Silent Yachts has launched the first hull of its SY80, an 80-foot solar-electric catamaran that marks the Italian builder’s most ambitious project to date. The vessel is scheduled to make its world premiere at the Cannes Yachting Festival in September 2025.

Built in Fano, Italy, the SY80 extends the company’s sustainability-focused approach to a larger platform. This first unit is a 2-deck version tailored to the owner’s preferences. Measuring 24.38 meters in length, the SY80 offers increased interior volume, expanded solar capacity and a larger battery system than its predecessors.

Available in three layouts—2-Deck, 3-Deck Open, and 3-Deck Closed—the SY80 can accommodate up to 12 guests. Owners can opt for either an on-deck master suite or a fully open-plan main saloon with the master located below. The layout of the first hull includes four guest staterooms, with dedicated master and VIP suites.

Social and relaxation spaces include a panoramic salon, multiple lounge areas, a bar and an upper deck with sunbeds. A dedicated helm station allows for navigation with 360-degree visibility. Practical features include a hidden garage built into the aft port hull and a separate equipment locker in the starboard hull, both suitable for stowing water toys or dive gear.

On the performance side, the SY80 combines silent, solar-powered cruising with substantial battery capacity—522 to 696 kWh, depending on configuration—and a 22.4 kWp solar array. The yacht cruises efficiently at 7 to 8 knots and can reach a top speed of 12 knots with near-zero emissions.

Silent Yachts reports that two additional SY80 hulls in the 3-deck configuration have already been sold.

Silent Yachts SY80 Specs

• Length Overall: 80 feet
• Beam: 36 feet
• Draft: 3.9 feet
• Top Speed: 12 knots
• Cruising Speed: 7–8 knots
• Solar Array Output: 22.4 kWp
• Battery Capacity: 522 kWh / 696 kWh
• Guest Capacity: Up to 12
• Layouts: 2-Deck, 3-Deck Open, 3-Deck Closed

The post Silent Yachts Launches SY80 Flagship appeared first on Yachting.

While I’ve always had an affinity for go-fast monohulls, I’m also a catamaran convert. Cats offer a combination of roominess, stability and comfort that’s difficult for similarly sized monohulls to match. The latest foray from Aquila Power Catamarans—whose designs range from a 28-foot Molokai fishing boat to a 70-foot Luxury yacht—is a sleek 46-foot Coupe that pairs semi-foiling capability with a speedy, double-stepped hull form.

Foiling technology isn’t new. Italian inventor Enrico Forlanini designed and built the first powerboat utilizing a foil system in 1906, when he hit 36.9 knots with a 60 hp airscrew. But can a foil really make a big difference in the way a boat rides? In the case of the Aquila 46 Coupe, the answer is a resounding yes.

Aquila calls its technology the Hydro Glide Foil System. An underwater carbon-fiber wing is attached horizontally between the catamaran’s hull sponsons and extends a bit below them. A second, smaller foil is between the hulls at the stern. These combine to produce lift that reduces drag and improves fuel economy. They also help to cushion the ride.

In addition, the steps aerate the hulls, further increasing speed. The foils are attached with titanium bolts for strength, but are designed to break away without compromising hull integrity if there’s a collision with a submerged object.

Running the 46 Coupe from Miami to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, following the boat’s worldwide introduction at the Miami International Boat Show, we faced overcast conditions and a solid 15 knots of northeast breeze stacking a steep wind chop against the rolling swells of the north-flowing Gulf Stream. But it was ideal for the 46 Coupe to strut its stuff with a bit less than 500 gallons of fuel and a crew of six.

Powered by a pair of 600 hp Mercury Verado V-12s, the boat had virtually no change in the hull attitude from idling at rest to being at speed on plane. At around 17 knots, the 46 Coupe began to ride on the foil as the two-speed Verado transmissions shifted to high gear. Handling felt a bit tight at that point, but with the engines trimmed out to 20 percent, the boat loosened up and the speed increased to more than 22 knots without any additional throttle.

It felt akin to Aladdin’s magic carpet ride as we bounded across the tops of the frothy seas at 25 to 35 knots. When we had to cross larger ship wakes or maneuver sharply, a quick trim to tuck the engines back in tightened up the ride without the need for trim tabs or interceptors.

There were also no creaks or rattles, even as we hit a top speed just over 42 knots. At a cruising speed of 33 knots, the engines burned 54 gallons of fuel per hour, giving us a range of 338 nautical miles with a 10 percent fuel reserve. Aquila touts the foil system as providing an increased fuel efficiency of up to 40 percent at cruising speed.

Several things stood out at the wheel. A pair of 24-inch Raymarine multifunction displays were mounted in the 60-inch-wide helm, which was free of glare and appeared to be free-floating in its design. The comfortable, three-wide seating provided exceptional visibility through the oversize coupe windows and sharply raked forward windshield. The electrically actuated sunroof opened to nearly 55 square feet overhead, giving us the option to enjoy the sun and breeze, or crank up the air conditioning powered by a 10-kilowatt Fischer Panda generator. CZone digital switching controlled all the boat’s DC-powered components from the helm.

But the coolest feature had to be Aquila’s new multifunction wheel. Its digital display remains centered no matter which way the skipper turns the wheel, with paddle-style buttons on each side to control any onboard function related to the National Marine Electronics Association. Hull No. 1 was set up with the music control settings on the left and the ship’s horn on the right, saving the helmsman from having to fumble for switches on the dash.

Open-air entertaining options range from the bow’s lounge seating to the stern’s loungers and trio of bar stools near a Kenyon grill. With the hinged aft window flipped up and the salon door open, the interior blends with the exterior.

