Aquila 42

SPECIFICATIONS

LOA: 41'6"

Beam: 21'

Draft: 3'7"

Weight (fully loaded): 41,895 lbs.

Fuel Capacity: 290 gals.

Water Capacity: 132 gals.

Std. Power: 2 x D4 230-hp Volvo Penta

Base Price: Contact your nearest MarineMax or SkipperBud’s store AQUILABOATS.COM

DEALER SkipperBud’s SKIPPERBUDS.COM 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.

Easy access to the bridge from the molded-in staircase.

Spacious cabins for you and several guests.

Easy to handle.

Could use more/larger MFDs.

Put your feet up

Another thing the doctor ordered: Plenty of rest. Available in two-, three- and fourcabin 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 50or 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. ★