Why Buy A Power Catamaran?

The Horizon Powercat Difference

Monohulls have been holding the spotlight for decades; it’s about time catamarans appeared from their shadows. And for a good reason. It is easy to see why there has been an increased demand for more than one hull in recent years. The multihull market is constantly evolving with its offerings, and the popularity of power catamarans has surged within this segment.

At Horizon Power Catamarans, we fill this demand with our longstanding passion and expertise reflected in our premium-level cruising catamarans. Aside from why you should choose a catamaran from us, it is right to tell you why you should choose one regardless.

SHALLOW DRAFT

There are numerous benefits to cruising on a power catamaran. Firstly, where you can take them, with a much shallower draft than monohulls, you can slide into those idyllic cruising grounds of The Bahamas and Caribbean cays without worrying about your draft. You can also put your mind at ease about how far you go because power catamarans have less resistance through the water, therefore a better fuel efficiency when cruising. When it comes to efficiency at HPC, we take it one step further and use Tank Test simulation and Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) analysis to ensure the maximum efficiency of each hull.

INTERIOR VOLUME

The two hulls of a catamaran provide voluminous accommodation and hosting spaces, with much more usable space below the waterline than a monohull. The open-plan salons with large wraparound windows onboard all our catamarans are perfect for 360-degree panoramic views. The spacious deck space makes for ideal hosting areas for large groups, and all our models have ample space for comfortable living and cruising. Whether you want a semi-enclosed or open flybridge configuration like the PC52, larger entertainment areas our PC60 offers, or the brand new PC68 boasting multiple layouts including an open salon or on-deck master suite, we can also build fully customizable to fit your specific needs, an example being our Horizon PC74.

STABILITY

With a power cat, you get a smoother ride to your location of choice due to the reduced chance of rolling from the ocean swell. Our catamarans have regularly been voted one of the best power cats for rough seas. Sea trials have proven that power catamarans have improved maneuverability and stability. We carry out extensive sea trials to ensure that the finished product is completely ready for cruising.

For overall stability, HPC hulls undergo resistance and wave-encountering tests to maximize stability and security at sea. The materials are also inspected at each build stage to ensure high-quality control. Regarding structural integrity, HPC carries out Non-Destructive Testing (NDC). These innovative and high-quality testing methods ensure that each fully customizable HPC is built with the highest quality and attention to detail.

MULTI-PHASE SUPPORT

Once we have converted you to this type of cruising, we don’t leave it at that. Our founder Richard Ford oversees each build personally, of which has been 55 hulls so far and counting. From every detail of the interior layout and design, to the implementation of the latest state-of-the-art technologies and systems, to the shakedown cruise and systems training, the Horizon Power Catamaran team provides a concierge-level service that is unparalleled.

Ready to step into that multihull lifestyle? Contact Richard Ford today at (954) 803-8102 or email richard@powercatco.com.

DOGS OF THE RENDEZVOUS SHOWCASE

It is our pleasure to introduce you to the first annual Dogs of the Rendezvous Showcase! They may be the furriest guests of the Horizon Power Catamaran Owners Rendezvous , but these canines take their crew roles very seriously. We stepped aboard to chat with a few to learn their stories:

MEET ANGUS

Angus is a flat-coated retriever who has been boating since he was eight weeks old. He first got his paws wet aboard a PC52 before his owners moved up to a brand new PC60, Quintessence. With nine years of boating experience, Angus says his favorite parts of the day are relaxing on the aft deck settee after his morning dockwalk and assisting with docking and em-“barking” operations.

MEET TUFFLY

Tuffly is a nine-year-old labradoodle who has spent her whole life boating. Her name derived from the words “Fluffy” and “Tough”, Tuffly might look like she’s never broken a nail on her yacht but she’s as serious a boat dog as they come. She’s been spending the last few months in The Bahamas aboard her PC60, Brokedown Palace, and her favorite pastimes include dolphin and turtle spotting. When she’s not keeping watch on the dinghy ride or in her favorite lookout position on the top deck while her powercat is underway, Tuffly is relaxing on the aft deck enjoying a pawsitively good life.

MEET LILY MUFFIN

The second canine resident aboard the PC60 Brokedown Palace, Lily Muffin has a dark and storied past that is best left at sea, she says. Nobody knows how old she is, but this Lhaso Apso decided to leave the bark side behind and joined the yacht two years ago. A bit set in her ways, Lily Muffin isn’t quite as seasoned at sea as her bunkmate Tuffly, but she does find joy in running up the steps to the flybridge and then demanding that the hoomans retrieve her and carry her back to the main deck. And when it’s time to go ashore, Lily Muffin commands the dock like it’s the Chanel catwalk in Paris.

