The Aquila Hydro Glide® Foil System is transforming the boating experience by enhancing performance, fuel efficiency, and ride comfort. What began as an optional feature on the 36 Sport has evolved into a standard feature on the new Coupe models, with optional availability on many models in the yacht lineup.
FOILS: THE BASICS
Foils behave similar to the wing of an airplane: the profile of the foil creates a pressure variance above and below the foil, creating lift. Racing boats use this technology to rise fully out of the water; Aquila catamarans are semi-foiling in that the hull does not fully clear the water, but enough lift is created to dramatically improve performance.
Aquila’s foil technology was designed by renowned America’s Cup yacht designers Gino Morrelli and Pete Melvin. It turns out that 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)
• Two stabilizer fins that prevent the bouncing-ball effect at higher speeds
• 40% hull lift at cruise speeds (the sweet spot between “this is working” and “we’re flying”)
Why does 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 4-to-1.
Aquila’s foils offer another advantage: most foil systems need computers and active control to operate, whereas Aquila’s fixed foils are completely transparent to operate. The dihedral V-shape naturally stabilizes itself, which means you get all the benefits of a foil without needing a physics degree to operate your boat.
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.
INNOVATING ON SUCCESS
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, Aquila decided to make the foil technology standard on its new 42 and 46 Coupe models, introduced at the Miami International Boat Show in February of 2025.
“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.”
An independent third-party reviewer stated that Aquila’s foil system on the 36 Sport improved top speed by 37% at 4500 RPM. More to the point, one editorial review stated: “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.”
The Aquila Hydro Glide® Foil System spans between the two hulls and is bolted and bonded into predesigned recesses with marine-grade fasteners, similar to how a sailboat keel is attached. Worried about hitting a lobster pot? According to Pete Melvin of Morelli & Melvin Design, “The foil is actually much tougher than a propeller is. So you’re likely to do a lot more damage to your drive gear than you would to the foil in that situation.”
Prefer shallow waters? Not a problem because both the skegs (outboard engines) and the sacrificial keel (inboard engines) sit lower than the foil, unless your outboard engines are trimmed up. Most foil-equipped Aquila owners navigate the same shallow water areas they always have, with normal attention to depth.
TO FOIL OR NOT TO FOIL
Aquila’s semi-foiling system is also available on many of its yacht models—specifically, the 42 Yacht, 46 Yacht and the 50 Yacht (and even the flagship 70 Luxury model). The strategy makes sense: the foils come standard on models where efficiency transforms the day-boat experience, and optional where customization and choice matter most.
The decision comes down to your boating style, typical operating speeds, and priorities for efficiency versus simplicity. Foil systems generally start providing benefits in the mid-teens mph range and are optimized for higher cruise speeds. If you regularly cruise at higher speeds and value significant fuel efficiency improvements, foils may be right for you. By contrast, skip foils if you cruise leisurely at lower speeds or primarily day-boat in local waters. The key is matching the right boat to your boating dreams.
For more information, visit aquilaboats.com or contact your local Aquila dealer.
*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.
