As a high-performance vessel, the express cruiser has always bestowed excitement onto the yachting world. While these vessels have long been adored by boating enthusiasts worldwide, a considerable amount of time has passed since the segment has witnessed any sort of groundbreaking, state-of-the-art developments. We are here to tell you that this is all about to change with the launch of ECLIPSE. A new generation of express cruisers has been unveiled to the world; With the first 505 Shadow expected to arrive at the end of 2024. ECLIPSE has unified talent from the yachting industry’s most powerful figureheads. The all-new ECLIPSE lineup of yachts commands industry and consumer attention, in both design and performance; Truly reimagining and modernizing the express cruisers as we know it.
Brought to life by Two Oceans Marine Manufacturing in South Africa, and HMY Yachts Sales as a worldwide sales force, the ECLIPSE lineup highlights two distinctive models: the 50-foot 505 and 60-foot 605, with premium Shadow Performance Package upgrades available for each. With an ultra-hydrodynamic hull design, exceptional efficiency features, and unparalleled performance, each model is well-equipped to handle the often unpredictable conditions of the Great Lakes, or any ocean on Earth.
With the goal of setting a new industry standard of excellence in the yachting world, the vision for ECLIPSE was created on a platform that boasts nothing short of perfection. To execute their visualization of a sleek, modernized express cruiser, Two Oceans Marine Manufacturing assembled the pinnacle of world-class talent to conjure the ECLIPSE’s design and performance elements. First, there’s the award-winning “Stepped V’ ’ Ventilated Tunnel ” (SVVT) hull and overall boat design by Michael Peters Yacht Design, a world-renowned firm known for its adept fusing of science and art. UK-based super yacht interior design and exterior styling firm Design Unlimited was also involved, adding intuitive elements for noise reduction, and overseeing all technical aspects of the interior decoration and furnishings. Silver Arrows Design, known for their prowess in automotive interior design, lent their expertise to incorporate automotive-inspired features rarely seen in the boating world, including surface materials, surround view cameras, ergonomics, and instrumentation, all of which blend together to cultivate a revolutionary experience. Finally, Du Toit Yacht Design, who are experts in both seaworthiness and aesthetics, were also involved in ECLIPSE’s back-of-house engineering.
Boasting the ultimate levels of engineering and design, the ECLIPSE is primed for performance. All models from the ECLIPSE lineup feature Mercury 600hp V12 outboard engines: The 505 is equipped with twins, while the 505 Shadow features triple outboard motors. The 605 sports triple 600’s, while the 605 Shadow edition offers a set of quad 600s. The Mercury Marine 600 horsepower outboard motors are exceptionally quiet engines due to two speed transmissions supported by the abundance of low-end torque a V12 block affords, which translates to much lower operating RPMs, lower fuel burn which translates to increased fuel economy, and incredible overall efficiency. The additional horsepower achieves the absolute pinnacle of performance within this class of express cruisers. The 605 Shadow is set to become the largest and fastest outboard-powered express cruiser in the world, making it a must-have for anyone seeking an incomparable yachting experience.
Any boating enthusiast familiar with the Great Lakes knows her waters should never be underestimated. Where there is water, there is also fickle weather. It is all too common for boaters to depart onto glass-flat bodies of water in the morning, only to be met with four-foot waves by the afternoon. Fortunately, turbulent seas are no match for the ECLIPSE. Her performance hull was created to cut through choppy waters with ease, all the while ensuring optimal comfort for passengers. The ECLIPSE lineup boasts the ability to have an open or closed entertainment area, making it easy to retreat inside when the winds pick up or head out on the deck when conditions permit. Everything is easy to open and close; there is no frustration dealing with canvas or Isinglass while being pelted with driving rains. Boaters who frequent the Great Lakes also recognize the compelling advantage of having a freshwater-kept vessel: without any corrosive saltwater to worry about, the yachts will remain in optimal condition for years to come. When maintenance is needed, however, yacht owners can expect concierge-level service from HMY Willoughby Creek, a highly specialized service location acquired to exclusively maintain and service ECLIPSE models. This is where all inbound Eclipse boat deliveries will be received from the factory in Cape Town, South Africa. This is where they will be prepped before departing for their new homes.
In an effort to cultivate the most relaxed experience on the water, ECLIPSE yachts have all been thoughtfully designed with features that provide the comfort and convenience of the home environment. Leveraging CZone®’s intuitive digital switching and monitoring network, everything onboard is connected via networked hub/switching modules, eliminating the need for cumbersome wiring harnesses (while also significantly reducing weight). Shadow models are equipped with high-speed Starlink internet connectivity standards (no need for satellite domes).
The ECLIPSE series is also perfectly appointed for entertaining. With flush deck entertaining spaces typically only seen on larger yachts, her layout features only the finest materials for supreme luxury. The 505 and 505 Shadow both offer a true two-stateroom, two-head layout, while the 605 models add an extra stateroom and head. In addition to her quiet engines, ECLIPSE has been equipped with Northern Lights Marine Diesel Generators, known for their whisper-quiet operation, for a smooth and soundless experience below deck. While we have yet to see precisely what the ECLIPSE’s full interior will look like, with the involvement of elite automobile designers, we can expect an imaginative, avant-garde interior styling that features lavish appointments, and state-of-the-art technology from bow to stern. The state-of-the-art influence will especially come to life on the ECLIPSE Shadow Performance Package models, creating not just a luxury yacht, but an entirely revolutionary experience for owners, captains, and passengers alike.
The first ECLIPSE 505 models are anticipated to arrive by the end of 2024, with the 605 models expected to arrive towards the summer of 2025. Although the ECLIPSE lineup was only first announced at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in late 2022, there has already been tremendous interest in both models. Orders are currently open for all ECLIPSE models through HMY Yachts, the exclusive dealer for ECLIPSE. To learn more about these new express cruisers and to begin your ECLIPSE build, visit the sales tab on our website SALES | Eclipse Yachts (eclipse-yachts.com) or call an ECLIPSE specialist at 561-448-8500.
To learn more about these new express cruisers, visit www.eclipse-yachts.com, or call an ECLIPSE specialist at 561-448-8500. Get on the waitlist now; contact HMY Yachts today.