Horizon PC60

Horizon’s motoryachts in these very ranges start at 56 and run to 150 feet. Across the family, they all seem to perform in a dignified manner at a range of speeds, from passagemaking displacement to storm-runner planing mode. But the successful Mr Chu isn’t one to rest on his laurels. A chance meeting with a faithful customer led to the latest Horizon creations -- an exciting new range of fleet-footed Powercats (PC)

The first model was the PC58 soon rebadged the PC60 Open that was launched in 2012. This PC60 Skylounge is the first Horizon cat in Australia, the first of the Skylounge variant in the world, and the fourth 60 to be pulled from the moulds.

The story goes that the cat concept came about after three South Africans selling 380, 420 and 450 Afracats wanted a bigger version with more finesse. A customer from the UK who had bought five Horizons was the impetus, we’re told.

So Horizon used that same Afracat designer, Angelo Lavranos, who moved to NZ in 1996 and has remained there. His resume is impressive, including formative years with Sparkman & Stephens, before striking out alone and designing a raft of boats, including sailing superyachts. But his forte is designing power and sail cats for pleasure and commercial applications. 

The PC60 has that Lavranos pedigree. To ensure the PC560 fits within the Horizon family, they turned to the Winchester Design Group in Florida and JP Espinosa to tweak the superstructure and exterior design. The result is a catamaran that performs well and looks good, that is well proportioned from cockpit to skylounge, and which flaunts that signature Horizon finish.

Enter Russell Wright, Horizon Motor Yachts Australia’s principal and an industry stalwart since this writer first started testing boats. The PC60 we tested with Wright was his own demonstrator. "It’s my boat of choice after 36 years in the industry," he told BoatPoint and boatsales, adding that he’s entering semi-retirement and this is the ideal craft to cruise with the family to Hamilton Island and back.

Upgrades for the local market included 24V 13.5hp bow thruster, 480kg-rated hydraulic Steelhead davit, 50in and two 32in Samsung televisions (among others), LED lights inside and out, underwater lights, Oceanair blinds, a full Miele galley kit including plate warmer and separate washer/dryer, F&P French door upright fridge, extra outdoor DC-powered fridge/freezer, garbage compactor, the latest Garmin touch-screen electronics including 48 mile radar, adjustable cockpit table and nearby television, swim-platform rails, pulpit seats, the list goes on...

The AV and comms package included Bose with three zones, dual dome Intellian satellite TV and Foxtel to all cabins and bridge, plus Sony Ericsson Next G Wi-fi router for an onboard wireless network. The watermaker was an upgraded high output Indromar model, while canopy extensions over the cockpit were welcome on a hot Queensland test day. The tender was a Horizon French hypalon series 4.5m model with 50hp Yamaha and more underwater lights. See what we mean about Horizon being noticed?

The Skylounge itself is a $99,000 option, but it sure makes the PC60 a better all-weather cruising conveyance, especially with the upgraded Yacht Controller wireless remote, a cool device that Wright also imports. Wide spiral internal and external staircase, top-shelf electric Besenzoni helm chairs, dining table for six that converts to a cruising bed, wet bar with fridge and second icemaker, television, and enclosed dayhead add to the amenity and create a five-star cruising bridge.

There’s even a 52 bottle Vintec wine fridge for serious entertaining, linen, fenders and lines, and iPod/iPad compatible manual. Fully loaded indeed.

As ever, we began our tour on deck. This was quite an undertaking, given the 7.47m or 24ft 6in beam. Port and starboard gates lead from the individual swim platforms to the sweeping, largely shaded and weather-protected cockpit. The convertible solid-timber table can do six for lunch and double that with loose teak chairs when pulled up to the aft lounge. The table also lowers for casual entertaining.

The inbuilt amenities centre had the DC drinks fridge (or cruising freezer), a handy 240V outlet for cocktail hour, storage for kit and garbage, and an overhead TV in a cabinet so you can keep tabs on the cricket. The dedicated walk-in rod locker nearby is even more generous, as its cuts back in under the deck. A central underfloor wet well will please divers and fishers, while deck hatches lead into either engine room.

Survey-height walkaround decks with a half-height bulwark, traced by aft-reaching bow rail with intermediate wire, lead the PC60 a family- and crew-friendly foredeck. The level play area is ideal for toasting the sunset on a deck chair or the supplied pulpit seats and just the perfect perch for whale or dolphin spotting. A concealed windlass is a nice safety feature, while the massive walk-in storage area with water blaster and desal’ unit is bound to come in handy for storing the chairs and more.

Up top, the Skylounge is accessed from sweeping external and internal staircases. Such are the amenities it’s a veritable stage and destination. There’s that dinette, enclosed head, plus a sink and teppanyaki barbecue outdoors. Drop the tender and you have a rooftop terrace for entertaining or, with a couple of pool lounges and umbrellas, kicking back.

Indoors, the PC60 has an on-trend superyacht-type layout whereby the stateroom is forward, on the same level as the saloon, hidden behind a large pane of switchable Polyvision electric privacy glass. When rendered translucent you can see all the way to the bow. Other times, owners gain privacy and are treated to incredible views. They also have the entire forward half of the portside hull as an indulgent en suite.

Meantime, the aft galley design makes as much sense given the main cockpit dining area. With long Corian counters and four bar stools you also create the ideal indoor watering hole come breakfast bar and casual dining space. The amenities are on par with a luxury home, all Miele appliances including four-burner electric cooktop with rangehood, separate oven and microwave, dishwasher, and double sinks with garbage disposal.

