Captain's Report

Contents of Report

• Distinguishing Features

• Features Inspection

• The Bow

• The Helm

• The Cockpit

• Hardtop

• Swimming Anyone

• The Cabins

• Performance

• Observations

Mission Statement. The Aquila 36 is a cruising catamaran with a focus on efficiency. She’s the newest, smallest model in the joint venture between mega dealer MarineMax and manufacturer Sino Eagle Group. She is also the first to be powered by twin outboards to take advantage of the efficiency of the twin-hull design.

Distinguishing Features

• Twin Cabins. There are private cabins with en suite heads in each hull.

• Crowd Control. The Aquila 36 has seating space for 20 people on a 36’ (10.97 m) long boat.

• Dual Sunlounges. Fore and aft lounges can fold out to form extra-large sun pads.

• Dual Boarding Gates. There are gates to port and starboard.

• Hardtop. Comes standard with twin deck hatches and a power sunroof is an option.

Features Inspection

The Bow

Larger Aquila models were designed for charter use through mega dealer MarineMax and that design approach is reflected in the 36’ (10.97 m) catamaran’s bow that has dual double-wide seats arranged in forward and aft facing layouts to both sides. This allows for convenient gatherings as well as opposing seating for an intimate conversational atmosphere. Pedestal tables would be a nice touch here and would only add to the allure of the area.

With a couple of filler cushions, the seating also converts to two sunlounges where guests can stretch out. Herein lies the prime benefit of the catamaran, at least from the perspective of how well they handle such large volumes of people. No traditional bowrider can allow four people to lounge in this level of comfort.

The bow has four illuminated (LED) cup holders in gunwale cutouts. There’s a dedicated anchor locker with rode access and storage under the forward-most cushions and in an in-deck compartment.

The Consoles

The passageway to the cockpit closes off in the usual fashion with an opening center section of the wraparound windshield and a lower air dam. Both consoles provide access to the individual cabins. To port there’s a double-wide forward-facing seat.

The Helm

Taking a look at the helm, Aquila embraces the glass dash concept with a pair of Raymarine displays flanked to the center VesselView display. A compass is mounted just above the VesselView, and below the dash. To the right are the DTS controls for the engines along with the auto trim and VHF. Mercury’s JPO or Joystick Piloting for Outboards can be added with the joystick just behind the engine controls.

To the left are dual rows of pushbutton switches with a grab handle just above. Below the wheel, the boat we toured had control switches for jack plates that were specified for this particular owner but not normally provided by Aquila. This speaks of the company’s ability to meet the demands of customers whenever possible.

The Cockpit

The cockpit is entered from boarding doors to port and starboard and open area allows free passage between the two. It’s here that the sheer volume of space offered in the Aquila 36 immediately becomes apparent.

All decking is soft non-skid Sea Dek with a gray teak look to it. The entry doors are quite beefy with massive hinges and latches. A rail at the top of the door adds safety and a convenient handle to manipulate the door.

Just behind the port entry door is the shore power connection.

Just abaft the helm to starboard is the galley. With the lower deck dedicated to the cabins and heads, this is the only galley onboard and its location adds to the versatility of the 36. With the galley up, we can more effectively prepare meals for guests that we’ll be entertaining on the main deck.

The galley has a Corian countertop, a 2.8-cu. ft. (80-L) refrigerator/freezer, a sink, storage and 12-volt power plugs.

For cockpit dining, to port, there’s an L-shaped settee wrapping around a folding table mounted to a pedestal. Being directly across from the galley, this ensures that guests won’t have to go far to keep the food and drinks coming.

Hardtop

Overhead is a stunning hardtop with angular supports that really add to the eye appeal of the Aquila 36. It’s populated with plenty of LED courtesy lights and hidden blue lighting for a more subdued look at night. In the center is a massive electrically actuated sunroof with an opening measuring 6’2” (1.88 m) x 7’5" (2.26 m).

