Photography by Horizon Yachts
30 January 2017
The satisfaction of contributing to the design of your own boat is evidently part of the inclusive experience Horizon Yachts extends to clients. The company was in the process of designing the new model of the FD87 Skyline motor yacht in Horizon’s fast displacement series, when they were able to incorporate the client’s requests.
Cor D. Rover, who designed the Fast Displacement series in partnership with Horizon’s in-house naval architecture team, returned to the drawing boards to collaborate with the team on the design for the FD87 Skyline, which will debut a cool blue hull and contrasting white superstructure with an enclosed bridge as well as Horizon’s new High Performance Piercing Bow (HPPB). “The evolution of this enclosed bridge FD87 and the speed with which it all came together represents a true partnership between the client, the architect and the shipyard,” said Horizon CEO John Lu.
The FD87 now joins the FD74, FD85 and FD102 models that comprise the builder’s latest series.
The FD87 Skyline retains many of the FD85’s key features, including an expansive 23-foot beam, spacious on-deck Master with four guest staterooms and two crew cabins on the lower deck. There are floor-to-ceiling windows in the saloon and dining areas that allow natural light to flow into the interior.
In place of the raised pilothouse found on the FD85, the FD87 Skyline features a fully enclosed bridge with access to a Portuguese walkway leading forward to the bow and a seating area. The enclosed bridge provides additional indoor entertaining and lounging areas. On the aft platform, there is a spacious beach club.
The Horizon team will debut a new bow design in the FD85 and FD87 models. Described as a “High Performance Piercing Bow” (HPPB), this design sees across-the-board hydrodynamic improvements in both tank and CFD testing. While alternative bow designs that feature protrusions work more efficiently at either high or slower speeds, the HPPB brings both efficiency at slower speeds and performance at higher speeds.
“Horizon’s new High Performance Piercing Bow coupled with an enclosed bridge and collaborative design between Cor D. Rover and the Horizon Yachts team leaves nothing to be desired in both form and function,” said Lu.
Super unique Sportsfisher