Captain's Report

Contents of Report

• Mission Statement
• Features Inspection
• The Cockpit
• Amidships
• The Helm
• The Bow
• Belowdecks
• The Cabin
• The Head
• Performance
• Handling
• Observations

Mission Statement

After the positive response the company received for its 36’ (10.97 m) catamaran, Aquila unveiled its 32’ (9.75 m) version at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in November 2018. The boat is designed for day cruising with a large swim platform, cockpit and bow, including the wet bar that comes with a refrigerator and sink and can be equipped with an optional grill. The boat has a private cabin with a double berth to port and a separate head in the starboard sponson.

Features Inspection

The Stern. The easiest way to board the 32 will be by stepping on the swim platform that extends 3’ (.91 m) abaft the motors and spans 11’4” (3.45 m) across the stern. Our test boat had the optional hydraulic lift that raises and lowers the platform with the push of a button. When the platform is in the raised position, on the trailing edge is a four-step ladder with sturdy rails on each side. The four rungs are compliant with American Boat and Yacht Council standards for recreational boats. Additionally, there is a set of stairs between the outboard motors that lower with the platform to make it easy to reboard and they lie flush as part of the deck when the platform is raised.

While it appears that the 32 is designed with the twin outboard motors integrated into the stern, a more accurate way to describe it is that the swim platform extends abaft the motors. There’s a center passageway between the motors and then the platform is unobstructed behind them.

Aquila designed the stern and platform so that the motors can still be raised out of the water, and because the platform is 3’ (.91 m) aft of the propellers, it’s highly unlikely that a swimmer would come anywhere near them. The motors have stainless steel guards that encircle the powerheads and the cowlings have anti-scuff strips on them that lift hinged sections of the cockpit lounge when the motors are raised. Future models will have gas struts on the seat cushions to help lift them when the motors are tilted.

The Cockpit

A gate closes the passageway from the stern to the 32’ (9.75 m) cockpit. The EVA foam decking feels good underfoot and the way the cockpit is laid out gives the boat a conversational and entertaining atmosphere. It’s clear that Aquila’s designers took full advantage of the boat’s 12’8” (3.86 m) beam to create a cockpit as large as possible given the dimensions of the vessel.

To enhance the versatile feel, the rear seat backrests can be moved to create aft-facing chaise-style lounges. Additionally, the hardtop has 6’8” (1.78 m) of headroom and when the time comes to pull a tube or adventurous boarder, the ski tow is installed on the trailing edge of the hardtop. Our test boat had speakers and manual skylights in the hardtop.

Optional electrically actuated skylights are available. Because of the depth provided by the sponsons, there are nine extra-large lockers under the seats throughout the Aquila 32.

Amidships

We like that the cockpit and helm deck are all on the same level. To port, the backrest for the booth-style lounge can be adjusted so two people can sit facing forward. Just ahead in the walkway to the bow is the outdoor galley, which has a refrigerator, a sink, a wastebasket and storage. The cover for the sink has a hole so that a person can stick in his fingers to remove it.

Aquila took the plug that was cut out to make the hole and glued it in place so there’s dedicated storage for the cover. With it secured, the cover now becomes a fixed cutting board.

The Helm

To starboard, the helm has a 12” (30.48 cm) Raymarine multifunction display and a 4” (10.16 cm) Mercury VesselView screen in the faux carbon-fiber dash panel. There’s space for Aquila to install twin 12” (30.48 cm) screens. Our test model also had Mercury’s ActiveTrim control.

Accessory switches are clearly labeled and illuminate when lit and the glovebox has storage plus connectivity plugs. The helm seat is a 48” (1.22 m)-wide doublewide model with separate fold-up bolsters and the angled footrest is finished in the same EVA foam as the cockpit decking.

The Bow

While the cockpit and helm deck are on the same level, it’s a 6” (15.2 cm) step up to the Aquila 32’s bow, which has an air dam and section of the windshield that can be closed to keep wind from rushing into the cockpit. The bow has a 48” (1.22 m)-wide lounge to port and a 28” (.07 m)-wide seat to starboard. Both have fold-down armrests and measure 48” (1.22 m) fore to aft.

The Area can also be Filled in with a Sun Pad. There’s storage under the cushions and in large fender compartments outboard on each side forward. They flank an anchor locker that houses the windlass. In the gunwales there are grabrails and speakers.

Belowdecks

The Cabin

Outboard of the cockpit galley, a hatch opens to access the Aquila 32’s cabin, which has 6’1” (1.85 m) of headroom. We measured the berth at 80” by 55” (2.03 m x 1.4 m), which is close to queen size (80” x 60”/2.03 m x 1.52 m). There are hullside windows, a fan and a microwave oven if someone needs a coffee. A switch panel has the climate and battery controls and monitors. Removable covers provide access to the hydraulic lift pump and air conditioning and required batteries.

The Head

Ahead of the helm in the console, the private head has 5’10” (1.78 m) of headroom and there is a forward window that lets in natural light. The toilet empties into a 21-gallon (80 L) holding tank and there’s a pull-up shower plus storage.

Performance

The Numbers. Our test boat had an LOA of 32’7” (9.93 m), a beam of 12’8” (3.85 m) and a draft of 2’1” (.64 m). Empty weight is listed at 13,227 lbs. (6,000 kg). With twin 250-hp Mercury outboards, four people, 102 gallons (386 L) of fuel and test gear on board, we had an estimated test weight of 14,737 lbs. (6,685 kg).

The outboards spun 15” pitch Mercury Revolution 4 four-blade stainless-steel propellers. Revving them up to 5900 rpm, we hit a top speed of 39.4 mph.

Best Cruise. Pulling back the throttles we found best cruise at 4500 rpm, where the boat ran 26.2 mph and burned 26.6 gph. That works out to 1 mpg and a range of 223 statute miles with 10 percent of the boat’s 252-gallon (954-L) fuel capacity in reserve. At 600 rpm, the boat ran 2.6 mph and at 1000 rpm, we recorded 4.6 mph.

In acceleration tests, the Aquila 32 planed in 5.6 seconds and ran through 20 mph in 8.1 seconds and through 30 mph in 15.2 seconds.

Handling

The Aquila 32 has a CE Category B Offshore rating. Her twin hulls have integrated spray rails that worked well, producing a dry ride. Between the hulls under the deck, a wave-breaking pod eliminates the sneeze effect when a wave traps air beneath the hull and shoots spray forward, according to the builder.

During our test, we had calm conditions so we headed offshore to find some waves. She had plenty of buoyancy and the deck remained dry when we took on head-seas and re-entry was gentle. The ride in following seas was stable and the sharp bows cut through the waves easily. In turns, she maintained a level attitude and even in harder turns than most captains would attempt, there was no ventilation of the propellers. She did not sneeze during our tests.

Observations

We can see the Aquila 32 being a popular vessel for day boaters. It has cleaner lines and better styling than fishing-focused offshore catamarans. The swim platform that extends past the motors is sure to be a hit and the cockpit has versatile seating and lots of it. The manufacturer lists passenger capacity at 16 and forward-facing seating at 10.

The depth of the sponsons gives the boat exceptional storage capacity and provides reasonable headroom in the cabin and head compared to V-bottoms of similar length.

Aquila offers the boat with three engine horsepower choices: 225, 250 and 300 in twin configurations, and Mercury’s Joystick Piloting System is an available option. The 250s on our test boat pushed the boat to decent speeds and had the power to move the boat where we wanted in tight quarters.

Although her 12’8” (3.85 m) beam seems quite wide, the Aquila 32 will still fit alongside another boat in a slip at most marinas.

Standard and Optional Features