Beyond the Standard: How CE Certification Makes Your Aquila Adventure-Ready

When conditions change unexpectedly on the water, your boat's construction and safety features truly matter. Nothing gives you more confidence than knowing your vessel can handle challenging conditions. This is where CE Certification becomes invaluable.

CE Certification (Conformité Européenne) has been the gold standard for recreational vessel safety since 1998. Required for all boats sold in the European Union, this certification goes far beyond basic safety checks. It's a comprehensive assessment of a boat's capability to handle specific sea and wind conditions.

Most manufacturers build to minimal Class B or C requirements, offering Class A certification only as a premium upgrade. Aquila takes a different approach. We build every yacht in our lineup to Class A certification as standard. This means our ocean-capable yachts (the 42 Yacht, 44 Yacht, 50 Yacht, 54 Yacht, and 70 Luxury) are built from the ground up to handle the most challenging offshore conditions. For our Coupe, Sport, and Molokai models with outboard power, we target the highest achievable certification of Class B, ensuring exceptional capability within their category.

We believe that true freedom on the water comes from confidence in your vessel's capabilities. That's why CE Certification isn't just a regulatory requirement for us— it's core to our engineering approach and commitment to giving you the best on-water experience.

Why CE Boat Certification Stands Above the Rest

Many certifications simply confirm that a boat meets minimum safety requirements. CE certification goes further. It provides clear parameters about what specific conditions your vessel can handle.

This unique categorization system makes CE certification valuable for four key reasons:

1. It Tells You What Your Boat Can Actually Handle

CE certification categorizes vessels based on their ability to handle specific sea and wind conditions. This gives you practical information about your boat's capabilities when deciding when and where to boat.

2. It Examines Everything That Impacts Performance

CE certification evaluates the complete vessel as an integrated system:

• Structural integrity and stability
• Buoyancy and freeboard requirements
• Electrical and fuel systems
• Fire protection measures
• Environmental standards
• Safety equipment

3. It's Verified by Independent Experts

Many CE-certified boats undergo assessment by independent, government-approved organizations. This provides objective validation that your vessel meets these rigorous standards.

4. It's Recognized Worldwide

Even outside Europe, CE certification's reputation for rigor makes it respected worldwide. This benefits owners who cruise internationally or eventually sell their vessels.

The Aquila engineering team approaches these extensive requirements with dedication. We ensure certification provides our owners with documented proof of their vessel's capabilities.

⇒ View a sample Aquila 54 Yacht CE Certificate.

CE Categories and Aquila's Fleet Certifications

CE certification divides vessels into four categories based on their capability to handle specific sea and wind conditions.

Each category represents a specific level of vessel capability:

Category A – Ocean

Designed for winds exceeding Beaufort Force 8 (over 40 knots) and waves over 13 feet

Category A certification demonstrates exceptional structural integrity, stability, and seaworthiness in the most demanding environments.

This allows confident exploration of open ocean routes and extended voyages.

Category B – Offshore

Engineered for winds up to Beaufort Force 8 (40 knots) and seas up to 13 feet

Category B certification provides substantial safety margins for serious cruising, island-hopping adventures, and extended coastal journeys without ocean crossing intentions.

Category C – Inshore

Rated for winds to Beaufort Force 6 (27 knots) and waves to 7 feet

Category C certification ensures your vessel can handle coastal chop and small craft advisories with confidence.

Perfect for weekend trips where you want comfort even in moderate weather.

Category D – Inland/Sheltered Waters

For tranquil waters with winds to Beaufort Force 4 (16 knots) and waves to 18 inches

Category D certification is ideal for luxury entertaining, day cruising, and relaxed enjoyment in protected waters.

These certification categories aren't just regulatory checkboxes—they're practical guidelines that help you understand your Aquila power catamaran's true capabilities. Higher certification levels mean better performance in challenging conditions, more versatile cruising options, and ultimately more enjoyable time on the water.

Aquila Fleet Certification Chart

Below is a comprehensive chart showing each Aquila model's certification levels with maximum passenger capacity:

The Practical Value of CE Certification

While CE Certification is mandatory for new and used boats sold in Europe, it is not a requirement for the United States. However, its significance extends far beyond regulatory compliance:

Weather Isn't Always Predictable

CE certification gives you peace of mind. You know exactly what conditions your boat can safely handle. It gives you clear parameters about what your Aquila can safely navigate.

Clear Documentation of Capabilities

This certification offers valuable documentation when planning voyages that might encounter challenging conditions.

Objective Standards

The rigorous testing required for CE Certification means every system on your Aquila has been thoroughly evaluated. This assessment covers structural integrity, stability, buoyancy, electrical systems, fuel systems, fire protection, and many other critical safety aspects.

More Enjoyment Per Minute

While other boats head back to port when conditions worsen, your Aquila lets you continue your journey confidently. You can focus on experiences rather than worrying about limitations.

CE Certification: A Benchmark, Not a Ceiling

Aquila power catamarans are built to rigorous standards that meet and often exceed CE requirements.

For us, certification serves as a baseline rather than a target. Our engineering standards frequently exceed the minimum requirements, maintaining substantial safety margins beyond the stated parameters.

The catamaran design inherently provides advantages in stability, comfort, and performance compared to conventional monohulls. The wider stance creates exceptional stability. The twin hull design reduces pitching motion in waves. These features ensure your onboard experience remains refined even as conditions worsen.

Advanced Construction Elements

Aquila's commitment to exceptional engineering is evident across our fleet, with many models featuring advanced construction elements such as:

• Resin infused hull, deck, and bulkhead construction creating high strength and stiffness
• Vinyl ester resin with excellent corrosive and water-resistant properties
• Core materials that vary in density dependent on loads
• Watertight bulkheads fore and aft
• Strategically designed bulbous bows on all yacht models
• High-quality windows in hull and deck
• Custom-built stainless steel structural supports

These construction features contribute to our outstanding CE certification ratings across our power catamaran fleet, ensuring superior performance in challenging conditions.

This philosophy extends throughout our design process—from initial concept through material selection to final construction. The result is a vessel that doesn't just meet certification standards. A boat that doesn't just meet standards. It performs with confidence when those standards are truly put to the test.

These engineering advances make your boating smoother and more intuitive. You can focus on enjoying yourself while we handle all details of construction and performance. We build Aquila boats to last, with durability that keeps your boat performing at its best for many years to come.

Experience Certified Confidence

While certification details may not capture the imagination like other vessel features, they become immensely significant when conditions challenge expectations. Those perfect sunset cruises occasionally encounter small craft advisories, and that's when engineering decisions truly matter.

Aquila's high certification ratings ensure your vessel is ready for whatever adventure calls—from coastal day trips to offshore journeys. Your boat has the versatility to adapt as your boating aspirations evolve. 

While you may never experience rough weather conditions, your mind can be at ease knowing that, if you do, you will be on one of the safest power catamarans in the world

Ready to Experience the Difference?

We invite you to:

• Get our Ultimate Guide to Power Catamarans – Learn about catamaran history, benefits, and trends.
• Review Model Specifications - Access complete technical specifications for all Aquila models on their respective model pages.
• Contact Your Local Dealer - Connect with an Aquila expert who can guide you through how our certification standards translate to real-world boating confidence.

When you choose an Aquila power catamaran, you get more than a boat—you get a thoroughly tested vessel that expands what's possible and makes every moment on the water better.