10 Hot Predictions for Boating in 2021

Aquila, the leader in the power catamaran category, will introduce the all-new Aquila 54 which is scheduled to arrive in global markets in the fall of 2020. The list of standard features will impress anyone familiar with vessels of this size. Layout options include as many as 5 cabins and full-size refrigeration, not typical in a 54-foot boat. Panoramic views fill the master cabin with natural light, creating a spacious feeling in the full-beam forward master cabin. Performance, a hallmark of the Aquila lineup, allows for high-speed operations (30+ knots) as well as slower, more efficient extended cruising ranges of 800 miles without employing single engine conservation techniques typically necessary on other long-range cruisers. The 2021 Aquila 54 models will be available worldwide starting in the fall of this year.

MarineMax has just introduced the MarineMax App which takes advantage of the boating industry’s continuing advancements. The idea is to help customers spend more time on the water and less time taking care of their boat. The app serves as a platform to request anything and seamlessly communicate with your local MarineMax store. From routine maintenance, requesting a wash or fuel, to a full repair, you can instantly chat with MarineMax boating experts for an exceptional customer experience. The app works worldwide, although MarineMax stores are traditionally in the United States. This means if customers are cruising or on vacation in the Caribbean or other distant destinations, they can easily communicate with the MarineMax store of their choice in the United States to order services.

The MarineMax App was voted a top innovative marine product by Boating Industry. The app is available on the Google Play store and the App store.

Fly-by-wire is not new. Commercial airlines adopted electronically actuated controls decades ago. They’re not even new for outboards - Mercury, Suzuki and Yamaha have all offered electronic fly-by-wire engine throttle controls on select outboard models for years. However, fly-by-wire technology is becoming more and more popular and available on more outboard models. The advantages of using data rather than cable are numerous. With digital controls, there's no cable binding or play, so the operator has smooth, positive shifting at all times and precise throttle response, especially at low rpm levels and shifting without the “clunk.” Fly-by-wire outboards are faster and easier to rig and weigh less that traditional cabling.

Just as pod-drives were first developed for commercial vessels like cruise ships and container vessels, what is coming next for recreational marine vessels may well come from what is being developed now for commercial vessels. Today autonomous ships are being tested by several companies to reduce crewing levels and increase efficiencies. Some include oil rig supply vessels and transoceanic transports.

Are autonomous, self-driving recreational boats just over the horizon? Recent technological developments indicate a strong possibility.

For boating enthusiasts, no matter what boating lifestyle you adopt, technology is driving both what we can expect in the latest models and how we use our boats.

Don't see your dream boat in stock? Get a preview of what's coming in soon to a store near you.