What is Horizon Yachts?
Horizon Yachts is a Taiwanese builder of semi-custom and fully custom luxury motor yachts, power catamarans and superyachts from approximately 60 to 150 feet. The company offers eight specialized yacht families covering high-volume fast-displacement motor yachts, sporty flybridge designs, raised-pilothouse yachts, owner-operated cruisers, luxury power catamarans, explorer yachts and full-custom projects. Horizon reports delivering more than 940 luxury yachts, including nearly 270 measuring more than 80 feet.
Who founded Horizon Yachts, and where are Horizon yachts built?
Horizon Yacht was co-founded in 1987 by naval architect John Lu, Gong Shan Chiai and Cheng Shun Hui in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. John Lu remains the company’s CEO and has overseen Horizon’s development from a yacht manufacturer into a group of specialized shipbuilding, composite-production, refit and marina operations.
Horizon yachts are built in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, through a group of specialized facilities that manufacture hulls, fiberglass components, interiors and complete yachts. The Horizon Group’s manufacturing organization includes Horizon Shipyard, Vision Shipyard, Premier Shipyard and Atech Composites, along with Horizon City Marina.
Is Horizon Yachts still in business, and what models does it currently offer?
Yes, Horizon remains an active yacht builder with new launches, inventory yachts and custom projects underway in 2026. The company introduced several new yachts at its March 2026 open house, including an FD110, FD100 Skyline and ES88, and announced the sale of two custom FD97 Tri-Deck yachts to American owners in July 2026.
Horizon’s published model menu includes the FD75, FD80, FD90, FD97, FD100, FD110 and FD130; E62, ES88, E90 and E98; RP110 and RP120; V68 and V77; PC60, PC65, PC68 and PC74; EP150; P140; and several CC full-custom projects. Model availability, layouts and construction timing should be confirmed because many Horizons are built or modified around a particular owner.
What types of yachts does Horizon build?
Horizon builds eight primary types of luxury yachts, each intended for a different style of ownership:
-The FD Series consists of high-volume fast-displacement motor yachts.
-The E Series emphasizes sporty styling and performance.
-The RP Series offers raised-pilothouse layouts and extensive exterior space.
-The V Series consists of versatile owner-operator motor yachts.
-The PC Series includes wide-beam luxury power catamarans.
-The EP Series is intended for long-distance exploration.
-The P Series provides fully customized superyacht-scale accommodations.
-The CC Series supports one-off custom monohulls, catamarans and expedition projects.
This range allows a buyer to move from a relatively manageable V68 or PC60 to a professionally crewed FD130, P140 or full-custom explorer without leaving the Horizon brand.
Are Horizon yachts production boats, semi-custom yachts or fully custom yachts?
Most Horizon yachts are best described as platform-based semi-custom yachts, although Horizon also builds fully custom projects. A buyer can begin with an established hull and engineering platform while changing the accommodations, bridge configuration, interior design, equipment, materials and many exterior features to match the owner’s lifestyle. Horizon describes its process as collaborative and says it is willing to change major features within a model’s predetermined design envelope.
The CC Series provides the greatest design freedom and can accommodate projects ranging from stable motor yachts and luxury catamarans to ice-classed steel expedition vessels. Horizon can also build to classification standards including DNV, Bureau Veritas and RINA, with MCA compliance when required.
How are Horizon yachts constructed, and are they considered good-quality yachts?
Horizon is known for advanced fiberglass-composite construction, in-house engineering and extensive control over its manufacturing process. Atech Composites produces Horizon’s large fiberglass and structural components and uses resin-infusion technology, non-destructive testing and profile-measurement systems. Horizon says Atech’s patented 6D resin-infusion process is designed to distribute resin evenly through the laminate, improving weight control and structural consistency.
The Horizon Group’s facilities are independently ISO 9001 certified, and its in-house team includes more than 50 naval architects, designers and engineers. Most series-built Horizons use composite construction, while Horizon also has the engineering capability to develop metal-hulled custom and expedition yachts. The condition of a pre-owned Horizon will still depend on maintenance, crew standards, previous repairs and refit quality.
What is the Horizon FD Series?
The Horizon FD Series is a family of high-volume fast-displacement motor yachts developed to provide greater interior space, stability and efficiency than a conventional yacht of similar length. Horizon created the range with Dutch designer Cor D. Rover, beginning with the FD85 concept and expanding it into models from 75 to 130 feet. More than 60 FD Series yachts had been built by early 2024.
FD models use Horizon’s High Performance Piercing Bow, or HPPB, in combination with a hybrid hull and tunnel configuration. Horizon says the design is intended to reduce resistance, improve stability and ride comfort and provide comparatively shallow draft. Typical FD features include floor-to-ceiling glass, an on-deck owner’s suite, large beach clubs and open or enclosed skylounges.
What are the most popular Horizon Yacht models?
The FD80, FD90, V68 and PC60 are among Horizon’s most established and recognizable current models. Horizon reported more than 25 completed or sold FD90s in 2023, while the FD80 reached its 17th hull in 2025. Horizon has described both platforms as major successes within the rapidly growing FD range.
The V68 had reached at least 12 hulls by early 2026 and remains a prominent owner-operator model. The PC60 reached its 20th completed hull in 2020 and has continued to evolve with on-deck-primary-suite, open-salon and Portuguese-deck configurations. On the pre-owned market, other recognizable Horizons include the E88, E90, 70 Motor Yacht, 80 Motor Yacht, RP97, P110 and earlier power-catamaran models.
What is a Horizon Power Catamaran?
