Horizon FD77

You’ll need to step aboard the Horizon FD77 to get a real feel for her size.

It was hot, like only a South Florida boat show can be. To dodge the unrelenting sun and crowded docks, I took cover inside the beach club of the new Horizon FD77. Settling into the corner sofa and looking out, I immediately understood why these spaces have become so popular in recent years. Being by the water’s edge was an instant revitalization. That was just the beginning. This was a yacht, I would soon learn, that you have to experience to truly grasp what the Fast Displacement (FD) series is all about.

Beamy Does It

Introduced three years ago with the FD85, the series has taken off. “But you need to get on board and touch and feel it,” says Elise Moffitt, Horizon’s U.S. marketing director. It’s a new concept, not only for Horizon but also for the industry.”

*Lounge in comfort on the forward deck.*

“New concept” translates to an unconventional look. Dutch designer Cor D. Rover, working with Horizon, approached the series’ design from the inside out, he says, beginning with the question of how far forward they could push the on-deck owner’s cabin and have it look acceptable. As a result, the 80-foot yacht carries a 23-foot beam, extremely wide for the length, which gives it a bit of a chunky look that takes some getting used to, but is a design that grows on you.

Size Matters

From the inside though, it is unquestionably spectacular. In the immense main salon, flanked by floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the side decks, the combination of glass, space, and volume is irresistible. The décor amplifies the light, airy feeling. “The layout is so open; we wanted the design to capitalize on that. We didn’t want to bring any heaviness into it,” says Moffitt about this Hull No. 1, which was built on spec for the American market.

*It doesn’t get much more light-filled than the FD77’s main salon.*

Horizon’s in-house team employed light American oak with accents of high-gloss walnut throughout, Carrara marble in the heads, Cambria quartz in the galley, and bright, white lacquer panels overhead. The floating staircase to the flybridge is enclosed in glass and, unusually, so is the ensuite in the on-deck master. At the stateroom’s entrance, there is a wall of clear glass to port, as a solid wall would have felt confining opposite the walk-in closet to starboard. Want some privacy? Flip a switch and the Polyvision glass instantly frosts over.

In addition to the décor choices, the salon also feels open because there is no dining table eating up space. “Most of our clients are getting away from doing formal interior dining; they tell us they may only do it once a month,” says Moffitt. Instead, there is a breakfast bar looking into the galley (which can be closed with privacy glass if needed), while the aft deck includes a 10-seat table that can be re-situated mid-deck as a full walkaround with more chairs.

Endlessly Customizable

Of course, that is just the layout of this hull; Horizon is incredibly accommodating when it comes to customization. “We can do so many different things on this boat,” says Moffitt. For instance, the beach club could be a tender garage, or it could be smaller if more storage or larger crew quarters were needed. This hull has an open bridge, but it could be enclosed, encompassing a skylounge as well. Want a country kitchen instead of an on-deck master? One FD owner chose that. “This series retains all the flexibility we have with our other series and people can really put their mark on the boat,” she adds.

A spacious aft deck is perfect for entertaining.

That’s how the FD87 was born, from an owner’s particular vision for the 85 that evolved into a whole new model. His legacy is seen on the FD77 in what Horizon calls “bump-outs,” overhangs on either side of the bridge with plug-ins for remotes that give the skipper excellent sightlines when docking. “Our owners have great ideas, and we like to incorporate them into other boats,” says Moffitt.

Storage was another consideration because the full-height salon windows give a true uninterrupted view not blocked by cabinetry. “We’re always coming up with creative solutions; it’s really important, says Moffitt. For instance, a 55-inch television folds down from the overhead, which frees up one of the aft cabinets for storage. A freestanding cabinet that runs along the back of the L-shaped sofa athwartships and behind the breakfast bars’ artistic mirror finish is additional storage. with Bahamas-bound clients in mind, Horizon ensured the galley was loaded with extra refrigeration, freezer, and pantry space.

More Space than Ever, More Speed than Ever

Although the 77’s beam is just three inches less than the 85 and 87, it’s a completely new hull, the product of five years of discussions with naval architect Donald Blount and tank testing. “People wonder why it is the same beam,” explains Moffitt. It’s just the evolution of the design; if we know we can get you 23 feet, why settle for 21 or 22?”

