Improved Efficiency with Aquila Hydro Glide

Foil System

 The Aquila Hydro Glide® Foil System is transforming the boating experience by enhancing performance, fuel efficiency, and ride comfort across various Aquila power catamaran models. What began as an optional feature on the 36 Sport has evolved into a standard inclusion on the new 42 and 46 Coupe models, with optional availability on the 42 Yacht, 50 Yacht, and capability for the 70 Luxury. 

Making the extraordinary, ordinary: The 2025 update

The 36 Sport power catamaran is widely regarded as the leading production foiling boat in the world. After years of watching this technology deliver incredible results, we knew the new Coupe series deserved the same advantage from day one.

This evolution reflects our commitment to bringing proven technology to more owners.

"When we started developing the Coupe series, we knew we wanted to include foils as an option for owners," says Jean Raas, chief product officer & chief executive officer of Aquila USA. "We learned a lot from the experience of offering foils on our 36 Sport power catamarans. Getting the shape right was an extensive process of trial and experimentation, but the performance gains we saw on those boats were incredible—upwards of 35% improved fuel efficiency. Once we realized how much our foils improve fuel efficiency and ride comfort, we decided to make them standard on the Coupes."

"Foils are tricky to get right, and even the material matters," says Raas, referring to the superior qualities of carbon fiber. "We spent a lot of time and energy getting this right, and now we want to make sure our customers enjoy the benefits."

The result? Aquila Hydro Glide Foil System comes baked right in fort he 42 and 46 Coupe power catamarans.

Here's why this technology has become such a game-changer across our foil-equipped models:

The revolutionary Aquila Hydro Glide Foil System enhances the performance, consumption, and handling of our already spectacular power catamarans. For the Aquila 36 Sport, the hydro-glide foil improves miles per gallon by 40% when compared to a competitor's 36' power catamaran and decreases the fuel consumption rate by 37%.* As reviewed by Boating Magazine: "It's hard to believe that a piece of metal with no moving parts can be the approximate equivalent of adding 200 horsepower, 100 gallons of fuel, and 100 miles of extra range." But, that's what happens when the Aquila Hydro Glide Foil System is attached between the two hulls.

Discover the technology and ingenuity behind the  Aquila Hydro Glide Foil System in the videos below, plus dive into the complete independent analysis from marine experts who actually tested these boats head-to-head Read Boating Magazine's Full Analysis. See BoatTEST's Independent Testing Data for their comprehensive comparison results. We're always innovating and finding ways to make the user experience on an Aquila even better. The Hydro Glide Foil System is a great example as it leads to greater efficiency and stability.

*NOTICE TO CONSUMER: The information and data around the performance of these Aquilas is approximate and subject to many different factors and variables. It is provided as a guideline only and should not be relied upon as representative of actual performance. The actual performance of your Aquila vessel will likely vary based on numerous environmental conditions including but not limited to wind speed, water currents, temperature, humidity, elevation, as well as vessel-specific factors such as bottom paint condition, optional equipment weight, and handling techniques employed by the operator.

Aquila foil capabilities: Standard vs. Optional

Standard equipment models:

• 42 Coupe (15'11" beam) - Foils included
• 46 Coupe (17'11" beam) - Foils included

Optional upgrade models:

• 50 Yacht - Optional foil system (early production showing 15%+ efficiency gains)*
• 42 Yacht - Optional upgrade for extended-range cruising
• 36 Sport - Optional foils (very popular choice - typically sees 30-40% efficiency gains)*
• 70 Luxury - Foil-capable design, available when adventure calls

The strategy makes sense: Standard on models where efficiency transforms the day-boat experience. Optional where customization and choice matter most. The key is matching the right boat to your boating dreams—and that's where a conversation with your dealer becomes essential, especially since engine packages matter for foil optimization. 

