elegance - Horizon Yachts

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HORIZON
ELEGANCE
70 MOTOR YACHT
PHOTOS eLLeN DeWAR VIDEO GuY ALLeN
HOmE suite HOmE
a cool urban aesthetic runs through the new Horizon
elegance 70, a luxe private liner that’s more Italian than
taiwanese, explains DAVID LOCKWOOD
68 tradeaboat.com.au tradeaboat.com.au 69

worry,” says
boating-industry
stalwart Russell
Wright perched
“Don’t
on the rear deck
of the Horizon 68 camera boat, “I’ve
got a Yacht Controller.” And with
that and a couple of wiggles of his
fingers he deftly manoeuvres the
towering motoryacht towards the
fuel wharf. Yet the Yacht Controller
is just one item of cool kit that
stands Horizons in good stead with
prospective buyers. The established
Taiwanese yard, 24-years young
but already among the world’s
top-10 biggest boatbuilders by
length, assuages a clientele that’s
accustomed to conveniences,
comforts and living in the lap of
luxury. Indeed, we’re up for it.
Our five-star boating experience
begins as we step onto the decks of
the Horizon Elegance 70 (hull #4).
Her contemporary lines and great
volume command attention, as
does the heady melange of marble,
granite and high-gloss timber
joinery. Then the plush freestanding
furniture, if not the homelike
accommodation soon after, beckon.
Throw some glass cabinets, mirrors
and trick lighting into the mix and
the transition is surely seamless for
owners accustomed to the high life.
But the Horizons are more than
show ponies; they are workhorses
that can gallop places. Add a
70 tradeaboat.com.au
backdrop from some faraway
cruising destination, a pair of
stabilisers so you don’t spill your
cocktail as the crew rustle-up
canapés, and your experience is
enriched. Finally sated, you fly out
by seaplane, as the paid hands shift
your floating home to, well, new
horizons.
Such is the charter of so many
Horizons and the Elegance 70 that
offers all these possibilities. But
this boat also transports you to
an altogether new place. While
the marque is coveted around the
world for interiors — indeed, no two
Horizons are the same — the new
E Series speaks Italian rather than
Taiwanese.
Based on the 68 but with a
bigger swimplatform, the Elegance
70 is the work of one Tommaso
Spadolini, whose portfolio includes
the yacht Fortuna made for the King
of Spain and the yacht Nina J that
won the 2006 Cannes World Yachts-
Trophies. Interior-wise, the finish
from the factory is refreshingly new,
with two-pack matt-white liners,
carefully chosen colour accents,
and apartment-like furniture. The
idea was to show the possibilities
and send a message that Horizon
doesn’t just build teak-topped Asian
boats.
MAKING ITS MARQUE
We were overjoyed to meet Captain
Access to the three-sided enclosed flybridge
and main helm (top) is by an internal staircase or
moulded steps from the cockpit. Behind the skipper
is seating for eight with an amenities centre
(above), including barbacue and fridge, portside.
Wright, the sales principal behind
Horizon in Australia, with whom
this writer first tested a boat some
25 years ago. That was when
we were all driving trailerables.
Since 2006, Russell joined the
local Queensland-based Horizon
dealership, where some 30 boats
have since been sold to all manner
of clients in various ports around
Australia.
Incredibly, there were 13 Horizons
imported locally in 2008, but
even in these lean times, we’re
told, there are five new boats on
FEAtuREtest
theRe is A huGe AmouNt of voLume foRWARD, But
thANkfuLLY most of it Lifts BoDiLY out of the WAteR At
pLANiNG speeD, LeAviNG A shARp foRefoot With pLeNtY of
RAke to sLice the WAves
tradeaboat.com.au 71

order: two 100-footers, a 94, 74,
and 54-footer. Collectively, that’s
some $27 million in boats. So
who’s buying multimillion-dollar
motoryachts in this climate?