The 46 Coupe is primarily a dayboat, but it’s comfortable for an evening or long weekend aboard too. The VIP stateroom is to port with an aft-facing queen berth and dry stowage. The master stateroom is to starboard with a queen-plus situated athwartship. Both staterooms are en suite with separate showers and 82 inches of headroom throughout. The decor includes light- and dark-gray tones, and accents of stainless steel and carbon fiber.

The galley is to port on the main deck, with additional seating abaft the helm to starboard. A recessed table normally lives within the deck, but can raise electrically for dining or cocktail hour. The 46 Coupe also has several big-boat touches, such as access doors on both sides of the cockpit for boarding, and an option for a compact electric davit that can lift some PWC models onto the aft deck.

With its blend of performance, stability and foiling technology, and a solid balance of interior and exterior entertainment spaces, the Aquila 46 Coupe is well-positioned to be a boat at the head of its class.

CE-Certified

All recreational boats being sold or entering the European Union are required to have CE certification, with four primary categories: A (ocean), B (offshore), C (inshore) and D (sheltered waters). The Aquila 46 Coupe is CE-certified for 12 passengers offshore, 22 inshore and 32 in sheltered waters.

Inboard Option

A pair of 440 hp Volvo Penta D6 DPI sterndrive diesel engines are available as an option for the 46 Coupe. Aquila says performance is roughly equivalent to the standard V-12 Mercury Verado outboards, although the Volvos do offer extended cruising range. Great Loop, anyone?

Solid and Strong

Aquila uses resin-infused vinylester throughout the hull and deck as well as in bulkheads and reinforcing structures. There is no wood in any structural components or below the waterline. Watertight bulkheads are fore and aft. The foils are designed to shear away without compromising hull integrity in a collision or grounding, in a similar manner as the lower unit of an outboard engine.

Take the next step: aquilaboats.com

The post Aquila 46 Coupe Reviewed appeared first on Yachting.

The Makai Yachts M37 is a power catamaran from Croatia with twin diesels, an entertainment-focused main deck and accommodations for extended voyaging

This power cat is new to the US market and is part of a two-model lineup from the Split, Croatia-based yacht builder. The other model is a 42-footer dubbed the M42. The M37’s design was created by Emanuele Rossi, a naval architect and yacht designer from Ventimiglia, Italy. According to the boatbuilder, the M37’s overall design inspiration comes from classic sports cars.

The M37’s optional twin 370 hp Yanmar diesels allow the power cat to reportedly reach speeds of 35 knots. Twin 320 hp Yanmars are standard. Makai attributes the vessel’s admirable performance to its proprietary low-drag, tunnel hull form known as the Air-Glide system. 

The hull is Kevlar-reinforced to add strength without significantly increasing weight. The robust build enables the M37 to be beached, making a day at the sandbar sans wet feet a reality.

In addition to the boat’s drag-reducing hull form, the M37 is equipped with a variety of tech features, including optional lithium batteries to manage hotel loads such as heating and air conditioning. Solar panels help with recharging. A CZone digital-switching system provides at-a-glance systems monitoring and control for the M37. The helm has dual seats as well as dual multifunction displays. A Zipwake trim system helps keep the M37 stable as a table.

The 204-square-foot cockpit is set up for at-sea entertaining with a three-person sunbed aft. The open layout has more seating forward of the sunbed. Between the two seating spaces is a folding table. The backrest of the sunbed folds back to help form an alfresco dining area for eight to 10 guests. Additional L-shaped seating and another table is forward and to port. There is even more real estate for a sink and an optional barbecue.

Accommodations include two cabins with en suite heads, including an owner’s space to port with a queen-sized berth and a sole-to-ceiling closet. The berth faces athwartships with ocean views out the hullside windows. The guest cabin to starboard has both an aft-facing double berth with stowage underneath and an athwartships single berth. Hullside windows bring in abundant light. 

The Makai Yachts M37 is available in either a Coupe or Open version. The Coupe model features a hardtop. There is a high level of personalization available for owners too, including a wide spectrum of fabric options, hull colors and engine upgrades in sterndrive or surface-drive configurations.

Look for the Makai Yachts M37 at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show from October 29-November 2.

Take the next step: makaiyachts.com

The post Meet the Makai M37 Power Catamaran appeared first on Yachting.

Revolution Marine Group has introduced the Oceanwalker S60e, a 60-foot solar-electric power catamaran that the builder says is aimed to address the growing demand for environmentally responsible boating alternatives.

The power catamaran has twin 200 hp (150 kW) electric motors that reportedly deliver speeds up to 12 knots, with an optimal cruising speed of 7 to 8 knots. 

Safe lithium-phosphate batteries serve as the power source for all hotel loads, including air conditioning, electric cooking and washer/dryers. The goal is quiet, emissions-free throughout the yacht.

A 10 kW solar array enhances the S60e’s sustainability credentials, enabling extended periods at anchor with moderate use of climate control and other systems. This setup reduces dependence on traditional power sources and reinforces the vessel’s eco-conscious design.

For longer voyages, the S60e has two 45 kW diesel generators, providing a reported cruising range of up to 800 nautical miles, according to the builder.

“Currently under construction at the Fujian Sky Walker shipyard in Zhangzhou, China, the Oceanwalker S60e is being crafted with meticulous attention to detail,” stated Edward Sacks, CEO of Revolution Marine Group in a press release. “Our engineering experts are closely overseeing every stage of the build process to ensure the highest standards of quality, performance, and durability. While we are delighted with the introduction of our initial solar electric catamaran, we continue to focus on staying ahead of the market when it comes to new and innovative technologies. Soon we will also introduce a larger model.”