This is no ordinary motoryacht hull. The fast displacement design delivers lower resistance over a range of speeds, but there’s more to it. Rover and Horizon’s engineers developed a unique High-Performance Piercing Bow, a submerged protrusion with a sharp entry forward of the hull that lengthens the waterline. It cuts through underwater currents and dampens pitching to improve efficiency and comfort at slower speeds and performance at higher speeds.

In fact, the Horizon FD77 can reach 18 knots yet still has the amenities of a displacement hull, a true best-of-both-worlds scenario. So while the FD77 initially catches the eye for its beamy, bright interior, the performance becomes the real wow factor when clients learn what is going on below the waterline.

The series has struck a note globally with owners looking to get more from a smaller LOA. “When we introduced the FD87, I jokingly said that she is the smallest 150-footer we have ever designed, offering the same content mostly found around 150 feet, like five staterooms, including an on-deck master, a skylounge, a salon with floor-to-ceiling glass as well as a serious beach club,” says Rover. “For the FD77, the joke still counts; I would say she’s the smallest 140-footer we’ve done, but this one doesn’t need any crew.”

Make it Yours

With 139 gross tons of volume, it’s a lot of boat for an owner-operator though. Hull No. 1 includes a crew cabin with two sets of bunks between the beach club and engine room. These could be configured in any number of ways to suit an owner’s experience level. For example, if a crew couple assisted the owner, there could be a queen berth here instead, or if more crew space was needed, the quarters could take the place of the beach club. A true owner-operator could send the grandkids back there, making it the fifth guest stateroom.

*A gorgeous master stateroom and head are fit for the most discerning of owners.*

For anyone on the fence, Horizon has solved the “crew or no-crew” dilemma with an intriguing upcoming addition to the FD series. In development is the FD70 with all the views, volume, and performance in an easier-to-handle package. Like the FD77, I’m sure you’ll have to see it to believe it.

Specifications:

LOA: 80′ 6″
Beam: 23′
Draft: 5′ 2″
Displacement: 77 tons
Fuel/Water: 2,700/400 U.S. gals.
Power: 2x MAN V8 @ 1,200-hp Cruise/Max Speed: 12-15/18 knots
Range: 1,650 nm @ 10 knots Price: Inquire
Contact: Horizon Yacht USA (561) 721-4850
horizonyacht.com

By Kate Lardy, Southern Boating August 2019

Two of yachting’s powerhouses join forces to advance the luxury, performance, and comfort of cruising motoryachts with the new Horizon FD Series.

There’s an increased interest in fast displacement hull forms these days, expanding both ends of a spectrum of operating speeds and efficiency choices owners want and need in their busy lives. If you attended the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in 2016, you probably saw—and perhaps even toured—the new Horizon Yachts’ Fast Displacement 85, or FD85, a collaboration between the CEO of Horizon Yachts, the renowned Asian yacht builder John Lu, and Cor D. Rover, a Dutch design studio known for its creative, elegant and well-thought-out contemporary motoryacht styling. The FD85 is Horizon Yachts’ first in a line of fast displacement yachts—hull No. 2 makes its European debut this month at the 2017 Cannes Yachting Festival September 12-17—that is planned to include the FD74 and the FD102.

The FD85 is very hard to miss. Crisp styling lines allow her to stand out among a plethora of boats too similar in design to catch the eye. The 23-foot, 3-inch beam carries well forward to a plumb bow, all riding on a fast displacement hull running surface that, once explained, proves to be most interesting. Inside, beautifully functional, high-volume living and entertaining spaces are on the main deck and five ensuite staterooms on the accommodations deck, plus crew quarters. Loads of natural light illuminate all of the spaces aboard, particularly the main salon where the side windows extend nearly to the level of the outside deck.

Recently, Southern Boating interviewed Lu and Rover, the driving forces behind Horizon Yachts’ new Horizon FD (Fast Displacement) Series, to learn more about how the FD85 came to be.

Some say that a majority of today’s motoryacht owners prefer to cruise in the 12-to 15-knot range, a definite bump over the 9 knots that was considered respectable when trawlers were becoming a dominant market factor. Do you agree?

“Yes, most of the old perceptions about motor yacht cruising involved single- or twin-engine trawlers,” said Lu. “However, after listening to our clients, we understood that they wanted the economy and comfort of slower speeds but also a little ‘extra’ available on the speed side. For many of them, time on board is special, and they want to get the most out of their trips/destination.