The top end of town, of course.
Miners and those involved in the
industry, property developers,
semi-retired business owners, and
entrepreneurs. The latest shipment
of Horizons is bound for Adelaide,
Sydney and Perth.
It also helps that Horizons are
the cook won’t complain about the views through the forward saloon windscreen at the elegance 70’s
galley where normally a lower helm station would be. the upgraded twin-door fridge-freezer (left) is
adjacent to starboard.
bought and sold in US dollars and,
for this reason, they’re considerably
cheaper than two years ago. In fact,
the word is there’s at least 20 per
cent better value today. Two years
back, a 97 was selling for about $10
million loaded. You can now get
one for $6.5 million. What about
resale? There’s the rub for previous
owners, but if they trade-up they’ll
be buying more boat for less.
BUILT TO LAST
Horizon uses the SCRIMP process
for its hulls up to 130 feet, which
are built in its Atech yard. The
process involves vacuum bagging
to create a one-piece hull with
solid-glass bottom, foam-cored
longitudinal stringers, and
composite sides and decks. All
hulls are built to Det Norske Veritas
(DNV) certification, which basically
means survey standards, before
being fitted out in a separate yard.
It’s in the Vision yard that
Horizon’s in-house interior
designers added the Italianate
touches borrowed from various
boats seen around the world
and/or built for previous clients.
The demonstrator’s floor-plan
features four-cabins forward, but
three cabins and three heads are
standard, with options for five and
even six cabins if you plan to carry
crew. As for interiors, well, you are
bound only by your imagination
rather than horizon.
The E70 should also arouse
interest for its interesting hull
form. There is a huge amount of
volume forward, but thankfully
most of it lifts bodily out of the
water at planing speed, leaving a
sharp forefoot with plenty of rake
to slice the waves. Pronounced
reverse chines keep the spray
away, while the generous 5.95m
beam is especially noticeable when
you enter the full-width owner’s
stateroom.
With hydraulic Zero Speed
stabilisers fitted, you can anchor
away from the marina in a busy
bay, as might be needed, and stay
aboard in comfort. The stablisers
use electronic sensors to react
in real time to correct up to 90
per cent of roll at rest, while also
functioning when underway at
displacement speeds in beam-on
seas.
FULLY LOADED
As with most boats, we came
aboard via the blunt end, where a
considerable swimplatform adds
Among saloon highlights are homelike furniture (above), looking forward to the raised dining setting (below) that’s immediately aft of the galley.
FEAtuREtest
heR coNtempoRARY LiNes AND GReAt voLume commAND
AtteNtioN, As Does the heADY meLANGe of mARBLe,
GRANite AND hiGh-GLoss timBeR joiNeRY
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the oveRALL effect oN the eLeGANce 70 seeN heRe WAs
moRe upmARket ApARtmeNt thAN tRADitioNAL BoAt AND
thAt miGht LuRe A DiffeReNt DemoGRAphic ABoARD
to the waterfront real estate and
justifies the 70-model designation
over its former 68 guise. The
hydraulic swimplatform can launch
a jetski, while the twin PTOs on the
engines for this launcher also power
the ABT 38hp hydraulic bow and
stern thrusters. Thus, should one
engine fail, you still have thrusters.
There were underwater lights,
a garage for a Williams 325 jetpowered
or Walker Bay tender, and
steps up to the elevated cockpit,
whose height above the waterline
underscores the fact there’s plenty
of volume for that tender, utility
room and twin CAT C18 engines.
In fact, the engineroom with
headroom and Delta T ventilation is
a real highlight and the engineering
has evolved over time to become a
strength of the marque.
A scan of the engineering
revealed twin Racor fuel filters per
engine, easy-check coolant bottles,
oil-change system, sight gauges
on tanks, underwater exhausts, air
compressor, and excellent sound
insulation. All the lighting on
the aft stateroom (top and above) is a highlight, featuring opening portholes, massive bed, walk-in
robe, aft en suite, and a dresser that can double as an office desk (above, to right).