The first Oceanwalker S60e is scheduled for delivery in April 2026 to Club Ki’ama Bahamas, a private enclave on Elizabeth Island near Great Exuma. This club offers solar-powered oceanfront residences alongside a fleet of carbon-neutral solar yachts.

“Club Ki’ama Bahamas is beyond excited to make the very first Oceanwalker S60e available to our owners,” stated John Long, Managing Partner. “This elegant, fully electric, solar yacht perfectly complements our sustainably constructed, solar-powered Club residences.”

Long added, “Imagine the enjoyment our Club owners will experience combining a stay in their beachfront Club home with an amazing yacht cruise in the Exumas. It’s the ultimate tropical vacation.”

The post Revolution Marine Group Unveils Oceanwalker S60e Power Cat appeared first on Yachting.

Power catamarans tend to excel in several key areas. One is their effective use of interior space, not only to wow guests but also to provide one of the most comfortable cruising experiences on the water. Case in point: the new 50-footer from Aquila Boats.

Easily identified by their distinctive hullside windows, Aquila’s five outboard-powered Sport and Molokai models range from 28 to 47 feet length overall. They are in addition to four models of the inboard-powered Yacht line from 42 to 54 feet, and a Luxury 70-foot flagship. The 50 Yacht Power Catamaran is aimed at the owner-operator and charter markets, and is equally adept on a mooring at sunset in the British Virgin Islands as it is cruising the Great Loop.

The length overall is 52 feet, 6 inches, and the beam is 25 feet, 6 inches, giving the boat a length-to-beam ratio of nearly 2-to-1 and an interior footprint that feels much bigger than a 50-footer. Aquila’s design team took full advantage of that space, starting with nearly 7 feet of headroom throughout the salon. To port, there’s an L-shaped galley, access to the port hull, and a dining area with a U-shaped sofa that can seat eight to 10 people. Opposite are a double fridge, wine chiller, access to the starboard hull, and a double sofa.

Hull No. 1 sports the standard three-stateroom layout. The VIP and a utility room with laundry are in the port sponson. This en suite stateroom has an island queen berth that faces outboard for stunning views through the 26-by-55-inch hullside window. To starboard is the second VIP, also en suite, with equally large windows. The star of the show is the master stateroom. It’s a single-level, full-beam affair forward with an island king berth. The master also has a head with a separate shower, a walk-in closet, and 80 inches of headroom that carries far forward.

Owners also can choose a four-stateroom optional layout to maximize charter opportunities, over/under berths in lieu of the laundry room, a forepeak captain’s cabin with a head in the starboard hull, and an owner’s office with a desk in the master stateroom. For boaters who frequently encounter inclement weather, a full lower helm in the salon is also available.

On the main deck aft, a notable feature is Aquila’s tender davit. It’s hidden within the hardtop, and deploys horizontally to winch up the tender from its perch on the stern before extending aft over the water. Singlehanded operation is no problem, and it can handle up to 1,000 pounds. (An Aquila 14 Cat RIB sport console with a 40 hp Mercury outboard can be spec’d.) The walkways to the bow are 30 inches wide and secure thanks to a sturdy railing. At the bow, the sun pads stretch across virtually the entire space, while a Fusion sound system supplies the tunes.

For all the benefits of the power-cat design, one knock is usually in the looks department. To overcome that typically blocky side profile, Aquila raised the freeboard on the 50 and restyled the lines to match the angles of the hull and window lines, resulting in a sleeker and more attractive look. These boats are built using composites and resin-infused vinylester below the waterline and in the watertight bulkheads for strength and durability, along with considerable weight savings and enhanced overall performance.

Standard power is a pair of Volvo Penta D6 direct-drive engines rated at 380 hp each. Options include 480 hp Volvo Pentas or 550 hp Yanmars for even more underway oomph. Hull No. 1 has the 480 hp D6s, which gave us an easy cruising speed of 18 knots, burning 35 gallons per hour. That’s good for a range of 240 nautical miles between fuel stops with a 10 percent reserve. Adding the optional 232-gallon fuel tanks extends that range to 360 miles. Pushing the throttles to the stops yields a top hop of 21 knots at 3,370 rpm. Backing off to 5 knots produces a range of 1,970 miles for long-distance cruising.

The 50 Yacht is also an exceptionally quiet design. At the dock, we could barely tell the engines were idling from the flybridge helm, and at cruise, I recorded 70 decibels—normal conversation was no problem. Thanks to prop pockets in the hulls, draft is just 4 feet, 2 inches.

During our time on board off Clearwater, Florida, I found the 50 to be an exceptionally well-behaved vessel. Tight turns and figure-eights yielded virtually no outboard heeling. The helm is highly responsive, and close-quarters maneuvering is excellent with the props set far apart, even without using the optional bow thrusters. These are all qualities of a very well-designed power catamaran.

And while the calm sea conditions didn’t permit an assessment of the boat’s rough-water capabilities, I felt confident in its ability to handle anything snotty that should appear on the horizon.

The Aquila 50 occupies the sweet spot in the builder’s lineup: large enough to offer plenty of luxury and comfort at the dock or underway while economical to operate in a charter environment or by a cruising couple. It should be a winning combination.  

Why Bulbous Bows?

The foam-cored bulbous bows forward on each hull sponson create lift and help ease the boat’s ride in rough seas. Bulbous bow designs also lengthen a vessel’s waterline for better fuel economy at displacement and semidisplacement speeds. These bows are molded separately from the hulls and can break away without compromising hull integrity in the event of a collision or grounding. 

In the Lineup

The new Aquila 50 steps into the builder’s line to replace the highly successful and now-retired Aquila 48. It’s positioned between the Aquila 44 and the Aquila 54. Designed and built using feedback gathered from extensive research and owner input, the 50 maintains the distinctive and innovative yacht styling of the Aquila brand while incorporating elements of an exploratory aesthetic, which include a higher freeboard and updated lines and styling.

