Test location: La Grande-Motte, France
Conditions: Wind, westerly 15 to 20 knots slight to moderate sea

In the early 2000s, Aventura, a boatbuilder specializing in polyester composite construction, started out with sub-26-foot monohulls and small coastal camping catamarans from 20 to 28 feet, then coastal cruising boats. From the outset, prices were kept low. The positioning of “the cheapest boat in its category” became an integral part of the builder’s policy, and that is still upheld today. The following decade saw the shipyard move upmarket to models over 40 feet in length that were super-livable and comfortable, and designed for ocean cruising. Since 2015, naval architect Samer Lasta has been designing the Aventura, and this collaboration has made the brand a great success, establishing itself in the panorama of medium-scale multihull manufacturers. With an annual production exceeding fifty units, Aventura Catamarans is in fact just behind the leading large shipyards. Three sailing models are offered: the 34, the 37 and the 44. The first powercats appeared in 2016 with the 10 Power, available with an outboard or inboard drivetrain.

The Aventura 14 Power leaves her wake off the coast of La Grande-Motte in somewhat choppy seas. A few days earlier, on the opening day of the International Multihull Show, she was elected Multihull of the Year in her category.
The Aventura 14’s inverted wave-piercing bows give good passage through the water.

Presented at the Cannes Yachting Festival

The Aventura 14, presented to the public back in September at the Cannes Yachting Festival, now tops the range, and marks yet another step towards comfort and quality, as we will see. The shipyard in Menzel Bourguiba, near Bizerte, Tunisia, has expanded with a new building, and now has 175 employees, proof of the dynamism of Aventura’s “low cost” formula. The launch of the 14 Power, initially announced in 2020, ended up being slightly delayed thanks to Covid-related reasons. In Cannes, a lack of fine-tuning on the propellers prevented us from undertaking a test sail, but our first impressions were unequivocal as to the high standards of finish and the profusion of space available. This unit can house up to six double cabins with en-suite facilities, and the kind of relaxation areas you’d normally expect to see on vessels of 55 feet and longer, as evidenced by the 290-square foot (27 m²) flybridge. On closer inspection, this 14 is very close to fifty feet, at 48’10½” (14.90 m) long and 24’7” (7.50 m) in the beam. The volume is imposing, starting with the immense hydraulic bathing platform where a nice looking “rain sky” shower column is fitted. The tone is set as soon as you step aboard.

The Aventura takes a break at anchor... The impressive space and volume of this 50-foot yacht don’t interfere in any way with the fluidity of the lines.
The relaxation areas have been particularly well thought out, such as the forward sunbathing area.

A step towards a world of luxury

We’d already been impressed by the Aventura 10, and her very pleasant forward cockpit. The formula of the full-length accessible nacelle, which has become a standard on modern motor catamarans, is taken up here and pushed to the maximum of user-friendliness with direct access, via a forward door, to the foredeck and its sunbathing and lounge areas. The open space cockpit/day salon is achieved through the use of a three-panel sliding glass door, which allows for easy circulation from the stern right to the bows. Even a dozen passengers won’t get in each other’s way, as the layout of the various areas is so well thought out. In this space, two huge tables - one in the cockpit and one in the saloon - can seat your twelve guests, and still not hinder the chef at all, nor the passage to the bows or to the cabins, and even less-so access to the very beautiful interior helm station. Even better, the aft cockpit can give access to a double cabin with bathroom on each side, that are totally independent from the interior. Practical for friends or teenagers planning on a late night out, it is also the ideal location to comfortably accommodate a professional crew. This has the effect of propelling the Aventura 14, by checking a few boxes on the options list, into the realm of high-end charter. This is quite a surprise for a low-cost builder - and yet, the amenities and equipment do allow us to venture (a little) into the world of real yachting. The flybridge enjoys all the essential functions found on the lower level: a huge table for meals, a bar, a grill, a sunbathing area across the entire width, and five or six seats up front for sailing alongside the helmsman. There’s even a Jacuzzi included in the catalog. 

The huge 290-square-foot flybridge has three distinct areas: the helm station with accompanying bench seats, a dining area with bar and plancha grill, and an XXL-sized sunbathing area aft - the jacuzzi is optional! 

