hidden behind a cabinet door.

Custom window blinds, paneled ceilings, LED mood lighting, the ubiquitous Fusion sound system and C-Zone digital wiring combine to offer a distinctive take on a yacht layout.

Unwind at sea

Aquila offers four models of yachts from 42 to 70 feet. The 42 will be offered with three engine packages from Yanmar and Volvo. Yanmar power also comes with an optional Foiling package for even greater fuel efficiency. My host for the day of the sea trial, Alain Raas, brand manager for MarineMax, says this model is showing great appeal to the yacht owner who is coming down in size from a 50- or 60-foot monohull. It’s easy to handle, spacious for accommodating grandkids and luxurious enough for hosting docktails. For young families on the way up, the catamaran is a safe, comfortable riding boat with all the creature comforts of home and with kids bedrooms on the other side of the boat!

The 42 represents a fresh sporty looking exterior design geared at smoothing the perception that catamarans have for being a rectangular box. Large windows and more fluid lines create more visual appeal. It’s worth keeping in mind that if you are shopping just by size, this is not an apples-to-apples comparison. Sure, price is always a factor; however, with a 21-foot beam and 41-foot-plus LOA, this is a lot of boat for the buck.

If the doctor suggests slowing down and enjoying life, consider hopping aboard the Aquila 42. Your CPA may not be able to justify the boat, but your cardiologist is likely to be far more understanding.