A staircase from the galley (top) descends to the accommodation deck, with twin-bunk cabin
immediately to starboard and a crossover bunk cabin (above right) for kids opposite. the vip cabin
forward (above) benefits from the full-beam forward design and exceptional volume and boasts a
queen bed and its own en suite.
the boat is LED, there’s a 2500W
inverter, three separate chargers
for engine-start, generator start
and house batteries, and 12/24V
converters.
Twin 50amp Shorepower leads
run the boat’s full suite of gear,
via optional soft-start systems,
when not using one of the twin
generators. Air-con is the superior
chilled-water type, a Sea Recovery
watermaker was fitted, and there
were AC waterpump and backup
DC pump. Intercoms throughout the
boat let you call for help or lunch
should you need it.
Indeed, the E70 arrived loaded.
Bose takes care of entertaining,
with separate TVs and CD/DVD
players in every cabin, while a
Raymarine electronics package
using large-screen E Series looks
FEAtuREtest
after the serious business of
navigation. The E70 also had the
aforesaid Yacht Controller with
wireless remote, cockpit docking
station, satellite television, hotelgrade
innerspring mattresses on all
beds, granite stateroom and galley
counters, and just enough teak trim
above decks to remind you that you
are indeed boating.
OUT AND ABOUT
As with all good motoryachts, the
cockpit is a beauty that can seat a
crowd of at least 10 around a high-
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gloss teak table once you add some
deck chairs. As touched on, there’s
oodles of room below to store such
things, watersports gear and more.
The inbuilt Umbrella-upholstered
rear lounge converts to a sunpad
or daybed under the flybridge
overhang. An optional top-loading
cockpit fridge was provided.
Details such as concealed cleats,
(optional) side gates, deep and
wide partially-covered bulwarks,
with high rails so they are dog
and kid friendly, were a feature
when traipsing forward. This is
something you could do with safety
in a seaway or with champagne
glass in hand during a go-slow
sunset cruise. A pulpit seat in
the bow lies in wait and there’s
a forward-facing lounge for two
couples, with a big sunpad for them
behind.
We were impressed by the heavyduty
anchoring gear, with colourcoded
chain and chart fixed near
the well, by the oversized cleats,
and side fender lockers. But for
most the focus will be on using the
foredeck as a lifestyle area. That
said, on the good days, the elevated
flying bridge and its rear deck offer
even greater views.
Bridge access is via moulded
cockpit stairs or internal staircase.
Up top, there’s just a single helm
seat before a centre console more in
keeping with a sportscruiser — we
would prefer twin seats instead
— while the hardtop with glass
windscreen has clear Strataglass
side curtain panels. Besides a full
spread of electronics, there were
generator start buttons, bilge
alarms, stabiliser controllers, and
tank gauges at this main helm
station.
Guests will ride aft on an
L-shaped lounge for eight, near an
amenities centre with fridge, sink
and hot-rock barbie. At rest, the aft
bridgedeck will call, perhaps for
owners upon sun lounges, if not at
sunset with a crowd and cocktail
in hand.
SALOON WITH VIEWS
Asia certainly makes way for
Europe when you waltz inside
the Elegance 70: there is white
two-pack in place of the usual
soft ceiling and wall liners, freestanding
home-like furniture,
plush shag carpet, trick blinds,
and judicious use of high-gloss
cherrywood that’s a highlight rather
than overwhelming as with some
Asian-made boats.
Light pours into the lower saloon
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in keeping with the elegance 70’s grand dimensions is the stateroom’s en suite (top), with separate
shower stall and a fresh or saltwater head. the swimplatform is a nice bit of extra real estate, and
hydraulic, too, for launching the tender from the cavernous garage.
or sunroom, where a couple of
lounges and a single seater can
swallow six before a brace of coffee
tables. Two half steps forward
deliver you to the dedicated
freestanding dining setting flanked
by display cabinets with vases and
dark-timber joinery.