Eco Cruising

In a nod to eco-friendly cruising, the Aquila 50’s hardtop design is optimized for solar-panel integration, while the engine rooms are configured to support either standard combustion engines or an environmentally friendly hybrid engine package. The Aquila Hydro Glide Foil System is also an option for the 50 and is compatible with the Yanmar 550 hp engine package to achieve optimal performance. The system, designed by the French naval architect firm VPLP Design, increases lift and decreases drag at higher cruising speeds.

Builder Backdrop

Aquila Boats has more than 40 years of manufacturing experience, as well as collaborations with multiple award-winning firms and designers. The company’s line spans from 28 to 70 feet in length. The builder aims for class-leading innovation with each model it produces. 

Take the next step: aquilaboats.com

The post Aquila 50 Power Catamaran Reviewed appeared first on Yachting.

Pioneering work is seldom easy. Bluegame knows this well as a Sanlorenzo yacht brand that leads instead of following trends. And it doesn’t always lead where boaters expect, as evidenced by its two recent power-catamaran projects.

The first project was to design and build a pair of chase boats for two America’s Cup syndicates. These full-foiling 33-footers had to include an all-new, zero-emissions electric propulsion system powered by hydrogen fuel cells, and needed a top speed of 50 knots. Bluegame’s BGH-HSVs were the only chase boats to fully meet that brief, which later had to be relaxed so the other syndicates could actually compete.

Bluegame’s second project is the BGM75, a thoroughly modern power catamaran. Design credits are shared between Bluegame’s in-house team, led by brand founder Luca Santella, and several creative studios. Philippe Briand’s London studio, which also worked on the chase boats, handled the BGM75’s naval architecture, while Rome-based Zuccon International Project and Milan-based Lissoni Associati collaborated on the yacht’s interior and exterior elements. A key requirement was that the power cat’s profile needed to be as attractive as Sanlorenzo Group’s monohull yachts.

My opinion is that the team nailed it.

This is a beautifully proportioned design in a genre that has thus far been dominated by boxy shapes. Few other, if any, power cats work quite so well. Although the learning curve was steep and involved building a first boat that simply didn’t work well enough, this one has substantially more bridge-deck height, more freeboard, bigger engines and an all-new gyrostabilization installation.

Exterior spaces include a swim platform that extends across the 26-foot-7-inch beam. Fold-down bulwarks on each side create an incredibly wide beach club for the vessel’s 74-foot-4-inch length overall. The BGM75’s wraparound transom has a decorative effect that makes it appear as one long run of dark glass. The cockpit on the deck above is probably twice the real estate footprint of the swim platform and a blank canvas for furniture. The high foredeck is also sizable with a dominating sun pad and a deep well around the ground tackle.

The amount of upper-deck space is also surprising. All of the usual flybridge accouterments are here: a bridge console with three seats and a centerline helm position, a wet bar, a dining table, a choice of sofas and loungers, as well as stairs to and from the cockpit. However, the available space allows that all these features can quite literally be walked around. And the hardtop protects about 80 percent of this deck from the elements.

I am a big fan of this yacht’s companionways, which have stainless-steel rails and link the swim platform, cockpit and flybridge. Instead of being opaque molded-in affairs, they are open structures that reduce visual clutter, and they don’t detract from the yacht’s sculptural structure.

Bluegame offers choices for the decor. The best I’ve seen favor white with rich-grain, satin-varnish veneers. The BGM75 that I got aboard had stained oaks with a contemporary light-dark scheme.

The BGM75 also allows for a couple of interior layouts. Owners can choose three or four staterooms, and galley-up or galley-down. In the galley-down, three-stateroom setup, there’s a full-beam owner’s stateroom forward with two VIPs in the port hull. In the galley-up version, an extra stateroom with a double berth is forward in the starboard hull, with a shower room that doubles as a day head.

In both layouts, the after end of the salon is a substantial lounge space, and the forward section has dining to port. Both layouts also include a lower standing helm position, with or without a wheel, and doors amidships to both side decks. The upper helm is intended to be the principal driving station.

The owner’s stateroom is accessed via a dogleg staircase beneath the windshield. It includes a seating area and vanity/desk to starboard, an aft-facing super-king berth, and en suite facilities to port. Those facilities can have basins—open to the sleeping area, but with separate shower and head stalls—or be fully enclosed with an opaque glass partition.

A cross-bunk cabin for two crew and a mess area are in the after end of the starboard hull.

Groundbreaking is not a word I throw around casually, and it is accurate in the case of the BGM75’s stabilization. This system includes two Smartgyro SG80s programmed to communicate and combat the power cat’s pitch and roll. These gyros don’t move in unison; the pattern of braking between the two quells most issues that cats have at slow speeds and at anchor, which are more about twitching accelerations than actual roll. This technology, right now, is a BGM75 selling point—Bluegame says Smartgyro agreed not to share the technology with any other builders for the next two years.

The BGM75 that I got aboard performed beautifully, although conditions were far from challenging: around 10 knots of breeze and no more than 3-foot seas. This boat had twin 900 hp Volvo Penta D13-IPS1200s instead of the standard 800 hp D13-IPS1050s, and we had the Humphree Interceptors in auto-trim mode with the Smartgyros on. Our top speed was 22 knots at the maximum 2,370 rpm. Fuel burn was just north of 91 gallons per hour.

At a less-stressful 2,100 rpm and a fast cruise speed of 17 knots, fuel burn dropped to around 65 gph, translating to an ultimate range of 410 to 420 nautical miles. Alternatively, an 8.5-knot slow cruise at 1,000 rpm burns 8.5 gph or so, providing a range of around 1,500 nm.

