2013 Review: Horizon P110 Tri-Deck Superyacht

Established in 1987 by graduate naval architect John Lu, for a few years Horizon Yachts was one of many smaller-sized Taiwanese yachtbuilders struggling to compete with the American and European yards. Business-savvy management and a relentless pursuit of quality soon put this standout yard on the map and by 2006 Horizon Motor Yachts was ranked as the sixth biggest yachtmaker in the world and the largest in Asia. John Lu has gone on to champion the Taiwanese yachtbuilders' cause as chairman of the Taiwan Yacht Industry Association and is at least partly responsible for the high status the powerhouse nation now holds in the marine industry.

Today the company offers at least eight separate yachts series, each featuring a handful of models, with options as diverse as an 80-foot catamaran, a 50-foot classic gamefisher and the super luxurious P-series of Tri-Deck cruisers up to 130-foot. On this day, we focussed on the P110 Tri-Deck but we also took the gorgeous E88 for a spin, which you will see pictured hereabouts too.

Clearly on a vessel of the Horizon P110 Tri-Deck's stature a detailed analysis is not achievable on these few pages so I opted to offer a taste of what owning this magnificent vessel could be like. Think of it as an experience rather than a review.

Maintaining a professional demeanour on an evaluation of this scale is not easy. The grandeur of the occasion is palpable. A team of people move purposefully about preparing this 125-tonne lady for sea. It is certainly not amateur night and the epaulettes on display remind me that mistakes at this level are unacceptable. Russel Wright of HMY Australia runs a tight but friendly ship, so while my offers of help are not required I feel welcomed rather than "just another annoying journo getting in the way".

Soon enough both the E88 and the P110 Tri-Deck are underway and making-way bound for our rendezvous with the helicopter, after being thoroughly checked, provisioned and negotiated out of their relatively tight berths at the Sanctuary Cove Marina. Call it the Monte Carlo effect but even here on the Glitter Coast our small convoy of two attracts lingering looks in this place where towers of glistening gelcoat and gleaming stainless steel are the norm rather than the exception.

EMBRACE THE POWER

From my perch on the bridge a familiar feeling of command takes over. Even at a sedate 6kts this vessel carries significant inertia. Navigation decisions are made early and carried out with purposeful confidence. The swathe of data at your fingertips looks daunting to the inexperienced yet presents the world in high-definition to a trained skipper. Nothing is left to chance, every device (five 15in screens powered by Furuno delivering radar, sonar, GPS, AIS, vessel monitoring (via a custom Maretron system) and radio comms (in multiple frequencies) accessing and reassessing the outside world, while the broadest spectrum of onboard information reassures that all is well on the ship itself.

Eventually we make the entrance and head for open water. The usual ocean surge pushes through the breakwater narrows and I instinctively steady myself for the anticipated change of motion. Nothing happens - well nothing worth mentioning anyway. The gentle rise and fall is not even enough to drive the sunworshippers from the bow.

Clearing the hazards of channel-crossing surfers and plate-boat-bound fishos, we turn towards the concrete towers rising from the golden sands of Surfers Paradise. Our captain powers up the twin 1900 horsepower Caterpillar C32 ACERT propulsion systems and we surge forward, accelerating to 22kts. At this point it doesn't pay to look at the fuel gauge, and frankly if this is an issue for you then you are batting out of your league. That said this boat has completed the Sydney Gold Coast run at a more sedate and very economical 10kts.

The Horizon E88 rides to port in perfect unison as the chopper arrives to dictate our manoeuvres. I have to admit to being completely in my element on this first-rate bridge and the smile spreads across my face spontaneously as we enter our first turn at speed. This is when you know you are on a ship, not a toy. Trailerboat owners and other weekend warriors give themselves away when they lean into the turn, only to promptly fall on their behinds a moment later in confusion. Real boats lean out around the corner driven by the inertia of the superstructure before the ballast and stabilisers kick-in to bring the hull back to level. It is a disconcerting feeling that turns to exhilaration as it is clear you are experiencing real power and momentum.

Pulling to halt to get a few stationary shots, a quick stroll around the decks found our invited guests lapping up the experience in comfort, a clear demonstration of the effectiveness of the ABT-Trac zero-speed, fin-style stabilisers keeping the big cruiser champagne-flute steady in the monotonous ocean roll. Positioning the vessel just-so for the cameras was executed with generous bursts from the twin 55hp hydraulic bow and stern thrusters; capable of continuous operation, these units come into their own in tight parking situations.

PALATIAL PROPORTIONS

The aerial photography completed, we ambled back up the Broadwater for some quiet time and to enjoy the sunset. Unfortunately, with work to do, I was forced to forego the sparkling temptations on offer to begin my grand tour of this magnificent vessel.

The description Tri-Deck is slightly misleading. The Horizon P110 effectively has four decks on offer.

The upper-most boat deck or Skylounge features a fully functioning outdoor helmstation and a heated Jacuzzi perfect for a party of four to indulge themselves in what must be a hedonistic experience never to forget.

Descending the single, curved staircase brings you into the flybridge proper, half of which (the pilothouse section and an internal wetbar and smaller dining area) is fully enclosed and leads to a rear mezzanine setup for al fresco dining, with an option for tender storage and a Steelhead SM 2500 davit for launching said tender.

