Power catamarans have grown in number and in popularity in the past few years, and those trends are getting a big boost at the Miami show this week. Here’s a fast look at some of the new breed that made their debuts at the show:
Even before the show officially opened on Wednesday morning, Aquila celebrated the global debut of its new 42 power catamaran (see picture) at the show’s Herald Plaza site. Designed by VPLP, the French naval architects, the new 42 has two cabins (with en suite heads), although it can be configured for three or four.
The new 42 is in the middle of the Aquila fleet that now has power cats from 28 to 70 feet. It’s a popular size for owners who want to cruise with their families; it’s small enough so it can be easily operated by a couple, and large enough so everyone can have plenty of room. Indeed, the boat’s 21-foot beam (half its length) provides lots of space inside and out.
Stairs lead from the massive foredeck up to the flybridge, which is protected by a hardtop. On the main deck, a full galley is ready for an extended cruise, or charter. Power comes from twin 230-hp or 300-hp Volvo D4 diesels.
Aquilas are made at the Sino Eagle factory in China. They’re sold around the world to private owners and put into the MarineMax Vacations charter fleet. Read more: http://aquilaboats.com http://marinemaxvacations.com
Leopard held the global launch of its all-new 40 power cat, built in Cape Town, South Africa. The 40 is the smallest entry in the Leopard power cat fleet, which includes a 46 and a 53.
The company says the flybridge is the largest in its size range, and it houses an upper helm, settees, dining table and even a bar. A hardtop provides protection overhead and has solar panels to charge the house batteries
The full-beam (21’ 8”) foredeck has lots of sun lounges and access to the salon through a forward door. The salon has a lower helm station; large windows all around provide excellent visibility. An L-shaped galley is aft, facing full-width doors that open to the aft deck.
Below, the master cabin takes up the entire starboard hull with its own head, while two double cabins are on the port side, sharing a head. Owners have a choice of Yanmar power, with twin 370-hp Yanmars producing a 20-knot top speed.
Leopards are for sale to private owners; they also are put into The Moorings charter fleet. Read more:
http://leopardcatamarans.com http://moorings.com
Prestige, the high-end French builder, held the U.S. debut of the M48, the first in its new line of power cats. The M48 (LOA: 48’ 6”; beam 19’ 8”) was designed by Italy’s Garroni Design group; Philippe Briand, the French naval architect who often works on expedition and large cruising yachts, did the hull.
The Beach Club aft serves as a watersports center; it also opens to the garage for a tender and toys. The aft cockpit has seating for eight, plus a lounge and bar. On the foredeck, a large sun lounge is just under the windshield, while up against the bow is another sun lounge, facing aft
The lower helm has a door opening to the starboard side deck. The large galley is aft, facing a dinette. Below, owners can choose either three or four staterooms, all with en suite heads.
Powered by twin 320-hp Volvo diesels, the M48 tops out at 20 knots and has a range of 600 nm at 8 knots. Read more: http://prestige-yachts.com
Fountaine-Pajot held the U.S. debut of its 67-foot power cat, a flagship that’s so luxurious it even has a Jacuzzi on the foredeck. In keeping with the French yard’s reputation for building comfortable and seaworthy blue-water boats, the new 67 has a range of 1,700 nm powered by twin 480-hp straight-shaft Volvo diesels.
The yacht’s 32-foot beam creates enormous space in the salon, which is filled with light and has a large L-shaped galley with a central island. (You also can order the boat with the galley down.) The dinette is in the salon, and a centered door leads forward to the full-beam foredeck.
The Jacuzzi beckons there, as well as a sunken lounging area. You can order an optional private entrance to the Jacuzzi area from the master stateroom that takes up most of the starboard hull below. A smaller stateroom is aft in the starboard hull, and two more staterooms are in the port hull.
Aft, the teak swim platform lowers for access to the water. The cockpit has sunbathing areas, a grill and a dining table. A supersized glass door opens to the salon. Read more: http://fountaine-pajot.com
The new low-profile, well-proportioned Xquisite 40, built in Cape Town, is also celebrating its U.S. debut. The Xquisite 40 was designed in collaboration with Dixon Yacht Design to create a cruiser that could spend time exploring the Bahamas or the Keys. Its draft of just 2’ 8” and its outboard power make it a natural for the skinny waters there.
The 40 is marked by clean lines, with a hardtop covering the helm deck and bulwarks that fold out from the sides of the aft deck. An electric-powered shade and awning can protect the aft deck, which has an electric grill, fridge and ice-maker for entertaining.
The foredeck has large sun lounges over each hull. A ladder folds down from the starboard side so you can climb down to a beach; a hydraulic folding anchor system is on the port bow.
The Xquisite 40 has two cabins below, one in each hull, with en suite heads. Power options run from twin 300-hp outboards to twin 425-hp outboards, with a top speed of 38 knots. Read more: http://xquisiteyachts.com
Two Oceans is another Cape Town builder, and its new 555 power cat, imported by HMY, is also making its U.S. debut at the Miami show. The luxurious 555 has an optional four-cabin layout with the master on the main deck; it has a door opening to the sunken lounge on the foredeck. The other three staterooms are below; each one has a queen-sized berth and an en suite head.
The salon has a lower helm (if the master stateroom is below) with lots of seating and the galley aft. It has an island countertop and a dining area with U-shaped seating for eight. A sliding door opens to the aft deck, with more seating and lounging areas.
The fly bridge has an unusual sun lounge forward of the upper helm. There’s more seating and entertaining space aft, with room for a 14-foot tender on the boat deck. The hardtop has eight solar panels.
Twin 550-hp Cummins diesels top out at 26-plus knots, and produce a range of 510 nm at 20 knots. Read more: http://2oceans.co.za http://hmy.com
