Inside the Aquila Factory: The Story Behind Aquila Sailing Catamarans

A rare look inside the Sino Eagle Shipyard in Hangzhou, China — the 27-acre birthplace of the world’s largest powered catamaran brand — reveals a story of humble beginnings, relentless innovation, and the bold global vision now driving the Aquila sailing catamaran line.

As the exclusive distributor for Aquila Sailing Catamarans in North America, Mexico, and the Caribbean, The Catamaran Company is excited to share this inside look at the innovation, engineering, and craftsmanship behind one of the world’s leading catamaran brands. Whether you’re a current owner, a boating enthusiast, or a future catamaran adventurer, this four-part series offers something rare: a genuine look behind the curtain.

From Rowing Skulls to Aquila Sailing Catamarans: The Origin Story

Every great brand has an authentic origin. Aquila’s begins with founder John Chong — the son of a fisherman — learning carpentry from his father and obsessing over a deceptively simple question: how do you make a wooden boat faster, stronger, and lighter?

That question led Chong to build his own rowing skulls in 1985. A year later, he entered a local competition on West Lake — and won. The Flying Eagle Factory was born, growing to produce rowing skulls, Stella kayaks, and a domestic carbon fiber brand called Woody.

By 2008, the company set its sights on yachting. Aquila Power Cats launched its first model — a 38-foot power catamaran — in 2014, in partnership with Marinemax’s charter division. The charter fleet proved the concept at scale, and retail demand followed worldwide. Now, decades after that first rowing competition, Aquila is expanding into sailing — and we’re proud to be an official dealer of the Aquila sailing catamaran line.

“He grew up with a father that was a fisherman. Very humble beginnings. Learned carpentry from his father and was really fascinated about how to make boats faster, stronger, and lighter.”
— Alain Raas , Global Brand Director, Aquila

The Sino Eagle Shipyard: A 27-Acre Manufacturing Marvel

The Sino Eagle Shipyard spans 110,000 square meters — roughly 27 acres — housing the corporate headquarters, R&D center, and full production lines under one roof. What immediately strikes first-time visitors is its cleanliness. For Aquila, this is entirely deliberate.

“First and foremost, we want to take care of our employees,” says Global Brand Director Alain Raas. Air filtration systems keep factory air clean both inside and in atmospheric emissions. Water entering the sewer system meets clean-water standards. Waste materials are reused wherever possible; the rest is recycled and returned to the local community.

On sustainability, the commitment goes further. Solar panels cover all five buildings on campus, generating approximately 3.2 megawatts of power — half used to run the shipyard, and half fed back into the public utility grid to power local residential units.

The same efficiency mindset runs through every department — from five-axis CNC machines that minimize composite waste, to CNC-guided upholstery cutting that stretches every meter of fabric. Aquila’s view: being profitable and being sustainable are the same goal.

Inside the R&D Center: Where Aquila Designs Are Born

The R&D facility is the creative engine of the Aquila operation — close to 100 workers, two CNC milling machines (a three-axis 5×8 m unit and a five-axis 17×8 m machine), and five temperature-controlled bays dedicated to plug and mold building.

The design journey is rigorous. A concept starts with vision, moves through full CAD development (covering electrical runs, plumbing, and structural engineering), then into a dedicated prototype build. Only after exhaustive testing does it graduate to hull number one — and then into production.

External design partners include J&J Design (Slovenia), VPLP Design (France), Per Yacht Design (Cape Town), and Yacht Design Group (Clearwater, Florida). Each firm specializes in specific segments of the Aquila lineup, ensuring the right expertise is applied at every level.

“We would much rather break something here than have a customer break something out in the field.”
— Yuri, Chief Designer, Aquila

That philosophy means deliberately stressing components to their limits — changing foil angles and shapes, breaking foils, and dissecting them to understand failure modes. External designers have noted they’ve never worked with a shipyard that tests propellers and engine height as thoroughly. When a boat leaves the R&D hall and enters production, every critical measurement has been proven.

A Model for Every Boater — Including the Aquila Sailing Catamaran Line

Aquila’s product philosophy mirrors the automobile industry: build something for every function, every life stage, and every family dynamic. The power catamaran lineup now spans 15 models across four segments:

• Fishing — purpose-built for serious anglers, including the new 36 Machai
• Sport — performance-forward designs for speed on the water
• Coupe — sleek enclosed models including the new 42 and 46 Coupe
• Yacht — spacious luxury boats including the new 46 Yacht

Aquila has also expanded into sailing catamarans, with three models now available — the Aquila 45 Sail, the Aquila 50 Sail, and the top-of-the-range Aquila 65 Sail. If any of these models catches your eye, you can browse our full Aquila sail inventory or speak directly with one of our specialists — we’re here to help you find the right fit.

East Meets West: The Global Culture Behind Aquila

While Aquila boats are built in China, the brand’s identity is unmistakably global. Design partners span four continents, and the leadership structure — founder John Chong’s son Frank now at the helm — blends deep manufacturing heritage with an outward-facing, customer-first philosophy.

Inside the shipyard, the family atmosphere is palpable. Finance, purchasing, logistics, HR, sales support, and R&D all operate under one roof, creating a tight feedback loop that allows the brand to launch four to five new models per year without sacrificing quality.

“It’s a great family atmosphere,” says Alain Raas . “A great place to work.” That culture — caring for employees, the environment, and customers — runs through every level of how Aquila operates.

Ready to Explore an Aquila Sailing Catamaran?

As the exclusive distributor of Aquila Sailing Catamarans in North America, Mexico, and the Caribbean, we’re uniquely positioned to help you find the right boat. Whether you’re stepping up from a power cat, crossing over from a monohull, or exploring catamaran ownership for the first time — our team is here for every step.

→  View Aquila Sail models   |   Browse current inventory   |   Talk to a specialist

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