With two more stairwell options to choose from the primary living area can be entered either through the rear cockpit area or internally via an ornate staircase directly into the main salon. Without doubt the level of refinement on display in this space is beyond anything I have ever experienced. Any description in enough detail to do justice to the designers would require a short novel, but a highlight of special note includes a formal eight-seat dining table with overhead lighting by virtue of a mesmerising starlight panel, which is repeated over the table in the cockpit. An expansive living room aft of the formal dining table leads through to the bar. As the photos on page 57 show no expense has been spared to provide an elegant space befitting the experience one expects when aboard a vessel of this calibre.

As I wander around taking notes I am struck by the endless procession of panoramic views. The Open Country Kitchen, or galley to us laymen, boasts the best of these making the most of the full forward windscreen on the living deck. While clearly appointed to a professional's level, with its wide range of top-notch appliances an enthusiastic amateur will have the space and the technology on hand to thoroughly stretch themselves in gastronomic pursuits. A more casual dining section sits adjacent, perfect for conversation and to sample the delights coming out
of the kitchen.

A SANCTUARY AND A BEATING HEART

The lowest level of the Horizon P110 Tri-Deck is separated into three distinct areas; a line amidships dividing the owner's quarters to forward from the engineering departments and crew quarters aft.

While the crew quarters, a double cabin for the captain and twin singles for the crew (both with en suites and a small private galley/dining room), are nearly as well appointed as we see on many of our better test subjects, not surprisingly it is the owner and guest accommodations that define what it means to be immersed in a smaller superyacht experience.

According to the specification booklet I read, the four cabins, two with twin singles and two with king-sized beds, are all serviced by separate en suites - actually the master cabin is almost eight metres wide, has two en suites, a writing desk and a full-sized couch.

Truthfully, this onboard accommodation is to level I have never had the good fortune to experience personally. It borders on the decadent, with the plushest of furnishings, rainforest-styled shower units, independent Bose, Sony or Pioneer entertainment systems in every cabin and no fewer than 10 televisions. Lashings of high-gloss solid timber, stainless steel and glass fixtures are to be expected, but I was surprised to see this much genuine granite on display. It's even on the saloon floor entrance. This is hotel living at its very best - only on a boat.

ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE

And that "hotel" comment would be a brash claim if it wasn't for the quality of the soundproofing, after all not many hotels have 3800 horse's harnessed only inches away. I just love serious bulkheads and proper heavy multipoint locking seadoors, and the P110 Tri-Deck has plenty of them. In truth, I am out of my depth with the level of hardware onboard this vessel, but my skipper's eye liked what it saw.

This is a show boat so naturally the engineroom itself was spotlessly clean, but if you look past the surgically-white panelling and gleaming stainless steel the workmanship appears first rate. Good labelling is backed-up by detailed schematics, which will save big bucks on servicing costs, but the sheer quantity of equipment is daunting and provides a strong argument for a well-trained and professional crew. A ship like this is a fulltime job.

THE VERDICT

Without doubt the Horizon P110 Tri-Deck is the largest and the most extravagantly finished challenge Trade-a-Boat has ever taken on and for that reason stands proudly in a league of its own. It's an exquisite vessel, a small superyacht offering a lifestyle the ambitious strive for.

That it is out of what is arguably one of Asia's top-rated yards should add confidence to a buyer, and while we could barely skim the surface this day, a proper professional inspection is likely to return a glowing report card.

With 16,000lt of fuel and weighing 125 tonnes it is a vessel more than capable of an extended blue-water crossing, probably even global cruising if crewed properly. Personally, I believe this boat justifies professional crew and that the right person would be an excellent return on investment, reducing expensive freelance servicing costs and keeping the vessel in Bristol condition.

Every indication I have is that to date the boat has been meticulously maintained, as it would need to be to stay in such showroom condition. And as such it represents exceptional value for money at this asking price.

TRADE-A-BOAT SAYS… 

Without doubt the Horizon P110 Tri-Deck is the largest and the most extravagantly finished challenge Trade-a-Boat has ever taken on and for that reason stands proudly in a league of its own. It's an exquisite vessel, a small superyacht offering a lifestyle the ambitious strive for.

Specs: Horizon P110 Tri-Deck Superyacht

PRICE AS TESTED

$9,900,000

OPTIONS

Engine and generator upgrade, hull extension (cockpit and crew area), exterior deck and equipment, hi-lo swimplatform, additional fuel tanks, Maretron monitoring system upgrade, interior lighting, fabrics and hardware upgrade, three extra heads, extra Stidd pilot chair in pilothouse, two bulwarks modification, two additional capstans at bow deck, and more

GENERAL

MATERIAL GRP with high-density PVC foamed core above waterline

TYPE Displacement monohull

LENGTH 33.53m (overall); 28.91 (waterline)

BEAM 7.16m

DRAFT 1.93m

HEIGHT 11.4m

WEIGHT Approx 125,000kg (light ship)

CAPACITIES

PEOPLE (NIGHT) 8+4 crew

HEADS 7+2 for crew

FUEL 16,000lt

FRESHWATER 3800lt (plus watermakers)

ENGINE

MAKE/MODEL 2 x Caterpillar C32 ACERT

TYPE V12 twin-turbo diesel

RATED HP 1900 (each)

DISPLACEMENT 32lt (each)

SUPPLIED BY

Horizon Motor Yachts Australia,

31 Masthead Way,

Sanctuary Cove, QLD, 4212

Phone: (07) 5577 9009; after hours, Colin 0418 445 998, Wayne 0418 767 260, Steve 0418 865 163

Fax: (07) 5514 8190

Email: sales@hmya.com.au

Web: www.hmya.com.au

Originally published in Trade-a-Boat #435, January 2013.