We are pleased to share this interview with Lex Raas featured in the 20th Anniversary of PassageMaker Magazine as a part of their Industry Pioneers feature.

Aquila Power Catamaran's Lex Raas

From the Pages of PassageMaker Magazine

PM: Describe the state of your market in 1995 compared to what it is today. How this has affected the way you conduct business?

In the early to mid-90’s, monohulls were dominant in the charter and cruising markets while catamarans occupied only a very small percentage of the space. That has all changed, thanks to the futuristic outlook of various folks in the boating industry focused on changing the game with a multihull product designed for better livability and enjoyment on the water.

Lex Raas, the visionary behind the Leopard Cat, the multihull that during the 1990’s became one of the most dominant sailing boats in the Caribbean and particularly in charter, recognized that as the catamaran concept was becoming increasingly popular, so was its need for continued evolution. Then in 2005, there was an increased interest in power cats, but at this time the popular approach to creating a power cat was simply taking a sailing cat and converting to power.

The power catamaran game changed in 2011, when Lex applied his boat development and visionary skills to a new power catamaran concept and Aquila enters the market. Aquila, a pure-bred power catamaran unlike anything in the marketplace, has taken a practically non-existent market and turned it on its head gaining tremendous presence in both the charter and private markets.

Now in 2014, power catamarans are becoming a force in boating, opening the market to a new user, as well as attracting the interest of long-time boaters.

PM: What is the best decision you have made as a company that has shaped your current reality?

Partnering with the right people to bring such an innovative yacht design to market. Aquila power cats are developed by the industry’s most forward thinking experts under the collaboration of the world’s leading companies to create the perfect blend of form, function, and innovation. Aquila is the choice of the world’s leading Marine charter and boating lifestyle companies and are built to perform reliably and repeatedly, under the most testing of conditions.

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