Intelligent and functional layouts

While the layout plans concocted by Lasta Design Studio allow for six double cabins and offer a large family all the comforts of a house on the water, they can also, by reducing the number of beds, feature a gigantic Owner’s cabin that occupies all or part of one hull. This enormous suite has all the attributes of luxury. Underneath where the aft companionway hatch would have been, is a very bright and large vanity area. On the other side of the king size bed, a desk topped by a large (optional) TV faces a small sofa. Towards the front, a bathroom precedes another double cabin, on the other side of the companionway. But it’s also possible to enjoy the entire hull with a second vanity/dressing room, separate toilets and a bathroom with double basins, worthy of what you’d find in the most prestigious of hotels. Depending on the formula chosen, two or three other double cabins complete this layout, which can be managed by three crew members for a quality service. The only drawback to this ergonomic design that runs like clockwork is the access on the port hull when coming down from the flybridge - this passage deserves better treatment. The versatility of the Aventura 14 is fully supported by equipment that is well suited to the task. The galley in the saloon features a beautiful work surface, a 21.2-cubic foot (600-liter) refrigerator-freezer, a 12-place dishwasher and a wine cellar. A gas hob and oven will delight the cooks. A 60,000 Btu air conditioning unit and a Webasto heater allow you to cool down or warm up on board. Television and audio facilities are available in all cabins. In terms of energy production, the shipyard has opted for the conventional: a 15-kW generator and additional batteries. The manufacturer offers six solar panels and, in case you don’t go for the hard top for the flybridge with the flexible roof, another ten solar panels could be placed, as there’s plenty of surface area available. The standard equipment is of a good level, but obviously if you check a lot of the boxes for optional equipment on such a unit, like the Privilege Pack for example, this will set you back almost € 120,000. You won’t get an exclusive unit without affording at least the same amount in various comfort options. However, as the Powercat comes in at less than € 700,000 before tax at the starting price, it must be admitted that the level of comfort/habitability ratio is more than interesting. But let’s see now, on a more subjective level, if the term “luxury” really is appropriate here.

The aft cockpit communicates well with the interior saloon. Everything is designed to accommodate a large number of guests with the highest possible comfort.
The flybridge plancha-grill is clad in teak. The trim around the drawers is a mark of the quality that the yard wants to display.
The hydraulic platform is impressive. A 13-foot/4-meter dinghy can stow on it. The shower head is an impressive feature.

A design that encompasses volume

More often than not, record-breaking habitability doesn’t go hand in hand with fluidity of lines. With this in mind, we can confirm that Studio Lasta has done really well. The family resemblance to the 10 Power is well maintained, with slightly inverted bows and a softly trailing deckline. A manufacturing feature has also been cleverly incorporated into the design: the hull-deck connection - always an aesthetic challenge - has been highlighted here by a swale, formed by a subtle pencil stroke across the catamaran’s profile. Inside, the woodwork is veneered with high quality Alpi in light oak. The laminate Amitco flooring is dark oak. The fabrics and the diamond-patterned upholstery are from Serge Ferrari Batyline Eden and are removable. The worktops, galley and bathroom sinks are in Corian Black. The lighting and fixtures have also been the subject of special care with beautiful lamps and stainless-steel wall units. Underwater spotlights are also available. Of course, the colors are selectable by the customer. The whole construction, with the teak on the decks, the stainless steel that’s certified A4 316 ISI, and the particular resins used bring a very qualitative standard and conform to what powerboat customers are familiar with finding at certain prestigious monohull brands.

The beautiful table in the saloon with its large benches can seat a crew of 12.
The inside helm station is very ergonomic and well equipped. With a double bench seat, it is very comfortable and sociable for long periods of watchkeeping.
The 21.2-cubic-foot (600-liter) refrigerator-freezer adds to the very complete galley. The oven and hob can be electric or gas depending on the chef’s requirements. 