The yard captain on board had delivered the boat a few days earlier to the Cannes Yachting Festival in France, across from Sanlorenzo’s shipyard in Italy. He said the boat maintained at least 17 knots in mostly 6-foot seas, on a voyage of around eight hours. That equates to a 19-knot average speed.

Based on everything I’ve seen, the BGM75 is not just another power cat. It’s a true Bluegame build, and those are really special.  

THE CREATIVES

Luca Santella 

Bluegame’s founder is the driving force behind every new model. He combines design and architectural experience with a lifelong passion for all things nautical. In his early years, he sailed competitively, won many championships and competed in two Olympic Games: Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992.

Piero Lissoni

Piero Lissoni founded the Milan-based design studio that bears his name along with partner Nicoletta Canesi in 1986. They have a New York office for their work with interior design brands such as Alpi, B&B Italia and Kartell. For some brands, including Sanlorenzo, Lissoni also serves as art director.

Zuccon

Zuccon International Project is a family-owned studio based in Rome. For many years, it was the go-to design house for Ferretti and Custom Line. In recent years, it has developed a deep relationship with Sanlorenzo, entrusted with the design of all models across the Yachts, Superyachts and Bluegame divisions.

Philippe Briand

This yacht designer and naval architect is French, but has been based in London for many years. His early experience was mostly with sailing yachts, and he has worked with Groupe Beneteau extensively. More recently, his studio has developed custom superyacht projects with Vitruvius Yachts, which he co-owns with his wife, Veerle Battiau.

Even Keel

Smartgyro has been in business since 2014. In 2018, Yanmar acquired a majority ownership stake, adding the Smartgyro brand to its catalog that includes Vetus, Maxwell and Flexofold. Smartgyros are increasingly popular because of their relative ease of installation. They also can usually be serviced and repaired on board. The company has a competitive pricing strategy. 

Quiet Ride

At 17 knots, the BGM75 is surprisingly quiet. At the lower helm with the doors shut, I recorded just 62 decibels. In the VIP stateroom aft, it was 63 decibels. In the VIP forward, I recorded 61 decibels, with the owner’s stateroom at a remarkably low 57. For reference, 65 decibels is the level of normal conversation.

Coming Soon

Bluegame has a BGM65 power cat in development, with the launch probably two years away. It is expected to include conventional and hybrid hydrogen IPS installations. Coming sooner is the Bluegame BGF45, a foil-assisted open dayboat and weekender model based loosely on the 33-foot, 50-knot, fully foiling BGH-HSV chase boats built for America’s Cup syndicates. The first BGF45 should debut this summer or autumn.

Take the next step: bluegame.it

The post Bluegame BGM75 Power Catamaran Reviewed appeared first on Yachting.

In this article, we explore the world’s top power catamarans, ranging from a 36-footer ideal for a cruising couple to a 78-footer perfect for entertaining friends and family. The propulsion options are diverse, including outboards, diesel inboards, hybrids, and even all-solar setups.

Top Luxury Power Catamarans

The following power catamarans are all vessels we’ve reviewed. They are listed in no particular order.

• Fountaine Pajot MY44: A family-oriented cat suitable for long-range cruising and aimed at owner-operators. 
• Silent Yachts 60: This is a catamaran that can cruise comfortably for long distances using emissions-free solar-electric propulsion.
• Horizon PC74: With interior and deck space like a much larger vessel, the PC74 is perfect for cruising the Bahamas and Caribbean.
• Aquila 36: This beefy 36-footer is an outboard-powered, express-cruiser-style catamaran.
• Lagoon Seventy 8 Powercat: A spacious design, this vessel fits the volume of a 130-foot-long monohull into just 78 feet of length overall. 
• Horizon PC68: This cat has a stable ride, long range, volume to spare and intriguing layout options.
• Two Oceans 555: An elegantly simple yet luxurious 55-foot custom with the space and amenities of a much larger vessel.
• Lagoon 630: From its open salon to its spacious decks, the Lagoon is a comfortable and luxurious platform.
• Fountaine Pajot MY5: A midsize cruiser with serious big-boat space for family and friends. 
• Prestige Yachts M8: The voluminous 65-footer lets owners customize onboard spaces.
• Aquila 47 Molokai: Calling all anglers: This cat has 60-plus-knot speed and is set up for serious bluewater adventure.

Fountaine Pajot MY44

The Fountaine Pajot MY44, a creation of Italian architect Pierangelo Andreani and French designer Daniel Andrieu, has a main deck that’s open from the aft-deck seating all the way forward to the starboard helm station. The sense of spaciousness is significant, for several reasons. First, four glass panels aft can all slide to port, creating an indoor-outdoor space with the aft deck and salon. In the salon, 32-inch-high windows extend for 12 feet down the sides of the yacht, with three sections per side, bringing in natural light along with the three forward panes that comprise the windshield. Finally, 6-foot-6-inch headroom provides vertical clearance, with a 21-foot-7-inch beam that adds interior roominess while keeping the yacht stable.

Quick Specifications

Silent Yachts 60

Solar panels, ocean-crossing range and self-sufficiency define the electric Silent-Yachts 60 power catamaran. If there was any question that the “Tesla moment” has arrived in yachting, the Silent 60 clearly provides a positive response. Consider, for a moment, crossing oceans in silence at 5 to 6 knots without consuming a drop of fuel and never needing to plan your course between fuel stops. Imagine sitting at anchor and running the air conditioning all night, not to mention all the galley appliances plus the washer-dryer, without the hum or fumes from a genset.

