Hot Take: Horizon hopes this new model will be highly successful in the Asian market. With a smart layout, fast-displacement hull design and unique use of light, it might just become a worldwide success.

Throngs of Taiwanese show goers stood beneath the shadow of Horizon’s new FD85—a yacht that designer Cor D. Rover dubbed, “a pocket megayacht.” I can’t speak Taiwanese but I’m fairly certain the gist of what the crowd was saying was, “wow.” 

Towering above the show floor at the Taiwan International Boat Show, the yacht displayed one of the most interesting features of her exterior from nearly all angles: expansive cutaways in the bulwarks, offering striking sightlines of the floor to ceiling saloon windows. “We’re committed to staying connected to the sea,” says Roper as he steps past the cockpit, with room for eight adults to sit and enjoy a meal, and into the saloon. The view outward may only have been an incandescent-lit convention hall but it was obvious, when this boat is on the water those “cut-away” bulwarks are going to boast some striking views. Using Low-E glass for these windows is a nice touch as it reduces the heat that’s able to pour in.

Forward of the saloon and past the galley you’ll find yourself in the on-deck master, which is equally as impressive. There’s almost 8 feet of headroom, a nice-sized desk to port and a settee to starboard. A subtle yet smart design detail in this space is that the closet, head, and entrance doors all blend into the rest of the stateroom providing a nice clean appearance. This space is en suite with a large standup shower and separate Jacuzzi tub; only you have to climb down seven steps to get there. I imagine that could pose a problem should nature call in the middle of the night, but this head arrangement does make full use of the semi-plum bow space. 

Propulsion for the FD85 is via twin 1,136 horsepower CAT C18s. When paired with Horion’s fast displacement hull she should have a slow cruise of 10 knots and a fast cruise of 16 knots.

See more photos of the Horizon FD85 here. ▶

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Specifications

  • Builder: Horizon
  • Model: Horizon FD85
  • Boat Type: Cruiser
  • Year: 2016
  • Base Price: $6.5 million
  • LOA: 85′ 3″
  • Draft: 5′ 7″
  • Beam: 23′ 3″
  • Displacement: (approx.) 191,800lb.
  • Fuel Capacity: 2,700 gal.
  • Water Capacity: 400 gal.
  • Standard Power: 2/1,136 hp CAT C18s
  • Cruise Speed: 16 knots
  • Top Speed: 21 knots

This article originally appeared in the June 2016 issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.