Additional Seating is at the Transom. Here there is a large lounge running almost the full length of the transom, with the exception of a walkthrough to the swim platform. We’d like to see some version of a filler cushion that would make for a complete bench all the way across the stern. That said, there’s no lack of seating here, and both outboard seats are in fixed configurations. The doublewide center section, however, converts from forward facing, to an aft facing two-person sun lounge. This makes a great place to relax and watch the kids play in the water while still keeping with the theme of each space being a large gathering area.

The cockpit is self-draining with additional scuppers forward. The aforementioned boarding doors on each side are aft in the cockpit and the passageway to the stern closes off with another gate. Overhead, the hardtop has LED lights. Throughout the boat, there are a total of 10 stainless-steel pullup cleats.

The Stern. A passageway to starboard that closes with a door provides easy access to the Aquila 36’s stern, which has a double-wide aft-facing lounge just ahead of a raised swim platform between the motors.

Swimming Anyone

Of course we’re going to have people interring the water. But Aquila seems bent on taking things to a higher level, and reboarding is no exception. A push of a button extends the swim ladder out from the platform between the engines and down into the water. It’s a huge ladder with grab rails to both sides, wide treads and vertical handholds at the top. When retracted it fits flush to the aft end of the platform and out of sight.

Storage Throughout

For a boat that can hold 20 people, there needs to be an abundance of storage, and the Aquila 36 certainly delivers. All the seat bottom cushions in the cockpit pick lift up to access storage. Larger aft hatches open on gas struts. The port lounge has an insulated built-in cooler in the base that drains overboard. More storage is in the swim platform. The bow seats have access to the hull storage.

The Cabins

The Aquila 36 is a two cabin/two head layout with both cabins being accessed from each of the on deck consoles. Both cabins are opposing images of one another and both include en suite heads.

Each features a double berth forward in the bow and private heads aft. The mattresses are memory-foam models and the cabins are finished in two-tone woods. The soles are finished in synthetic wear-resistant material and the side and overhead panels are covered in upholstery. Each cabin has LED overhead and reading lights, deck hatches and large windows with blinds. Storage is provided in drawers, shelves and a hanging locker.

The Heads. Finished all in fiberglass for easy cleanup, the heads have a sink in a Corian countertop, a pull-out shower, a teak grate over the sole in the shower area, a mirror, LED lighting and an electric flush freshwater toilet with a macerator. Each cabin has a large window with a privacy blind, a smaller opening port and LED overhead lights.

Performance

We haven’t tested the Aquila 36 yet, but the manufacturer has provided some estimated speeds. The boat is available with twin 250-, 300- and 350-hp Mercury Verado outboards. Top speed with the 250s is projected at 31 mph (27 knots). Step up to 600 total hp and the speed goes up to 38 mph (33 knots). Twin 350s push the boat to an approximate 42 mph (37 knots).

Construction. Aquila builds the 36 with infused vinylester resin, no wood belowdecks and foam coring in varying densities depending on loads. There are watertight bulkheads fore and aft.

Systems. For on board systems, the Aquila 36 has a master control panel for 12-volt and shorepower service at the starboard companionway hatch. There are two dedicated start batteries plus a hose unit with remote switches and an engine parallel remote control. A battery charger/inverter and volt meter and amp meter come standard. A digital monitor keeps track of water and waste levels.

The fuel tanks are heavy gauge aluminum with manual shutoff valves and water-separating filters keep debris from getting to the motors. For freshwater, there’s a 52-gallon tank (200-L) with a digital gauge at the master panel and a 10.5-gallon (40-L) water heater that’s only operable with the shorepower and/or optional generator.

Twin 21-gallon (80-L) blackwater tanks are located just aft of an airtight bulkhead and equipped with deck outlets and direct overboard pumps. There are a total of four automatic bilge pumps.

Observations

The Aquila 36 looks to be a versatile boat that appeals to owners looking to bring a group of friends out for a day or for an extended offshore cruise. She’s rated for 20 passengers, and based on our experience with other Aquila models, all those people will feel comfortable onboard. With the twin cabins, she could also be a great boat for two couples or a small family to enjoy during a weekend getaway.

Standard and Optional Features