“As an example, trips to The Bahamas from Florida’s east coast can be as short as 55 miles, and at 9 knots that is just over 6 hours; at 13 knots, it is just over 4 hours for the trip, so this means in an 8-hour day you can cover 100 miles at 13 knots, while at 9 knots you can only travel about 72 miles. That is a big difference for most owners who nowadays have limited time on board their yacht and wish to spend that time relaxing and enjoying their destination,” he adds.

“In the past, going faster always meant burning a lot of fuel, and sometimes when the sea state was rough, easily damaging things like glassware in the galley, not to mention
the harmony between friends and family,” said Rover. “With today’s hull designs, a few extra knots of speed do not come at a high cost. Hulls have been optimized overall for better fuel economy, and bow designs have been improved to avoid slamming. The collaboration between the team of in-house naval architects at Horizon Yachts, the added expertise of the naval architects at Donald Blount & Associates, and our European design
office has produced the leading-edge performance and contemporary styling that characterizes the FD series, giving our clients the best of both worlds.”

It is interesting to note that Rover, while best-known for his design work, also has a background that includes mechanical engineering as well as naval architecture. “My aesthetic creativity, which now makes up 99 percent of our studio’s work, is a God-given talent that I discovered and matured over time. Nevertheless, as soon as you start
sketching, styling and sculpting any new yacht, big or small, it’s good to know how things work and why yachts stay afloat.

“For the whole Horizon FD Series, the quality of life on board is paramount. All the experience and client feedback that I collected over the years has been used in these designs, which encompass American and Australian standards of convenience and living space—something that is often underestimated in some European designs.

“As an example, the owners will sleep in a full-beam stateroom on the main-deck level, or just a few steps down. This concept, which is in the mainstream of our megayacht
designs allow stunning sea views and maximum privacy.”

Horizon Yachts has long been a leader in owner-influenced, semi-custom luxury yacht offerings. To what degree do owners have the ability to change the layouts of the new Horizon FD Series yachts?

“Our company is known for listening to our clients, and the Horizon FD series is a perfect example,” said Lu. “The FD85 was first introduced to the public at FLIBS in 2016 as an open-bridge, raised pilothouse model, and she garnered a lot of attention for her unique design, interior volume and flexible performance. Two clients at the show were keenly interested in the FD85 but had some specific requirements that weren’t featured in the model, so the Horizon team went to the drawing boards and developed the FD87 Skyline, which is an enclosed bridge with a stern beach club design, in response to those needs.

“Going beyond that, we added the FD87 as an official model to the FD series lineup because we felt she appealed to a different part of the client base looking for the enclosed bridge and/or beach club features. This all happened within a seven-week time frame, and we will be delivering the first FD87 Skyline model to her new U.S. owner in December of this year. On this same note of owner influence, we have also just drawn a cockpit motoryacht version of the FD series that will appeal to the crossover fishing and sport diving families that want the motoryacht comfort as well as the ability to catch their own dinner.”

Were new processes developed to increase performance/range, thus further cementing Horizon’s reputation for highest-quality yacht production?

“Our goal is always to enhance the safety and performance of the boat, which includes researching carbon fiber and how we can implement this into our yachts,” Lu said. “Atech Composites—Horizon’s own composites manufacturer—has years of experience designing and fabricating carbon fiber components for unmanned aircraft for Taiwan’s government. This material technology and processes has provided us with invaluable knowledge of carbon fiber and how we can relate it to yachts.

“We began applying carbon fiber to some of our custom yacht components several years ago, constructing large-scale units such as radar arches, hardtops and enclosed bridges. This was of great benefit, as carbon fiber has proven to help reduce weight and improve upon the strength of these components. We have increased our focus on utilizing carbon fiber and recently developed smaller components, such as pantograph doors for the pilothouse and tender garages, for the Horizon FD and E series; these components are lighter weight and thus easier for owners to use. Carbon fiber is something we will continue to pursue for the overall safety, comfort and functionality of our yachts for our owners.”

Before the end of the year, expect to hear more about the FD85 Skyline, as well as the FD74 and the FD102. When you merge the design, engineering, and craftsmanship of Horizon Yachts with the insightful and breathtaking styling of Cor D. Rover Design, the
results speak for themselves.

By John Wooldridge Southern Boating, September 2017