The maxi domestic fridge adds to the experience and no galleying gourmand could find fault with the arrangement, appliances and food-prep space. There were also dedicated port drawers, spice cupboards, storage drawers and an optional tall pullout pantry. The saloon wetbar and AV centre are opposite to port, alongside a cabinet with crystal glasses and a big TV facing the raised aft-facing U-shaped lounge and low coffee table. Thus, there is no formal saloon dining area. But there is that space in the bridge (the cat doesn’t roll) or, more often, the protected cockpit. 

Plush mocha-coloured leather upholstery, dark large-grained walnut joinery, bamboo flooring, light burl table tops, mood and strip lighting collectively create a relaxed ambience sure to be welcomed after a long day on the water (as indeed will be those bar stools fronting the counters). And with upgraded tropical-strength chilled-water air con it won’t take long to chill out.

Après cocktails and canapés, al fresco dinner on deck and a movie in the saloon, you head for your cabin. The VIP is in the forward section of the starboard hull, down a long companionway, past a fold-out ironing board and the washer/dryer, linen press and more storage. Guests get a semi-walkround queen-sized bed running transverse, a vanity and stool, cedar-lined wardrobe and en suite with separate shower stall. Burl maple on the horizontals provides contrast to the walnut, while a large portlight keeps you connected with the ocean out yonder.

The fourth kids’ cabin is in the rear of this starboard hull, past the main breaker panel, with twin single beds. The little ones will liken it to a cubby. Otherwise, in standard guise, it’s all storage space, workshop and utility room. The third cabin, meanwhile, has a private entrance back off the saloon and takes up the rear section of the port hull. Guests get twin adult-length beds, decent hanging and storage space, portlight, and private en suite with shower stall that doubles as the saloon dayhead. The two-pack painted cupboards in the bathroom add to the contemporary finish and, to her credit, the boat was beautifully dressed by Russell’s wife Denise.

But it’s the stateroom forward of the saloon, with its walkaround king bed, settee and 180 degree views, that stops you in your tracks. There are oversized clothes storage, closets for linen and towels, and a massive en suite with couples’ combination shower. The overhead rainwater rose will ensure a thorough drenching as the watermaker tops the tanks. The master really is the stuff of superyachts.

The engineering is another highpoint, with virtual headroom around the Cat C12 in each compartment, dual Racor filters per engine, clear inspection windows on the strainers, underwater exhausts with bypass, and visible coolant bottles. There were sight gauges on the fuel tanks, an oil-change system, a 27kVa generator that we’re told is an upgrade of the standard 21kVa model, the chilled-water air con system, plus a 4kW inverter for the fridges, AV and GPOs.

The engine room has a ventilation system with moisture eliminators, colour-coded plumbing and wiring, while the boat is built with integral water and black water tanks, six bilge pumps and a lone 24V freshwater pump. A redundant pump would be a worthwhile inclusion.

The semi-planing hull from Lavranos is nothing if not slippery. There is high tunnel clearance and a pronounced moulded wave breaker to help prevent pounding up-sea. The huge beam might equate to berthing challenges, but with the Yacht Controller and a joystick for the bow thruster as well, we decamped from Sanctuary Cove without a hitch as the glam lunchtime crowd watched on.

Hull speed of 10 knots at about 1065rpm sees consumption of 50lt/hr for a range of about 684nm from 90 per cent of the 3800lt fuel supply. At 20 knots cruise and 1973rpm, consumption was about 162lt/hr for a safe range of more than 422nm. Top speed is 24 knots.

Wright said the delivery from Sydney back to the Gold Coast following the boat show was the acid test. There was a northwest wind gusting to 34 knots and a NE swell, yet the PC60 was eating it up at 20 knots, he says. The tunnel clearance prevented thumping, the windscreen was dry and his wife was alongside watching the Foxtel in the Skylounge. With the autopilot and radar running, it was look-mum-no-hands cruising. We found the Hydrive hydraulic steering offered a pleasant off-the-wheel experience, too.

Underway, the PC60 was exceptionally quiet, level and dry. The high chines, tunnel and wavebreak together create a comfortable motion, while the long waterline ensures no hobby-horsing. All the while, the engines are doing it easy, leaving the captain and crew to enjoy the views as they cruise and muse on those lavish high-backed Italian helm chairs.

The Skylounge aka enclosed flybridge adds a whole new storey to this on-water home, while the shallow draft and low fuel burn, the abundant deck and living space make a lot of sense. While you might find you’re confined to the outside arm of the marina, the living space more than makes up for it. Next stop, Hamilton Island.

Horizon now offers a 52 and an 80 footer PC. The future may well see other yards follow suit. With builders like Oceantrek and Innovation paving the way here in the past, and French yards expanding on this front, there’s sure to be latent interest in powercats. After all, most of the world’s commercial boats are cats.

Length: 18.51m
Beam: 7.47m
Draft: 1.46m
Displacement (light): 33.7 tons
Diesel tank capacity: 3800 litres
Water tank capacity: 1150 litres
Holding tank: 151 litres
Engines: 2 x Cat C12 ACERT 715hp
Generator: Upgraded 27kVa Onan
Range: 684nm+ @ 10 knots
Berths: 8 + 2