Possible range of over 2,000 nm

The hull and superstructure in foam/polyester sandwich inspires confidence: the absence of vibration on impact with the waves appears to confirm this boat’s aptitude for some serious passage-making. Given a laden displacement of 30 tons, we are more in the realms of a trawler yacht than a fast powercat. The initial specifications correspond more to embarking on a possible transatlantic passage than to breaking speed records. Our test catamaran was equipped with the “small” drivetrain featuring a pair of 320 HP motors, mounted using a V-drive with four-blade propellers – though these deserve to be slightly larger in diameter. In 15 to 20 knots of wind and a moderate sea, we cruised between 9 and 10 knots. The maximum speed was 12 knots, but in good conditions you can expect two knots more. The soundproofing level of the engine compartments is undoubtedly a point to improve, to bring it up the general level. For a little extra speed, Yanmar engines with 440 HP are offered, but what’s the point? Gaining two or three knots isn’t a drastic game-changer, and in any case, what users want is to be able to live quietly on board rather than having to suffer the untimely lurching about that can be associated with speeds of fifteen knots or more. The interior helm makes for a very comfortable navigating station, whether standing or sitting, for keeping watch on long passages without being separated from the rest of the crew. From up on the flybridge, the view on the water is simply regal. Running in excess of 9 knots, fuel consumption is just over 13 US gallons (50 liters) per hour, but by easing back to 6.5 knots, 3.7 US gallons (14 liters) are enough to satisfy the Yanmars’ appetite. Note that the upwind conditions for our test were less than ideal. The shipyard can install an optional tank that gives an additional 264 US gallons (1,000 liters), bringing the fuel capacity to 1,056 US gallons (4,000 liters). Long crossings therefore become possible, with a range of over 2,000 nautical miles.

The owner’s cabin is very spacious. The light well that illuminates the vanity comes from the hatch where the aft cabin companionway would be. That isn’t fitted in this configuration.
The other guest cabins are more conventional, though they are still as luxuriously appointed as the owner’s suite, each with its own private bathroom.
The aft cabin(s) have independent access from the cockpit and are ideal for youngsters, friends, or the captain.

Conclusion

The Aventura 14 is irrefutably a great success. Our readers hit the nail on the head when they voted her Multihull of the Year in her category. The impressive amount of living space has been optimally exploited to outperform itself, creating the aspect of a much larger unit. The Aventura 14 is versatile and can be used for numerous boating applications. For a large family, this will be a beautiful nautical platform for comfortable vacations. In luxury charter mode, the owner’s cabin, the well-thought-out crew accommodation, and the luxurious equipment will satisfy the most demanding charterer. Finally, for long distance work, her range and robustness make her a candidate for proper blue water cruising. She brings together some unique features in her category. As demonstrated by there being already a dozen units on order.

The side-deck access from the flybridge deserves a bit of an ergonomic rethink.
The finish of the shower enclosures and the bathrooms in general give the feeling that the shipyard is indeed moving upmarket.

THE PLUSES: 

+ Record volume record for the size
+ Elegant lines
+ A feeling of quality throughout

THE MINUSES: 

- Sound insulation of the engine compartments
- Propellers need perfecting
- Access to the port side-deck from the flybridge

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Builder: Aventura Catamarans
Naval architecture & design: Lasta Design Studio
Material: glass/foam sandwich
Overall length: 48’11” (14.90 m)
Waterline length: 44’7” (13.60 m)
Beam: 24’7” (7.50 m)
Draft: 3’3” (1.00 m)
Light displacement: 48,500 lbs (22 t)
Water: 475 US gal (1,800 l)
Fuel: 2 x 396 US gal (2 x 1,500 l) + optional 264 US gal (1,000 l)
Holding tank: 11.9 US gal (45 l)
Engines: 2 x 320 to 2 x 440 HP
Refrigerator/freezer/icemaker volume: 21.25 cu ft (602 l)
Standard configuration: 3 double cabins / 2 bathrooms
Optional configuration: 2 to 6 double cabins with private bathrooms

Standard prices ex-tax
3 cab / 3 bath, 2 x 320 HP: € 696,000
6 cab / 6 bath, 2 x 320 HP: € 724,000

Main options ex-tax
2 x 440 HP engines: € 23,540
Additional 264 US gal/1,000 l fuel tank: € 3,400
Garmin Electronics Pack #2: € 22,168
Hard top with flexible top: € 28,546
Cockpit and flybridge in teak: € 17,205
Hydraulic passerelle: € 25,620
Fisher Panda 15 kW generator: € 21,961
60 Btu Air conditioning: € 26,985 52
US gal (200 l) / h Watermaker: € 13,520
Electric saloon table: € 3,291
Courtesy lighting int/ext: € 3,789