Aquila 46 Yacht Reviewed

There was a moment on the Aquila 46 Yacht when I forgot I was on a 46-footer: the first time I looked all the way across the vast salon. And yet, underway, the vessel stepped onto plane quickly with a light touch at the helm. That contrast of volume and performance is central to the 46’s wide-ranging appeal.

The layout options also have something for most everyone. The 46 is offered in three-, four- and five-stateroom configurations, with an equal number of heads. In three-stateroom mode, the full-beam master occupies the main deck forward with an island king berth on centerline, dual sinks and a separate enclosed shower and head to port. A desk/vanity setup is on the starboard side. It’s a layout with the kind of volume and privacy rarely found on a 46-footer.

Two VIP staterooms occupy the hulls, each with a modified queen berth facing hullside windows for natural light and good views. The four-stateroom layout drops the desk area in the master and adds a stateroom with its own head; owners can revert back to the original three-stateroom plan via a conversion kit if needs change down the road. The five-stateroom version adds crew quarters and is well-suited for a charter program.

The salon and cockpit flow easily together. The 72-inch-wide aft salon window lifts up, with two barstools creating a sociable galley-to-cockpit pass-through. The galley sits aft and to port. On the opposite side is a U-shaped seating area with a lowering table that converts to a berth. Headroom in the salon is 6 feet 8 inches, a welcome bonus for guests used to monohull standards.

Standard propulsion comes from twin 320-hp Volvo Penta D4 diesels, with optional upgrades to twin 480 hp Volvos or 550 hp Yanmar packages. This yacht rises quickly and evenly on plane, and it settles into a comfortable 18-knot cruise while tracking with the confidence of a larger powercat. There’s no unsettling outboard heel, even when making tight turns, and the helm is responsive without being twitchy. Aquila’s Hydro Glide foil system is an option with the two larger engine packages to extend range, improve fuel efficiency and lessen engine load.

The 46 that I got aboard had the 480 hp Volvo D6 engines, but not the foil system. At 3,250 rpm and 75 percent engine load, the diesels burned 36 gallons of fuel per hour at 18 knots, according to the dual 18-inch Raymarine multifunction displays. On the pins, top hop is knots. Dropping back to an eco-cruise of 7 knots, the engines consume 4.4 gph at 1,450 rpm, perfect for passagemaking. Standard fuel capacity is 476 gallons with room to add another 211 gallons as an option. Range at cruise speed is 309 miles with optional fuel and a 10 percent reserve.

Maneuverability is another strong suit. With the variable-speed Sleipner bow thrusters and the widely spaced engines, the 46 pivots easily into and out of tight slips. There’s bow access to starboard of the centerline helm, with sightlines down the aft stairway. The skipper can see the aft corner without relying on a camera.

Vinylester resin is used in construction throughout the hull, deck and bulkheads, eliminating plywood from structural core areas below the waterline. Watertight bulkheads fore and aft add a measure of safety, and large molded components help reduce the number of caulked seams and potential weak points.

The external build is practical too, with a fixed aft platform, integrated swim ladder and 27-inch-wide side decks with 28-inch bow rails—sturdy hardware for real-world cruising.

The Aquila 46 Yacht is a well-thought-out cruiser, roomy enough for extended itineraries or entertaining guests, yet nimble enough to handle inshore runs or weekend hops without feeling unwieldy. The foil system is valuable for increased range, load reduction and improved ride comfort, all helpful for longer passages. This yacht has the flexibility of multiple configurations, and real-world practicality for longevity and utility.

It’s a yacht that delivers calm assurance without many compromises.  

The Full Line

Aquila Boats produces power catamarans from sporty 32- and 34-foot fishboats to 54-foot yachts. The company builds roughly 200 boats a year, with plans to significantly expand production in the next five years.

Fast Foil

The Aquila Hydro Glide foil system can offer improved ride, reduced engine load, greater efficiency and extended range. The foils don’t improve cruise speed beyond the standard 18 knots, but they do lower engine stress and fuel consumption. Foil-assisted hulls are best-suited for distance cruising rather than short hops to the local sandbar.

The Brand Evolves

Aquila Boats has steadily built a reputation for fusing interior comfort and volume with a smooth, efficient and stable ride. The design philosophy behind the 46 draws directly from the larger Explorer yachts in Aquila’s stable, adopting their higher freeboard and structural priorities. The result is a midsize cruiser with larger-yacht benefits.

Take the next step: aquilaboats.com

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