Ceiling features, different wall
textures daubed chocolate, trick aircon
vents, a ship’s door to starboard
and small window opposite
[HIGHS]
› Refreshing interior style with standalone furniture and dining
setting
› Excellent space utilisation and huge volume
› Time-proven engineering below decks, great mouldings above
› User-friendly big boat with docking ease
› Great local backing and trusted brand
› Good cruising range and self-sufficiency
[LOWS]
› Single helm seat and clear side curtains in flying bridge
› Modernistic styling won’t be for everyone
› Tested in calm seas and, thus, can’t comment on full-beam
forward hull in heavy weather
FEAtuREtest
it ALso heLps thAt hoRizoNs ARe BouGht AND soLD iN us
DoLLARs AND, foR this ReAsoN, theY’Re coNsiDeRABLY
cheApeR thAN tWo YeARs AGo
tradeaboat.com.au 77

complete the mix. Otherwise, the
large 3D television with Bose AV
system will create the desired
entertainer’s layout.
The galley that feeds back to the
dinette is nothing if not handy.
Appliances include wine cooler,
upgraded twin-door fridge-freezer
with icemaker, additional fridgefreezer
drawers, Miele combo oven,
hot plates and range hood, and
central vac and separate Miele
washer/dryer elsewhere. A wetbar
and wine fridge is opposite the
galley.
The overall effect on the Elegance
70 seen here was more upmarket
apartment than traditional boat
and that might lure a different
demographic aboard. As we said,
there’s some new money about
courtesy of the mining boom. Those
with a flair for interior design will
certainly lose themselves when
creating their Horizon.
FOUR PLUS THREE
Seven steps descend to the
accommodation forward, which
again hints at the high volume
aboard. Naturally, the aft stateroom
is the highlight. I made sure the
generator was running but it
was barely audible thanks also
to the 3M insulation. There was
nothing to take your focus away
from views and fresh air out the
opening portholes, but perhaps
the walk-in robe and lounge,
starboard dresser that doubles
as an office should work call, and
the bed that is sufficiently large to
swallow a giant. Ditto the en suite
shower, with the Tecma head that’s
switchable from fresh to saltwater.
A safe is squirreled away for the
family jewels.
Next best abode is the VIP cabin
with queen bed up front that,
because of the full-beam forward
design and exceptional volume
again, doesn’t command a high
jump to access. And it’s got its
own en suite. The third cabin to
starboard has twin adult-sized
single beds, with the fourth cabin
featuring crossover bunks as a
likely kid’s retreat. A third head
doubles for communal use, but
everyone has their own AV system.
GOLD COAST CRUISING
We gad about the Gold Coast,
cruised through the Seaway, and
tracked north as you do at this
time of year. The Horizon Elegance
70 cut a pretty picture travelling
alongside. The boat travels flat
but with longitudinal lift so it’s
not a bow-up running attitude.
High freeboard helps keep it dry at
go-slow speeds.
But to be frank, there wasn’t
anything to challenge the boat
by way of wind and waves. From
our experiences, Horizons have
always had a solid, heavy-boat feel
even despite the SCRIMP process.
As a light ship, the Elegance 70
displaces a not inconsiderable 51
tonnes to which you can add 4232lt
of fuel and 1322lt of water, a 750lt
the anchoring gear (above) is heavy-duty stuff
and there are fender lockers either side of the
maxwell 3500 windlass.
holding tank, and all the gear.
Some hours later, we returned
from whence we had come.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got the Yacht
Controller,” quipped Captain Wright
as he single-handedly shifted the
boat back against the deck. We
stepped off without a worry, but our
Gold Coast apartment with water
glimpses just didn’t seem the same
that night.