Horizon PC74

As founder and director of The Powercat Company, a Horizon Power Catamarans distributor, Stuart Hegerstrom had long believed that catamaran builders needed to design their yachts to more stylish standards.

“The boats were very boxy,” he says, based on his years of experience with cats in the charter market. He and his partner, Richard Ford, asked Horizon to produce models that had high-end finishes and looked good inside and out.

The Horizon team brought in mega-yacht designer JC Espinosa to work with its own craftsmen. The result aboard the Horizon PC74 is a catamaran with exterior styling, layout and functionality that should appeal to private and charter owners alike.

Aquila 36

The Aquila 36 is a departure from her sisterships in that she is an outboard-powered, express-cruiser-style catamaran, but she also adheres to MarineMax’s philosophies.

With a single main living level from bow to stern and a beam of 14 feet 7 inches, the Aquila 36 is like a bowrider on steroids. She has seating that can handle 20 adults for outings and barbecues, and there are two staterooms below, one in each hull, for family weekending. The staterooms have nearly queen-size berths, en suite heads, stowage and 6-foot-6-inch headroom.

Lagoon Seventy 8 Powercat

Lagoon is a division of Groupe Beneteau, the world’s largest builder of sailing yachts, and the Lagoon Seventy 8 Powercat is a developmental sistership of its Seventy 7 super sailing cat. The Seventy series yachts are built at Construction Navale Bordeaux in France, which had to add a new yard to construct these catamarans because they require separate stern molds for the power and sail versions.

Horizon PC68

Multihull yachts ride differently than monohulls, often counteracting the sea’s motion for a smoother, more stable ride. On the Horizon PC68, sharp hull entries make head seas seem gentle, and a Humphree stabilization system with blades reduces roll. Horizon uses SCRIMP construction for resin saturation that maximizes strength with an 111,112-pound displacement. And with a 5-foot-4-inch draft, the PC68 invites island cruising.

Two Oceans 555

With 27-knot speed, house-like volume, an on-deck master and top-tier tech, the Two Oceans 555 is a formidable power catamaran. Dave Jirikovic of HMY Yachts was on a quest. The sales broker was looking for the meanest, nastiest patch of Gulf Stream he could find to show a potential client what the Two Oceans 555 power cat could handle. And just as he had intended to show us, the broad-shouldered power cat didn’t even notice. He even dropped the single-lever throttles back to idle and left the 25-foot-wide Two Oceans 555 beam-on to another set of square-edged seas. The 55-footer brushed that off too. Jirikovic tried quartering into the seas—never a happy angle for catamarans—and the yacht drowsed through them.

Lagoon 630

Fitted with the optional twin 300-horsepower Volvo Penta D4 diesels, the Lagoon 630 MY burns only 1.64 gph total at 6 knots, giving a theoretical range of 2,952 nautical miles with standard tankage of 793 gallons. Hull No. 1 had an optional 502-gallon tank, giving it transatlantic range.

Luxury, stability and economy are all hallmarks of Lagoon’s return to luxury motor yachts. If you can take a ride, it will be worth your time.

Fountaine Pajot MY5

The flybridge deck on the Fountaine Pajot MY5 is a standout feature, offering virtually unobstructed 360-degree ocean views and an elevated beach club vibe. Aft of the off-center starboard helm is a spacious area perfect for entertaining, complete with a wet bar, refrigeration center, and ample seating. It’s the most popular space aboard according to the builder. And if the weather turns for the worse, a second helm station in the saloon allows the skipper to pilot the MY5 in climate-controlled comfort.

Prestige Yachts M8

How fitting it was that Prestige Yachts introduced its new M-Line flagship, the M8, at Portopiccolo, a picturesque yachting village outside Trieste, Italy. Formerly a quarry, the cliff-side area had been chiseled into a clean site rife with eye-catching vistas, much like the French builder’s 65-foot power catamaran and its nearly 3,000 square feet of usable real estate.

Aquila 47 Molokai

With every boat, there’s an origin story. In the case of the Aquila 47 Molokai power catamaran, it starts with MarineMax, which saw people renting boats for bareboat charters. MarineMax Vacations was born. After experimenting with several production yachts, the company decided to build its own: the Aquila line, designed for charter as well as for sale to owner-operators.

The post Discover the Top Power Catamarans for 2024 appeared first on Yachting.

With every boat, there’s an origin story. In the case of the Aquila 47 Molokai power catamaran, it starts with MarineMax, which saw people renting boats for bareboat charters. MarineMax Vacations was born. After experimenting with several production yachts, the company decided to build its own: the Aquila line, designed for charter as well as for sale to owner-operators.

Sales are uncomplicated: Build a boat that buyers want at a price they can afford. Charter is another creature because a charter yacht has to be desirable and bulletproof. Bareboats have to be rugged, easily maintained and even easier to repair. Thus, the Aquila line became a success.

Now MarineMax spies a new niche: sport fishing. While previous iterations of the Aquila power catamaran have generally been comfy cruisers—and though the 28 Molokai dipped the builder’s toe into the sport-fish scene—the Aquila 47 Molokai has serious offshore angling written all over it. This boat can get to the fishing grounds at 60-plus knots, has amenities ranging from bait tanks to fish boxes, and is built with a nicely outfitted cabin for long weekends out chasing pelagics. At nearly 15 feet wide, this center-console cat has uncluttered 22-inch-wide walkways for chasing a fish all around. There’s also a 15-by-4-foot casting platform forward. The in-deck fish boxes are as long as 8 feet, and there are twin 42-gallon transom livewells.