What the boat experts are saying (spoiler: good things) 

Independent reviews from people who actually test boats

Boating Magazine (they test a lot of boats): "It's hard to believe a piece of metal with no moving parts can be the approximate equivalent of adding 200 horsepower, 100 gallons of fuel and 100 miles of extra range. But when it's a hydrofoil attached between the hulls of an Aquila 36 Sport power catamaran, that's the net effect."
Read their complete head-to-head analysis /

BoatTEST (the independent testing authority): "Our tests, when compared to Aquila test numbers of an identical boat without foils, improved top speed by 6 mph or 16%—44.1 MPH vs. 38 MPH w/o foils. At 4500 RPM the 36 with foils went 31.7 MPH, 8.7 MPH or 37% faster than the boat w/o foils."
See their comprehensive testing data /

Coupe Testing Coming Soon: BoatTEST reviews for the new 42 and 46 Coupe models are coming soon. Aquila ran some preliminary tests and they show promising results: At cruise speed of 30-45 mph, the Aquila 42 Coupe with outboards & foils achieves 1.0 to 0.8 mpg—a 30% improvement over the non-foil version and nearly double the efficiency of comparable monohull competitors. The larger 46 shows similar advantages, maintaining efficiency of 0.7 mpg at 33-45 mph with outboards, pair either boat with the Volvo Penta DPI inboards in lieu of outboard engines and efficiency increases to 1.1 to 1.3 mpg.*
Sign up to be first to know when new Coupe content is released / 

How does this engineered foil system do all this?

The simple science behind not-so-simple engineering 

Here's what Morelli & Melvin figured out: Gino Morrelli and Pete Melvin didn't just wake up one day and decide to stick wings on a catamaran. These are the same minds behind America's Cup foiling technology. Turns out, decades of making sailboats fly translates pretty well to making powerboats more efficient.

The setup is beautifully simple:

• Fixed foil system spanning between the hulls (no computers, no moving parts, no drama) - with materials and positioning optimized for each model
• Two stabilizer fins that prevent the bouncing-ball effect at higher speeds
• 40% hull lift at cruise speeds (which is the sweet spot between "this is working" and "we're now flying")

Why it works so well: Traditional hulls push through water like a linebacker through a crowd—lots of effort, lots of resistance. Hydrofoils are more like a ballet dancer—lift yourself above the chaos and glide through with grace. The result? A 25-to-1 lift-to-drag ratio compared to a regular hull's 4-to-1. That's not just better; that's "wait, run those numbers again" better.

The Aquila advantage: Most foil systems need computers and active control to keep you from becoming a very expensive submarine. Ours is set-and-forget. The dihedral V-shape naturally stabilizes itself, which means you get all the benefits without needing a physics degree to operate your boat.

Beyond fuel savings: The foil system also reduces engine wear and tear by lightening the load during operation. When the engines don't need to work as hard to maintain speed, they last longer and need less maintenance. It's efficiency that pays dividends beyond the fuel dock.

Your burning foil questions, answered

Because "how does this actually work?" is a fair question

Choosing your Aquila foil adventure

For weekend warriors who want efficiency baked in: 42 or 46 Coupe with standard foils. Zero decision fatigue, maximum fun per gallon.

For yacht owners who like to customize their experience: 50 Yacht or 42 Yacht with optional foil upgrade. Build your vessel exactly how you want it, with the option to add serious range when adventure calls.

For the performance enthusiasts: 36 Sport with optional foils. Very popular choice - run smaller engines while maintaining the same speed as larger engines, dramatically reducing fuel consumption. This is where the foil story began and continues to evolve.

For the luxury adventurers: 70 Luxury with foil capability. When your dreams require the ultimate in space and performance, the technology is ready when you are.

The bottom line: Talk to your dealer. Engine packages matter for foil optimization, and they'll help you find the perfect match for your waters and your adventures.

Next steps 

The path from curious to cruising

Talk to the experts: Your local Aquila dealer knows which configuration makes sense for your boating style, your waters, and your adventures.

Fresh off the water: BoatTEST puts the Coupes through their paces We recently took BoatTEST out for comprehensive reviews of the new 42 and 46 Coupe models with standard foils. Their full analysis is coming soon, and if their previous Aquila reviews are any indication, it's going to be worth the read. You can check out their current 36 Sport review with foils to see what independent testing looks like.

Want to be first to know when their Coupe reviews drop? Sign up for Coupe updates - we'll send you the BoatTEST results plus all the latest on foil technology and new model announcements.

Expert resources:

• Boating Magazine Deep Dive - Complete head-to-head testing analysis
• BoatTEST Technical Review - Independent speed and efficiency data
  
  

*NOTICE TO CONSUMER: The information and data around the performance of these Aquilas is approximate and subject to many different factors and variables. It is provided as a guideline only and should not be relied upon as representative of actual performance. The actual performance of your Aquila vessel will likely vary based on numerous environmental conditions including but not limited to wind speed, water currents, temperature, humidity, elevation, as well as vessel-specific factors such as bottom paint condition, optional equipment weight, and handling techniques employed by the operator.