Aquila 36
When MarineMax approached the Sino Eagle Group, a Chinese boatbuilder, to create the Aquila series of power cats, the yacht sales firm had two goals: The first was to flesh out its MarineMax Vacations bareboat charter fleet in the British Virgin Islands, and the second was to create yachts suitable for private ownership.
Those are, in several ways, seemingly contradictory needs. Charter yachts need to be bulletproof: easy to maintain, easy to repair, easy to use. Private yachts, on the other hand, must be whatever their owners want them to be, even if using them takes a little extra maintenance now and then.
To satisfy both types of boaters, the Aquila line was created, first with a 48-footer and then with a 44-footer. The Aquila 36 is a departure from her sisterships in that she is an outboard-powered, express-cruiser-style catamaran, but she also adheres to MarineMax’s philosophies.
With a single main living level from bow to stern and a beam of 14 feet 7 inches, the Aquila 36 is like a bowrider on steroids. She has seating that can handle 20 adults for outings and barbecues, and there are two staterooms below, one in each hull, for family weekending. The staterooms have nearly queen-size berths, en suite heads, stowage and 6-foot-6-inch headroom.
Up on the main deck, under the optional fiberglass hardtop, are a dinette, cooktop, fridge, sink and smokeless grill. Forward, the seating transforms from benches to sun pads, and the anchor gear is hidden under a hatch with a wired remote control.
Aft, the choices include settees across the transom or a fishing/diving option with a bait tank and tackle station. Twin boarding gates allow for docking, diving or tender access.
The Siblings
| Aquila 44 | Aquila 48 |
|---|---|
| The Aquila 44 has an on-deck master stateroom with en suite head and an office/dressing area. Two additional staterooms also have en suite heads. Similar to the 48, the 44 has flybridge stairs to the cockpit and foredeck. | Queen of the fleet, this 48-footer has a salon with a galley, along with four staterooms, each en suite. The flybridge has direct access to the cockpit with dinette, and to the foredeck, where far-forward seats allow unobstructed views. |
Power choices are twin 250, 300 or 350 hp Mercury Verados, with the 350s pushing the Aquila 36 to nearly 35 knots.
A solid dayboat for the family or for fishing, the Aquila 36 is equally adept at weekending with friends.