On the day before I got on board, 15 anglers took the same 47 Molokai into the Gulf Stream to chase mahimahi and wahoo. They didn’t feel crowded because the 47 Molokai is CE-certified for as many as 20 passengers, with forward- and aft-facing seats. Under the carbon-fiber hardtop—which is braced for an optional Pipewelders tower—there’s seating for seven people in Stidd seats. Three are in front at the helm, and four are on a mezzanine level for kibitzing about the action.

The dash is user-friendly with twin (or triple) Garmin multifunction displays, CZone switching to control every system, neatly labeled overhead switches and buttons, custom Fusion audio and a Mercury joystick. Flipping up a panel reveals four ignition switches. Standard power on the 47 Molokai is twin 600 hp Mercury V-12 Verados, with quad 400 hp Mercury outboards optional and propelling the 47 Molokai to hit those eye-watering top speeds.

The 1,600 hp clamped to the transom is impressive, but so are other numbers associated with this slippery Peart Yacht Design hull. Running at 47 knots with the quad 400s, the 1,048 gallons of fuel provide a nonstop range of 600 miles with 10 percent reserves.

During my ride, we had a lumpy Gulf Stream with washing-machine chop. Even still, the 47 Molokai was soft-riding and comfortable, including in beam-to seas. Aquila raised the tunnel clearance above water, so there was no sneezing spray blown forward between the hulls, nor any slapping of waves at lower speeds. Quite simply, the power cat felt sidewalk-solid, even when we were at rest offshore.

The boat jumps onto plane quickly, and it was a giggle to use the knob on the steering wheel to spin doughnuts. Even better, at about 31 knots, the sound barely touched 78 decibels, which made for easy conversation.

Aquila built the hull using a lot of carbon fiber, and with resins that are 100 percent vinylester as well as infused for strength. Fore and aft watertight bulkheads add to the vessel’s monocoque strength. Muscular hinges on the three boarding doors (port, starboard and aft) make dive and dock access easy. Every hatch and locker has deep gutters to handle tropical downpours or overeager washdowns.

As a creature comfort, the 47 Molokai has a portable toilet in the cabin, which is outfitted to yacht-level finish with a queen-size berth, two skylights, windows, 6-foot-7-inch headroom, and an enclosed head with a shower. A pantograph door from the portside deck opens directly into the head, keeping the cabin pristine during fishing hours. With the standard lithium batteries, air conditioning will run for a solid eight hours.

I was also impressed by the carefully labeled, tidily loomed and accessible systems. From the baitwells (with a Hooker Pumps sea chest) to the fresh- and saltwater washdown plumbing, everything is easily reached for service. The two heavy-gauge aluminum fuel tanks have a transfer system to run off both or just one, and a charcoal fuel filter is standard.

The 47 Molokai that I got aboard also had the standard 20-plus rod holders and 10 spring-mounted cleats, plus an optional Release Marine leaning post, Gemlux outriggers, and Release Marine ladder-back seats in place of the standard Stidds.

This power cat is worth considering for owners who want a serious sport-fishing vessel, a way to entertain friends and family, or an enjoyable weekender. Beautifully designed and built, this boat is (don’t hate me) the cat’s pajamas.  

Peart Yacht Design

Headed by naval architect Chris Peart, this team is based in catamaran-rich South Africa. The company’s name is increasingly well known in North America. Power-cat design is a specialty, from initial concepts to engineering details.

CE-Certified

The CE designation stands for Conformité Européenne. It ensures compliance with European safety and performance standards. In this case, the 47 Molokai is certified for passengers in the categories of offshore, coastal and inland.

Take the next step: aquilaboats.com

The post Aquila 47 Molokai Reviewed appeared first on Yachting.

Any yacht that’s built with a “solar skin” is bound to attract owners who have at least a few thoughts about the environment. Such is the case with Sunreef’s Power Eco series of catamarans. Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso recently took delivery of a 60 Power Eco, saying that sustainability considerations were fundamental to his vessel choice. The owner of the first 80 Power Eco, christened Sól, built the yacht entirely cruelty-free, including far more than avoiding animal-derived fabrics such as leather.

As just one example, there’s a composting machine on board Sól. It lets the chefs reduce trash by turning scraps into fertilizer for island farmers, who, in exchange, provide the yacht with locally grown microgreens. “This is definitely different,” says chef Sara Nelson. “I don’t know any other boat doing these things to the level that we’re doing them.”

The captain of Sól thinks about sustainability right down to the crew’s polishing tools for the hull. “You need woolies, but I had to go to the manufacturer to see if it was real wool or not,” Capt. Jack Gorman says. “These are synthetic wool. That’s what we’re going for. Everything down to the bottom paint is cruelty-free. Ablative bottom paints, if you put 20 gallons of that on your yacht, it sloughs off into the environment, and it’s bad for the reefs. We’re using a silicon base without biocides.”

The 80’s two rotating chefs trained in plant-based cooking with celebrity chef Matthew Kenney. Aboard Sól, they will prepare any type of food that guests prefer, but they are ready for charter clients who want all-vegan menus.

“Most people are reducers,” the 80’s owner says. “A small percentage of the world is vegan, but the majority of people have been looking for plant-based options—not necessarily three meals a day, but they will choose a plant-based dinner some percentage of their evenings.” Aboard Sól, he adds, “it’s delicious, exquisite, high-quality plant-based options.”

As their name implies, the Sunreef Power Eco yachts also have electric power. Sunreef has been adding energy-saving air-conditioning systems, along with custom battery banks that are lighter—and, therefore, can be bigger—than the types of batteries some other builders are testing.

The result is the kind of cruising and charter experience that appeals to people who are eager to make an eco-friendly turn. As Alonso puts it, “long, fume-free and quiet cruises let you enjoy the seas on a whole new level. This yacht has some amazing technology that cannot be found anywhere else.”

