I find the following interesting. Hargrave no longer shows any specific models offered on their site, but shows only custom. Hargrave does show two used 2020 models available, a 105 and a 92. That's a quick resell. One has 150 hours and one has 200 hours. Most recent Hargraves were built by HSY in Antalya including the two 2020's for sale. Hargrave refers to HSY as their affiliate. HSY now has launched under their brand a 116' as shown in news here, exterior design by Hargrave and interior by Shelley, so basically a Hargrave but under HSY label. So will we see both Hargrave's and HSY or has Hargrave become a design house for HSY or where is this all headed? What is the story on the two 2020's and why for sale so soon? Clearly Hargrave has aligned in some way with HSY which could be good for both.
I think I heard a rumor ( so take that at what it’s worth) that Hargrave would take investors in new boats ( spec boats) and would immediately put them into charter which they were very good at. Investors would get some usage and be out of the boat in a year or so with some usage and maybe a profit. Now that I think about it that model let’s you at least write off capital loss if money is lost and usage is less than 14 days a year.
Might very well explain the two 2020 models for sale. I do hope they and HSY aren't trying to buy their way in with pricing. Unique arrangements are fine, but if you gain market through discounts, you gained nothing and all you did was lower the value of all your builds.
What you don't get with a Hargrave or other builder who is outsourcing to a yard is the product design, usability testing that someone like Princess does. Their video series of how they build full size plywood mockups is very good. Google "The Princess Experience". Someone who spends a couple million getting the design right is going to have a better product.
I'm not sure I'd say that with Hargrave. I'd put their design capabilities as well as those of others they use very high. What you're basically speaking against is any custom boat. Just because a builder of a production boat like Princess has a good process, doesn't mean their boats are necessarily better designed. That said, I do lean toward production and semi-custom where the hull and structure have been proven, not in mockups, but in actual use. I've never gone full custom nor have I purchased the first of any design. However, there are builders I'd trust on new custom builds. Would I personally go with Hargrave and HSY? No, simply because there are others I'd choose over them. However, can't say I'd discourage others.
I am the owner of the 116' Hyperion just launched in Antalya. It was built strictly for personal use, and I chose Hargrave for the ability to build a completely custom yacht, my phenomenal customer support, the best I've ever experienced, and superior quality of my 95' Hargrave Freedom built in Taiwan, and excellent value proposition. The 105 you say was built in Turkey was actually built in Taiwan. The 92' Hargrave GG was built in Antalya. The HSY yard is affiliated with Hargrave, and the Hargrave is building there as well as the yard in Taiwan they've been dealing with forever. Both my 95' and 116' started as a blank sheet of paper, and I can think of no other company that allows so much design flexibility in FRP construction. I really love having a unique boat, and enjoy the design process. While Westports builds wonderful motoryachts, and Viking builds superior sportfisherman, I simply don't like going somewhere only to see other boats that look just like mine. It's tough to characterize a Hargrave because they are all so different, and always have been. The models they advertised were really just starting points to serve as the basis for discussion.
Very much appreciate your post and please keep us informed as you take delivery and enjoy. So your understanding they'll continue with both yards? Any knowledge of what will go where or how they'll decide? I was hoping my post would bring out someone with knowledge but had no idea I'd get as lucky as bringing you out.
My stone age computer skills don't allow me to share this directly. Maybe mods can help. yachtharbour.com/news/video-hsy-launched-36m-b116-hyperion-4793 has a 4 minute video of the launch. Note the English spelling of harbour.
Olderboater, Like most things at Hargrave, the customer decides which yard after consulting with Hargrave.
Well, can't wait to hear more about your experience. I would think having Hargrave on your side would be a huge plus as we've heard very positive and some negative of yards in the areas they are in but think it would all be positive with Hargrave. I would love to see them build more and be a solid alternative builder.
Is it just me or is there a marked similarity between the Hargrave 92 and the Horizon FD 90? (formerly the FD87). Horizon offers two layouts but the one with the beach club shared by the crew aft seems much the same inside and out as the Hargrave or vice versa. Not meant as a negative comment, just a question/observation.
My understanding is that the owner looked at what Horizon and OA had to offer and neither was exactly what he wanted. The build went to Hargrave because they could deliver the specific features he wanted. So the result shares similar design elements. Custom appears to be Hargrave’s niche. I’m keen on sportfish designs and have been mulling over various production offerings for my next boat. Hargrave apparently has some ideas for a build and is inviting interested folks to engage them to explore the idea. I’m intrigued but don’t know if I’m up for a project!