MEET LOLA

Lola is a Mini Australian Labradoodle who took to the sea as a pup and never looked back. This eight-year-old sailor is happiest in the water, but her second favorite spot is curled up with her hoomans on the sofa in the main salon of her PC52, Passion. Lola is enthusiastic about docking and em-“barking” operations, and she patrols her yacht with the seriousness of a seasoned Captain. Lola is a real salty dog who is simply enjoying the yacht life.

MEET BIGS

Though small in stature, Bigs has a commanding presence and takes his role of Captain of the Aft Deck aboard the PC60 Mangata most ferociously. Bigs enjoys running on the beach and if his hoomans happen to cross paths with a large, monstrous and most certainly poisonous creature, Bigs will be the first on the scene to assess and defend.

AURORA THE EXPLORER

Aurora The Explorer:

The Next Cruising Chapter for a Popular PC52 With 50 years of boating experience under their belts, Marian and Robin Wade have no plans to slow down anytime soon, especially when aboard their prized Horizon PC52, Aurora.

Offering plentiful interior space and access to shallow waters, multihulled yachts are a popular vessel of choice for many Australian boaters. Marian and Robin Wade are such owners. The couple has always preferred multihulls over monohulls, and has spent decades cruising, fishing and exploring the coast of Queensland from their home port of Hervey Bay.

When it came time to purchase a new vessel, the Wades canvassed the boat shows and the pre- owned Horizon PC52 stood out among the rest. “With three cabins including a spacious master stateroom and ensures for all of our family and friends, the PC52 suited our needs perfectly,” says Marian. “She is a very high quality build and is in impeccable condition.”

The Wades opted to keep the yacht’s original name, and Aurora became part of the family. The Wades own multiple businesses, including a sawmill, cattle property, cane fields and various rental properties, but they will never turn down an opportunity to relax aboard their capable bluewater PowerCat.

“We both adore the water, and enjoy heading up the creeks and crabbing. It’s a great way to take a break from work. The stress just melts away.”

From Hervey Bay, Marian and Robin enjoy cruising close to shore and up to Fraser Island, fishing and simply soaking up the many benefits of the boating lifestyle.

Cooking on board is simple and pleasurable, according to Marian. “Nothing fancy, just barbecue the fish, boil the crabs in salt and pair it with a salad.”

And, while their cruising has been mostly local, they have acquired the expertise and confidence to handle offshore conditions.

In fact, Horizon Yacht Australia Director Mark Western joined the Wades aboard their PC52 as they traveled north to the Horizon Owners’ Luncheon in the Whitsunday Islands in 2021, and provided guidance and expertise that gave them the skills to comfortably navigate Australia’s sometimes unpredictable waters.

“We came back home on our own and it was quite choppy, but our boat is very stable and has great seakeeping ability, so we were totally at ease.”

Looking ahead, the Wades’ have plenty of exploration planned aboard Aurora. Their cruising plans consist of visiting Lady Musgrave Island off the city of Bundaberg and witnessing the turtle season, as well as the reefs and diverse marine life this unique region is blessed with.

“This year, we are also hoping to spend a month in the Whitsundays and explore the islands,” Marian says.

Now that they’ve become part of the Horizon family, the Wades say they would thoroughly enjoy the experience of overseeing the construction of their own Horizon.

“It would be great to move up to a 60 or 65 and be involved in the build process at the Horizon factory.

“We’ve built houses over the years, and we’d love to work our ideas into our own Horizon. The Horizon Yacht Australia team is so helpful; Mark, Erica, Tony, Rachael and Craig — nothing is too much trouble for them. They would be there every step of the way.”

Happy Cruising, Marian and Robin! And, yes, when you’re ready for that new PC60 or perhaps a new PC68, Horizon will indeed be there to assist through the entire process!

Ideal Isolation

Horizon PC Series Owners Make Friends and Memories While Self-Isolating in The Bahamas.

Alec and Barbara Hammond are the owners of the Horizon Power Catamaran PC60, Ptolemy. Built in 2015, Ptolemy is the second Horizon PC60 for these repeat Horizon yacht owners, who commissioned the four-stateroom yacht to suit their retirement lifestyle. When the COVID-19 pandemic began spreading across the globe and The Bahamas closed its doors to visitors in late March 2020, the Hammonds decided to hunker down aboard their 60ft power catamaran and enjoy the enhanced solitude of their favorite cruising grounds.