Facts& figures
HORIZON ELEGANCE 70 MOTOR YACHT
BEHIND THE WHEEL
Twin 1150hp Cat C18 diesels, hefty 3in shafts and four-blade
props get the 51-tonne (light load) ship up and running smartly,
but boat and occupants will be equally comfortable trucking
for long periods of time at 10kts displacement hull speed using
60lt/h for a 630nm-plus range from 90 per cent of the 4232lt
tank. Meanwhile, with stabilisers deployed, the 70-footer feels
very surefooted, headstrong and willing to range farther north.
PRICE AS TESTED
$3.35 million w/ twin 1150hp Caterpillar C18 ACERT engine
upgrade and options as landed
SEA TRIALS
Twin 1150hp Caterpillar C18 ACERT, fuel burn per engine
RPM SPEED FUEL BURN
800 6.9kts 5lt/h
900 7.8kts 11lt/h
1000 8.5kts 17lt/h
1100 9.5kts 23lt/h
1200 10.1kts 30lt/h
1300 11kts 41lt/h
1400 12kts 54lt/h
1500 12.4kts 66lt/h
1600 12.6kts 85lt/h
1700 12.9kts 105lt/h
1800 13.9kts 122lt/h
1900 17.2kts 125lt/h
2000 18kts 135lt/h
2100 19.8kts 145lt/h
2200 22.2kts 167lt/h
2300 23.8kts 183lt/h
2368 24.3kts 200lt/h
* Official sea-trial data supplied by Horizon Motor Yachts
Australia following sea trials with Caterpillar. Max load at full
throttle 88 per cent at 2368rpm. Fuel burn per engine.
OPTIONS FITTED
Teak decks, cockpit cooler chest, hydraulic-opening garage,
underwater lights, flybridge layout inc. single helm seat, engine
upgrade, Trac stabilisers, hydraulic sternthruster, second Onan
generator, watermaker, interior upgrade and four-cabin layout,
granite, full suite of appliances, Bose AV systems and extra
TVs, Raymarine electronics package, sat-comms and more.
78 tradeaboat.com.au tradeaboat.com.au 79
LAYOUT
PRICED FROM
POA w/ twin 873hp Caterpillar C18 ACERT (reliant on exchange
rate)
GENERAL
MATERIAL: SCRIMP bagged GRP fibreglass w/ cored decks,
superstructure and hull sides
TYPE: Hard chine variable-deadrise planing monohull w/ 13°
deadrise at transom
LENGTH OVERALL: 21.76m (inc. swimplatform)
BEAM: 5.95m
DRAFT: 1.45m (max)
WEIGHT: Approx 51,000kg (dry w/ standard engines)
CAPACITIES
BERTHS: 8+2
FUEL: 4232lt
WATER: 1322lt
HOLDING TANK: 750lt
ENGINES
MAKE/MODEL: 2 x Caterpillar C18 ACERT
TYPE: Fully electronic six-cylinder turbo-diesel w/ common rail
injection
RATED HP: 1150 (each)
DISPLACEMENT: 18.1lt
WEIGHT: 1678kg (dry)
GEARBOX: ZF 550A
PROPS: High-performance four-blade
SUPPLIED BY
Horizon Motor Yachts Australia,
Shop 31/3a Masthead Way,
Sanctuary Cove Marine Village
Post: PO Box 487, Paradise Point, QLD, 4216
Phone: 1300 885 056; 0418 445 998 (sales); 0418 767 260 (sales)
Email: sales@hmya.com.au
Website: www.hmya.com.au
SAYS…
The Horizon Elegance 70 is one of the boating life’s best
contradictions: fast but frugal (at displacement speeds),
Taiwanese with Italian styling, big but easily handled, in the
multi-million league but better value than before thanks to
exchange rates. Best of all, the semi-custom yard lets you
create your own personal boat no matter where your tastes may
lie. Even though we went nowhere much at all, it was nice to get
away from oppressive high-gloss timber.