Horizon’s new E98 is a baby grand
This dreamboat teams long-range performance with an open-air flying bridge for serious entertainingAs you see it here, the first new Horizon E98 motor yacht has been built for a Horizon 76 owner who was ready to step up to a 90 footer but not prepared to jump into the 110-foot league.
According to the luxury Taiwanese boat builder, the 90-footer class represent a growing market for owners wanting bigger motor yachts rather than full-blown super yachts.
Dubbed Do It Now, the new E98 is also said to be the result of a close collaboration between the experienced boatowner and Horizon’s design teams.
The sleek exterior lines are said the be reminiscent of the Horizon E88 motor yacht — with a bit of the Horizon E84 as we tested it in Australia, too — using an efficient high-performance hull with a 22-knot-plus top speed. But there is also stability and seakeeping for comfortable and stately long-range passages at sea.
An impressively low draft of just under 1.80m enables this 98-footer to explore shallow waters, thereby expanding the cruising destinations beyond the capability of many 100-footers.
Although a superyacht by local standards, the E98 is both svelte and manageable for a skipper and deckhand, who enjoy separate crew quarters back aft, while also luxurious for the owners with expansive living and entertaining spaces.
A HUGE OPEN BRIDGE
The Horizon E98 is offered in both skylounge and open bridge versions. Do It Now was built with the latter but with a fixed front glass windshield and EZ2CY side panels. This set-up allows the bridge to be easily transformed from open-air to enclosed and air-conditioned.
Features of the upper entertaining area include a custom bar with seating for five, large dinette, custom commercial icebox, hi/low BBQ and storage for lounge chairs. An expansive aft deck and a bow seating area with a dinette and sunpads round out the variety of outdoor entertaining spaces.
CUSTOM INTERIOR
Designed to suit the owner’s lifestyle and tastes, Do It Now features an elegant custom interior that extends the main saloon forward into the space normally occupied by a formal dining room. A so-called country kitchen is part of this open-plan saloon area.
Within a voluminous 23ft (7m) beam, the saloon features hi-gloss Walnut joinery matched to a satin Walnut finish on the lower deck. Here, the E98 houses four spacious en suite guest staterooms. Back aft, the crew quarters are highlighted in a White Oak satin finish.
BIG CAT POWER
Do It Now is powered by twin 1900hp CAT C32s affording a top speed of 22.5 knots and a 19-knot cruise. At 10 knots, the boat has a stated 1250nm range.
JOHN LU'S VIEW
Celebrating its 30th year in 2017, Horizon Group is headed by CEO John Lu, who said the new E98 motor yacht appeals to owners who are not yet ready to make the leap to 110-foot plus yachts, but are searching for something larger than 90 feet.
"The fact that Hull #1 was so efficiently customised for a second-time Horizon owner is testament to the durability of this model’s design. We are looking forward to her making her U.S. debut.
According to the press release, the owner reserved his comment to just a few words...
"Building a yacht doesn’t get any better than this!"he said.
The new Horizon E98 was due to make its official debut at the 2017 Palm Beach International Boat Show from March 23-26.
More at
Horizon Motor Yachts Australia.
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