Aquila Molokai 47 Review
A Luxury Fishing Platform That Goes the Distance.
April 30, 2024
Aquila Catamarans has been building cruising powercats for four decades and the Chinese company is known for creating upmarket distance cruisers. They’ve now leveraged that knowledge and applied it to building the Molokai 47, a hybrid cat which melds an offshore fishing center console with a comfortable multihull cruiser. It’s pretty much a lone entry in outboard powered fishing cruisers so we took a look.
Overview
A quick run through shows a 14’7” wide platform with a large casting deck on the bow followed by a sunpad. Three chaise seats with cupholders and stowage below rest up against the console. Wide side decks on either side lead past the hardtop and twin row seating to the aft cockpit. A padded gunnel and stainless handrail provide both comfort for leaning and holding on under way. A hull door on either side makes boarding easy from a dock or can be used as tuna doors.
Above: A 2024 Aquila 47 Catamaran. Photo via MarineMax / Aquila.
The aft cockpit is roomy and open with a row of four fixed aft-facing mezzanine-style seats behind the hardtop and twin double seats that drop down from the transom. A door leads out to a long central swim platform with a beefy boarding ladder that will hold up even if divers ascend wearing full gear. The tunnel between the stepped hulls is high to preclude slamming into head seas and the hardtop is low with a raked windshield which give this new entrant a sleek profile.
The hull is a vinylester composite with carbon crash bulkheads. All systems are well organized and cleanly labeled. The cockpit sole allows access to the electrical systems on starboard and the plumbing on port. With a bank of lithium batteries, there is no generator offered.
Fishability
There’s a total of 34 rod holders aboard – 8 across the back of the hardtop, 4 more on the aft hardtop posts, 6 off the transom, and 8 along either side running forward. Two 42.5-gallon livewells stretch across the transom and there are multiple 4-foot fish boxes with macerators as well as 74-gallon coffin boxes forward. A free-standing varnished wood launcher/table is the centerpiece of the cockpit and it has both rod holders and cupholders. It’s a good place to steady yourself in a sea way or put a plate of canapes when entertaining. You can also add a livewell or tuna tubes depending on which outfitting package you spec.
Above: A 2024 Aquila 47 Catamaran. Photo via MarineMax / Aquila.
The backrest of the starboard mezzanine-style seat flips down to reveal a fish cutting or prep table while the one on port hides one of the two large tackle storage areas aboard. There are both fresh and saltwater washdowns to clean the guts off the deck at the end of the day.
Hospitality and comfort items include built in coolers beneath the aft-facing seats, two integrated trash cans, a refrigerator, and a Fusion stereo. In fact, the only thing that’s missing is a way to cook your catch.
Helm & Covered Seating
The heart of the Molokai 47 is the central seating area which is covered by a carbon hardtop that’s reinforced to hold an optional tower. Here, you’ll find two rows of ladder-back Stidd chairs with arm rests and bolsters. Three seats are forward with four more behind and elevated six inches for better visibility. The top of the dash is high so a cheater step drops down to elevate the driver’s sightlines.
Above: A 2024 Aquila 47 Catamaran. Photo via MarineMax / Aquila.
Twin 24-inch Raymarine MFDs centralize every bit of onboard information and act as backup to the CZone screen. The throttles and joystick are to the right of the wheel and overhead is a row of switches which control key systems in case the digital switching system becomes inoperable. Induction charging for your phone is available and a FLIR camera system is optional.
A third 16-inch display is mounted on the aft end of the hardtop to share information with the crew in the cockpit or to provide entertainment when the angling is done. Two minor complaints with the helm design include the windshield wiper that inexplicably rests in the middle of the windshield, and the distance of the overhead switches from the seats which makes them hard to reach. Otherwise, there are few captains who could take issue with this comprehensive helm.
Propulsion & Performance
The Molokai 47 comes with a choice of three propulsion packages. The standard includes twin Mercury 600-hp outboards or you can upgrade to quad Verado 400 V10s or even quad Mercury 450R racing engines. My guess is that the quad 400-hp motors will probably be the most popular given their good fuel consumption and whisper quiet operation. With these engines, you can expect a top speed at 55-60 knots. A solid 24-knot cruise at 3500 rpm will provide a 500 nautical mile range depending on conditions. With her 1,048-gallon fuel tank, you can fish well offshore or hop up and down the coast before needing to think about topping up. The ride is soft thanks to the twin-stepped hull that carves aggressive and sure-footed turns. Joystick piloting makes docking a snap.
Above: A 2024 Aquila 47 Catamaran. Photo via MarineMax / Aquila.
Accommodations
Lots of boats can fish and some can even entertain, but few of these center consoles can head offshore overnight because they have spartan accommodations if any. The Molokai 47 flips the script on hardcore fishing machines with a posh cabin and a head worthy of a luxe cruiser. The starboard sliding door leads into the cabin with a queen bed under two skylights and two opening hatches. More light comes through the side windows which provide views all the way through the long outer hull windows and beyond.
Above: A 2024 Aquila 47 Catamaran. Photo via MarineMax / Aquila.
Even tall anglers will love this cabin thanks to the 6’ 7” headroom and walkaround space on both sides of the bed. There’s plenty of stowage space for clothes and necessities, a flatscreen TV, and air conditioning that can run up to eight hours on the optional lithium batteries. A pantographic door is to port and with it open, you have even more air flow in the evening. This door also provides direct access to the wet head which is aft.
Versatility
The focus of this angling cat is versatility. You can fish offshore with a dozen friends, entertain with four couples, go diving with kids, or weekend coastal hop with your sweetie. And you can do this on a stable, twin-hulled platform that’s light on fuel and easy on passenger fatigue. Best of all, this cat has long legs and makes tracks at 50 knots.
Above: A 2024 Aquila 47 Catamaran. Photo via MarineMax / Aquila.
Aquila launched their Molokai range with the diminutive 28-footer, so they’ve taken quite a leap in this new model. With the Molokai 47, they’ve also attracted a different clientele – one that is looking for big party angling and a luxury appeal at a price of $1.6 million plus. For those who won’t compromise on luxury, speed or fishability, the Molokai 47 may fit the bill.
Molokai 47 Specifications:
LOA: 49’ 4”
Beam: 14’ 7”
Draft: 3’ 8”
Air draft/clearance: 9’7”
Displacement: 22,818 lbs dry
Power: 4 x Mercury Verado 400 and other (2000 hp max)
Fuel: 1,048 gal
Price well-equipped: $1.6 million
View Aquila 47 Molokai Boats For Sale