A Horizon Power Catamaran is a wide-beam luxury cruising yacht designed around twin-hull stability, shallow draft, interior volume and owner-operated comfort. The current PC range consists of the PC60, PC65, PC68 and PC74. Horizon describes the series as manageable for experienced private owners while providing features normally associated with much larger motor yachts.
The PC60, for example, measures approximately 61 feet 7 inches and has a 24-foot-6-inch beam, approximately 1,000 gallons of fuel and several three- or four-stateroom arrangements. Owners can choose open or enclosed flybridges and, on newer boats, an on-deck primary suite or Portuguese-deck configuration. The wide beam creates extensive living space but makes slip availability, haul-out width and transportation important ownership considerations.
How does Horizon compare with Ocean Alexander, Westport, Sanlorenzo and other yacht builders?
Horizon occupies a premium position between higher-volume luxury-yacht manufacturers and completely bespoke superyacht shipyards. Depending on model and size, buyers may compare Horizon with Ocean Alexander, Westport, Sanlorenzo, Custom Line, Hargrave, Johnson and selected Benetti or Horizon-sized explorer yachts.
Horizon’s principal differentiators are its unusually broad range, advanced composite capabilities, extensive customization and ability to build both monohull motor yachts and large luxury power catamarans. A Horizon generally offers more owner-directed customization than a conventional production yacht while using proven platforms to reduce some of the engineering risk, cost and construction time associated with a completely one-off project. This is a market-positioning assessment based on Horizon’s eight yacht series and semi-custom construction model.
Can a Horizon yacht be owner-operated?
Several smaller Horizon models are designed for experienced owner-operators, while larger Horizons normally require professional crew. The V68 is specifically promoted as an owner-operated “pocket superyacht,” with open or enclosed bridge configurations and optional crew accommodations. Horizon’s PC Series is also designed around manageable private operation despite offering the space and amenities of a substantially larger monohull.
An FD75 or FD80 may be owner-operated by a highly experienced captain with assistance, but many owners employ at least a captain or couple. FD90s, FD100s, raised-pilothouse yachts and superyacht models generally benefit from full-time professional crew because of their machinery, maintenance, tender handling and guest-service requirements. The appropriate crew level will also depend on insurance conditions, intended cruising and charter certification.
How do Horizon owners typically use their yachts?
Horizon owners use their yachts for family vacations, island travel, seasonal living aboard, entertaining, fishing, watersports, charter and extended coastal or international cruising. One FD100 owner uses the yacht between the Chesapeake Bay, South Florida and the Bahamas, while a PC60 owner selected the catamaran for shallow draft, watersports and the ability to host family and friends.
Certain Horizons are configured for more specialized missions. The award-winning FD80 Amethyst has a fishing cockpit, while the FD110 Freedom operates in charter during Florida, Keys and Bahamas winters and in the Northeast during summer. A Horizon can also be used on the Great Lakes, but owners must evaluate draft, air clearance, marina dimensions, fuel access, crew support, winterization and the availability of yards capable of servicing a large yacht or wide power catamaran.
What recent awards has Horizon Yachts received?
The Horizon FD80 received a 2025 Taiwan Excellence Award, extending Horizon’s run of recognition in that program to 16 consecutive years. The award, presented on November 26, 2025, recognized an FD80 configured with a purpose-built fishing cockpit and was the most recent major formal award publicized by the shipyard as of August 2026.
The Horizon V77 Cockpit Motor Yacht received a 2024 Taiwan Excellence Silver Award, while the customized FD108 Ocean Lily won the Main Salon category at the 2024 International Yacht & Aviation Awards. Horizon founder John Lu also received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2022 Boat Builder Awards.
How much does a Horizon yacht cost, and what should buyers inspect?
Horizon pricing varies from older pre-owned yachts in the brokerage market to new and nearly new yachts priced well into eight figures. Current JBYS-displayed examples include the 2026 Horizon FD100 The Rock at approximately $12.995 million and the 2025 122-foot Miss Michelle at approximately $14.5 million. New-build pricing depends on the model, engines, bridge configuration, interior, stabilization, electronics, classification and customization.
A pre-owned Horizon should receive a complete marine survey, diesel-engine and generator inspections, oil analysis, haul-out and sea trial. Buyers should examine the composite hull and deck, stabilizers, thrusters, shafts, propellers, tanks, electrical distribution, climate control, navigation systems, windows, teak, interior joinery, tender and davit. On a power catamaran, both hulls, the bridgedeck and wide-beam dockage requirements require particular attention. Maintenance records, crew logs, charter history, classification documents and previous refit work should also be reviewed.
Why should I use Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales to purchase a Horizon Yacht?
A Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales yacht broker can act as the buyer’s representative when evaluating a pre-owned or centrally listed Horizon. A JBYS broker can search national and international inventory, compare customized configurations, obtain maintenance records and coordinate qualified composite surveyors, diesel technicians, oil analysis, haul-outs and sea trials. The broker can also assist with negotiations, financing, insurance, purchase documents, transportation and delivery.
JBYS has offices in Michigan, Illinois, Ohio and Florida, giving its team experience with both Great Lakes and coastal ownership considerations. Its website displays brokerage-listed Horizons such as the FD100 The Rock and 122-foot Miss Michelle, even though outside firms control the central listings, demonstrating that JBYS can provide buyer-side assistance on those yachts.
Horizon’s official U.S. representatives are Horizon Yacht USA and, for the PC Series, The Powercat Company; JBYS is not identified on Horizon’s official dealer page as a new-yacht dealer. Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales should therefore principally be viewed as a buyer’s broker for pre-owned and brokerage-listed Horizons unless a new-build relationship is separately confirmed.
