The Horizon Yacht E56 2012 vs Horizon Yacht FD85 2017 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 1 200 hp, the Horizon Yacht FD85 2017 has a 500-hp advantage over the Horizon Yacht E56 2012's 700-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Horizon Yacht FD85 2017 carries 3 434 gallons versus 528 gallons in the Horizon Yacht E56 2012. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Horizon Yacht FD85 2017 is rated for 24 passengers, while the Horizon Yacht E56 2012 caps at 16. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Horizon Yacht FD85 2017 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Horizon Yacht FD85 2017 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 24 passengers and at 79,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Horizon Yacht E56 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 16 that costs less to run day-to-day.