CRUISING LOG: SOLITUDE AND COMRADERIE IN STANIEL CAY
“After two months in mostly solitary isolation in the Ragged Islands in the ‘deepest corner’ of the Bahamas, we are beginning to turn towards the north and are now in the Exuma Islands,” writes Alec. “We spent a few days in our favorite anchorage at Big Farmer’s Cay where, once again, no other cruising boats were to be seen.”

Ptolemy then moved on to the popular Big Major’s anchorage at Staniel Cay where they were the sole vessel in the sheltered anchorage that normally hosts 25 to 30 boats at anchor during the height of the season. They wouldn’t be alone for long, however.

“We have been keeping in touch with three Horizon Power Catamarans on their 1,200-mile passage from the Virgin Islands to Fort Lauderdale,” says Alec.

Since everyone had been self-isolating on their boats for several weeks, the Hammonds decided to take the opportunity of having the beautiful Staniel Cay anchorage to themselves and host a pot luck evening. It was a sight to see, as the three Horizon PCs slipped into the anchorage and a semi-Horizon PowerCat Rendezvous between two PC60s, a PC65 and the Horizon Power Catamaran PC74 flagship, Seaglass took over the scenic destination. Sunset cocktails, a delicious potluck dinner, and flowing drinks and frivolity ensued! The trio resumed the journey the next day, “some, I’m delighted to say, were nursing raging hangovers!” says Alec.

CRUISING LOG: BAHAMIAN HOSPITALITY & THE LITTLE THINGS
“We stayed another twenty-four hours nursing our own hangovers and then slipped onto the fuel dock at Staniel Cay Yacht Club where we were welcomed by an old local friend, Brooks, who had also slipped in for fuel,” writes Alec.

But getting diesel during the limited service and supply situation created by the COVD-19 pandemic would turn out to be a bit more drama than originally anticipated. For five long hours, Ptolemy sat at the dock as the dockmaster tried to get the pump to work without success. Luckily, the pump was fixed by the next day and the dockmaster messaged the owners so Ptolemy could return to fill up with 400 gallons of fuel and head to the Staniel Cay Marina dock for the night.

“We continue to enjoy the company of sharks under the boat most of the time. When we see them in the underwater lights at night, we think of them as our guard dogs!!”

For so many people around the world, being unable to enjoy those small things that are so often taken for granted has become the very thing everyone misses the most. This night at the Staniel Cay Marina would be the first night Ptolemy was not on anchor somewhere for close to three months. While the marina, bar and restaurant were officially closed, the staff arranged for a lovely steak dinner to be delivered to the boat.

“Whilst most folk back home, or wherever they may be during this awful time, can get restaurants or bars to deliver or maybe go to a drive-by window for a meal, this was the first dinner not cooked on board by Barbara for more than eighty days, so it was quite something to celebrate and enjoy!”

The Bahamian spirit that so defines these amazing cruising grounds was prevalent, and Nettie Miller, who is part of the Staniel Cay Marina management, personally delivered a package of mail and medication to them. “The lovely Debbie, who sent the package from Oxford Products back in the U.K., had slipped in a couple of magazines to keep a sad old classic car nut happy,” writes Alec. “Thanks Debbie!”

The delicious steak dinner leftovers made for another satisfying lunch the following day. “Being a sensible chap,” says Alec, “I didn’t eat the fat from around the edge, instead coated it in mustard and fed it to the nagging black-headed gulls, which is always entertaining!”

CAPTAIN’S LOG: NATURE’S SPLENDID RETREAT
“So, are we stir crazy?” writes Alec from Ptolemy’s mooring at the stunning Cambridge Cay anchorage in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park. “Well, not really, but we are beginning to think that we have done enough quarantining and isolating and are feeling the ‘tug’ of home, family and friends.”

Following the weather windows as they appeared, the Hammonds slowly made their way toward Fort Lauderdale, Florida via New Providence and the Berry Islands for scheduled service and maintenance, during which the Hammonds made plans to stay with friends in Maine before their return to the U.K.

“Obviously we are very mindful of COVID precautions and will do everything we can to limit exposure,” says Alec. “If the second spike that some predict becomes a serious reality, we may just turn around and disappear back into The Bahamas!”

Ready to step into that multihull lifestyle? Contact Richard Ford today at (954) 803-8102 or email richard@powercatco.com.