Opposite:

Even at wide- open throttle and speeds of 21 knots, the spray chine and fine entry keep the foredeck dry. Thanks to a sunpad and a built-in seat with backrest, it is comfortable as well. Below: Anchor platform detail; Elegant forward stateroom is finished in high-gloss cherry, the standard finish on all Elling yachts.

At the stern, the stairs leading down to the swim platform are very exposed and have no hand rail, which seems odd because it could compromise the safety of crew descending to the platform to gain access to the machinery space on one side or the crew’s quarters opposite. Fortunately this wouldn’t be a difficult fix. Access to the garage and the 12-foot Williams Jet tender is via a central transom door. The slipway eases launching and retrieval.

For sitting out in the sun there is the choice between the cockpit aft and a small settee let into the forward part of the coachroof. Neither offers sun protection, but I am sure that at least some form of screening will be offered for the cockpit, or added on after the fact. After all this was the prototype E6 which had only been completed just five days before our sea trial.

The interior design focuses on the saloon, and what a wonderful job they have done. Large windows all round give a great view of the outside and, more important, there is a 360¡ view from the starboard-side helm. Here there are two sprung seats facing an impressive dash dominated by two large Raymarine displays with a mass of smaller displays on the lower dash. The array of switches is impressive, but my preference would have been to give priority to more important switches, such as the wipers and the windlass control, and have them on the bottom row in the array, closest to the captain.

Another possible problem with the helm is that there is no communication possible to anyone on the foredeck unless you have the center window in the windscreen open. Aft, the sliding window next to the entry door can be opened with electric power and there is a large sliding roof section that can be opened if you want fresh air or a view of the stars at night.

The L-shape settee opposite the helm is a great place for guests to lounge or chat. Additional seating located aft has a curved settee and table facing a deployable TV screen and two individual seats, one each side of the screen. A wine cooler in the after corner keeps the drinks ready at hand in the evenings for either the saloon or the cockpit.

Jerry Blakeley’s Interlude - an Aquila 44 Power Catamaran

Jerry Blakeley and his wife, Yunie, were eating lunch at a waterside restaurant in Delray, Florida, in January 2013, when they spotted their dream boat — and lost her.

“My dream was to have a large cabin cruiser with a fly bridge,” says Jerry, who began sailing 30 years ago and purchased his first twin-outboard power boat in 2000, when he was looking for a boat that required less physical work to navigate.

“I was concerned because all of the boats I saw with fly bridges required you to go down steps to the aft section of the boat and then walk along the side decks to get to the bow. I felt this was awkward; it would take my eye off where the boat was, and therefore was not safe for me,” he adds.

“MarineMax and Aquila continued to improve on the previous models,” Jerry says. “The Aquila 44 rides smoother and is more fuel efficient after some modifications. With the bow thruster built into the starboard bulbous bulb, I am able to get into tight spots, even coping with wind and current.”

What else makes the Aquila 44 a great boat? Jerry explains:

Private Suite. The large master cabin has a king-size bed, a separate office area, and a large shower. The private suite has plenty of storage space: two tall closets, two storage compartments in the desk, storage under the bed, side tables and two large storage cabinets at the bottom of the stairs heading to the master head.

Main Salon. The compact galley features an electric Kenyon cooktop and combination microwave/convection oven, refrigerator and