If ever there were a call to action, “do it now” would be it. Similarly, Do It Now, the first E98 from Horizon, leaves no doubt as to her owner’s philosophy. This is a woman who was so excited by her and her late husband’s first boat purchase, a 33-foot Chris-Craft about 40 years ago, that she enrolled herself in boat-handling classes. She drove the Chris-Craft every time the couple went out, too. Several years, and several bigger yachts, later, Jo Ellard is reaping the rewards with her first new-build.
In fact, the Horizon E98 resulted directly from Ellard’s input. She initially considered building an E88. However, she felt the 21-foot beam wasn’t much more than the 18’6″ of the Horizon 76 she’d owned (a brokerage purchase) for six years. She liked the open bridge, but wanted more entertainment and relaxation space. Specifically, she really wanted four spacious guest staterooms with a his-and-hers master, plus crew’s quarters. She also needed high headroom. She’s nearly six feet tall, and her sons are even taller. “We’re big people!” she says with a laugh.
With an LOA of 99 feet (30.33 meters) and a beam of 23 feet (7.07 meters), Do It Now feels “perfect” to Ellard. So, too, does Horizon’s semi-custom approach. She didn’t want a formal inside dining area, so the saloon is extra-long. The settee occupying the port side (below) is extra-long as well. It’s further extra-deep, to accommodate her family’s long legs. Horizon’s in-house design department made the settee to her specifications. To keep the atmosphere friendly and casual between the saloon and country kitchen, there’s a pass-through. Barstools line it as well, on the saloon side. If Ellard is entertaining and the chef is busy, a glass partition lends privacy to the spaces. And, from the main deck to below decks, the grains of the North American walnut paneling run horizontally. It’s a nice visual effect.
With a plethora of cabinetry and extra refrigerator and freezer drawers, Do It Now suffers no lack of long-term cruising solutions. Neither do guests suffer from practical lifestyle solutions. Ellard requested the main-deck day head have an aft-deck entrance, in addition to the saloon entrance. EZ2CY panels can enclose the open bridge to let air conditioning pump in. Finally, all four staterooms eschew bunk beds.
If anyone who steps aboard happens to be unfamiliar with Ellard’s “do it now” philosophy, one thing will set them straight. A plaque in the galley contains a quote from the late Pope Paul VI. “Live life to the limit, every moment of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows.”
Here’s more of Do It Now.
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