NX 400 Horizon, the cabin boat (12 m) for those who like to party TEST

In our trials we often see Italian, European, and U.S. powerboats. Today we break out of the group of the usual ones and look at a model built in Brazil, near Pernambuco. It is called NX 400 Horizon and is made by a shipyard that has made a name for itself in recent years starting in the USA. His philosophy? Making hulls suitable for the modern yachtsman who seeks solidity, comfort, sportiness, but without overpricing. If you are looking for a high-performance, yet bulky coupe around twelve feet, this is undoubtedly an option to consider.

The “party” cruising boat

The line is not what we are used to, but the result is very interesting: not giving up an “aggressive” footprint while getting maximum volume and good performance. The shapes are soft, but between windows and color solutions the boat appears dynamic. In fact, it should be considered that the version we tested was with two 320-horsepower D4 inboard engines from Volvo Penta, but NX also produces it (mainly for the U.S. market) with two 600-horsepower V10 outboards from Mercury. In short, the deep-V hull is also designed for racing. That said, if you have no particular speed ambitions, the 400 Horizon is very enjoyable even in the classic configuration especially since you retain a very well-equipped super stern platform this way.

The features of this NX 400 Horizon

It is seriously difficult to find a 40-footer that has a larger aft-deck than this 400, especially if we add the presence of an external kitchen cabinet even to the cockpit with a grill and sink, which can be covered with a retractable awning. Proceeding to the bow, we climb a few steps and access the cockpit, all on one level and protected by the massive hard-top, which can be opened, however, to the middle of the boat and is capable of transforming the NX400 into an open. One difference from the hulls we are used to immediately jumps out at you: there are no side walkways and the cockpit takes advantage of the entire beam with a convivial area that can accommodate party numbers of people. Access to the bow sundeck is through an opening in the port side of the large windshield.

How do you moor if there are no walkways, someone may ask? Opening side windows help us, as does the possible addition of supports that hold the transom while moving toward the bow. In short, it is certainly not as comfortable as it would be to walk all the way along the broadside, but it only takes a little practice as we saw during the test to come up with it without any problems whatsoever.

In the middle of the boat, on the starboard side we have the bridge while on the other side is a cabinet housing glasses and bottles with a counter above. The young boat out, party approach is also reaffirmed by the numerous speakers and speakers scattered on board as well as the can holders from stern to bow. But this is only a nuance. Actually, given the protection of the cockpit and the size of the aft platform, even a family can enjoy it to the fullest and safely.

The boat’s cabins

The interior confirms this feeling because in the bow we have a convivial salon with sofa, front galley and an additional double bed, all dominated by significant height. To the left is a separate furnished bathroom with a split shower stall, livable even for multi-day cruises.

In the stern, however, a second door leads to a practically full-beam cabin that lacks the heights of the bow, but still provides substantial volumes and total privacy. We have finished the overview: now it is time to see how it performs in the water.

How does this 10-meter sail

The conditions are not ideal with a bit of a sirocco raising an uncomfortable wave, especially for a boat with as much volume and significant weight as this one is. Another limitation was our test engine, two 320-horsepower Volvo Penta D4s, by far the lowest power available. Some horsepower to the use would have been nice, but we still sailed smoothly with a top speed of 31 knots.

The use of trim was important to balance the hull trim well, but overall sailing was comfortable with a good cruising speed of 25 knots while the engines were running just above 3000 rpm. What is surprising, however, despite the undoubted muscularity of this hull, is its maneuverability in both open water and in the straits, which makes it not only fun to steer but also safe to moor, perhaps one of the most important points for a powerboat.

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Boat data sheet

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