Hylas 46

Designed by German Frers, the Hylas 46 is built in small numbers by Hylas Yachts at the Queen Long Yard in Taiwan, from around 1996 onwards.

The hull is in solid uncored GRP, with vinylester resins, isopthalic gelcoats, and was epoxy coated below the waterline from new. Decks are partly cored, but solid GRP in stress areas. There is a watertight collision bulkhead forward, with independent overboard drainage, and another watertight stern section across the aft lazarettes and stern locker. The keel is lead, with two draught options, this yacht having the 6' 6" deep keel. The rudder is on a half skeg for strength, whilst retaining performance.

Interior joinery is in teak, to an exceptionally high standard of finish, with two double sleeping cabins. The forward cabin has a 'Pullman' style double berth, and the aft cabin a large 'island' berth. Three more berths are available if required in the saloon, but this yacht is clearly conceived as a two to four-person boat.

Above: With a centre cockpit pushing the companionway forward, and a full-sized double cabin and heads forward, the saloon is not large for a 46-footer, but is still spacious for the intended crew numbers. With a bean of 13' 6" there is space for full-sized walk-throughs both sides of the cockpit to the huge aft cabin, the starboard side forming a long and very well equipped linear galley, and the port side the aft heads and shower compartment. The plan at left shows a slightly different layout in the forward heads.

Forward there is another smaller (but still spacious) double cabin with en-suite heads and shower. The design is aimed squarely at owners who want to invite other couples to join them, rather than a charter business. To this end the interior is beautifully fitted out, with a great deal of expensive but practical detailing

The aft cabin has a 6' 6" by 5' 0" double berth, with seating and masses of locker and wardrobe space. Two mirrored doors give access to the aft heads compartment, and the galley walk-through

Right: Aft heads in the walk-through to the aft cabin.

Below: The chart table and navigators seat is to port of the companionway.

Engine front access via a hinge-out section of the companionway steps

In the central area under the cockpit sole is installed the main engine (front and side pics above). You will often also find a silenced genset (right), which powers the heating and air-conditioning, and provides additional battery charging, and a watermaker in this 'engine room'.

The foredeck has stainless steel plating protecting the deck around the anchor windlass, and two very large hatches into a self-draining forward sail and fender stowage locker. The comparatively narrow coachroof allows close sheeting angles for performance, and wide side decks for easy movement

.... nice detailing, including the fold-down S/S cushion rests seen at left at the forward end of the cockpit seating