Take the next step: sunreef-yachts.com

The post Sunreef Power Eco Is A Think-Different Catamaran appeared first on Yachting.

Dave Jirikovic of HMY Yachts was on a quest. The sales broker was looking for the meanest, nastiest patch of Gulf Stream he could find to show a potential client what the Two Oceans 555 power cat could handle.

“There,” he said, pointing ahead. “A series of solid 4-footers.” The Gulf Stream was roiled from several days of 20-plus-knot northern winds running against the northbound current.

And just as he had intended to show us, the broad-shouldered power cat didn’t even notice. He even dropped the single-lever throttles back to idle and left the 25-foot-wide Two Oceans 555 beam-on to another set of square-edged seas. The 55-footer brushed that off too. Jirikovic tried quartering into the seas—never a happy angle for catamarans—and the yacht drowsed through them.

Stability was among many characteristics that left me impressed with the Two Oceans 555, the company’s first offering in the United States. The builder was founded in 1989 and constructs its boats in Cape Town, South Africa, with power and sail models from 23 to 160 feet length overall. Two Oceans also builds offshore rescue craft, which explains some of the other characteristics I saw after taking a turn at the helm of the Two Oceans 555.

For instance, I was startled to learn that this power cat gets about 1 nautical mile per gallon at 10 knots. With 750 gallons of fuel, that’s a lot farther than most yachtsmen will ever want to run in a single hop.

This cat also has speed—topping out at more than 27 knots—with twin 550 hp Cummins QSB6.7L diesels. The vessel’s performance and seaworthiness are a tribute to the twin slippery hulls designed by Du Toit Yacht Design of South Africa. Using tunnels tightly fitted to the props for maximum power, and with low-drag sacrificial keels, the 555 has just a 3-foot-6-inch draft.

Construction is solid with a vinylester barrier coat underwater and PVC foam core, all vacuum-bagged for strength and reinforced with carbon fiber in high-load areas.

Effort has clearly been spent on soundproofing; my decibel meter barely nudged 82 dB(A) at 26.5 knots in the salon. Thanks to the boat’s underwater side-mounted exhausts, the bridge sound was even quieter: 79 decibels at 23 knots.

The thing I liked most about the Two Oceans 555 is that it is essentially a blank canvas. This particular boat had a layout I liked: an on-deck master stateroom separated from the salon by sliding doors. The master has 180 degrees of 27-inch-high windows for a panoramic view from the walk-around island berth. The en suite head is in the port hull with twin sinks, a 3-by-4-foot shower stall and a tilt-up vanity.

Guest staterooms included an athwartships space forward in the starboard hull with a larger-than-queen berth, and another stateroom aft with a queen berth. The opposite hull had a third guest stateroom with twin berths.

This yacht’s salon had a dinette to port opposite a galley large enough to accommodate several chefs. All the usual amenities—from US manufacturers for easy service—included a stand-up two-door fridge with a drawer, a microwave, a five-burner cooktop, an ice maker, a trash compactor and a dishwasher. What was more interesting was the size of the L-shaped Corian countertop: The L was a few inches shy of 8 feet, while the fore-and-aft counter was more than 11 feet long.

The salon opens up to the cockpit, which, on this 555, had a settee with a dining table. The back is double-sided so people could sit facing aft, either to watch the launching or retrieval of a tender with the hydraulic platform or just to enjoy a sunset. There’s also a U-shaped recessed dinette with wraparound seating on the foredeck.

That leaves the flybridge, whose open aft deck was 9 feet by 28 feet for sun lounges, chaises or personal watercraft to be launched via the optional crane. A wraparound dinette to port faced a grill, a fridge, an ice maker and a sink.

The helm is forward, abaft a full-height windscreen. There’s a double-wide Stidd seat, and either two or three Garmin multifunction displays. Future boats are likely to have the engine monitors and switches in an overhead, aircraft-style panel on the hardtop, but there was room for the skipper to make good use of the standard Side-Power bow thruster (a stern thruster is optional).

This power cat had the optional Off-Grid package, using twin 9 kW Integrel Solutions generators coupled to the prop shafts with flex power takeoffs. Combined with the solar panels forward of the flybridge helm, this arrangement feeds a bank of Victron Energy lithium-phosphate batteries totaling 26,000 watts, providing more than 19 hours of silent running time for all air-conditioning, ship and galley needs.

The Two Oceans 555 power catamaran has the interior and exterior real estate of a monohull nearly double its size. It offers a smooth ride in rough water, has accommodations for the largest of cruising families, and uses solar power to cruise anywhere a yachtsman desires. All of this, combined with the ability to heavily personalize the yacht, makes the Two Oceans 555 a strong offering in the power-cat marketplace.  

Wealth of Experience

Du Toit Yacht Design may not yet be a household name in the United States, but it is the leading catamaran design firm in South Africa, with several sizes of Two Oceans power cats and Balance sailing catamarans, and more than 120 production and custom yacht designs.

Power Play

Victron Energy is a Dutch producer of electrical equipment for marine and industrial needs, energy storage and solar energy access. Each Victron lithium-phosphate battery has its own battery-management system.

The Battery Basics

The builder says that when it comes to recharging, the yacht’s lithium-phosphate batteries can ramp back up to 85 percent power in just 60 minutes when the main engines are running. 

Efficient Engines

The Cummins QSB6.7L is an in-line six-cylinder, 408-cubic-inch, turbocharged, after-cooled diesel noted for its 80 percent noise reduction compared with similar engines, because of its common-rail fuel system. The single-loop, low-temperature after-cooling eliminates the need for keel coolers, and it reduces emissions.

Take the next step: hmy.com

The post Two Oceans 555 Reviewed appeared first on Yachting.