Hylas 56: Luxurious Bluewater Cruiser
Building on the success of their 54-footer, Hylas Yachts strengthen their position as a premier builder of elegant boats for couples.
February 9, 2011
I should start by saying that I’m biased when it comes to Hylas boats. I’ve been dragging friends, relatives, and editors down to the docks, touting the quality and fine lines of the various Hylas models for years. So when I heard that Hylas company owner, Dick Jachney, was showcasing the award-winning new Hylas 56 at the Annapolis boat show, I had to jump aboard. As usual, I wasn’t disappointed.
The sleek exterior of the new Hylas 56 suggests good speed on long passages.
The German Frers-designed Hylas 56 is a stretched sister of the 54, a model that Jachney introduced in 1997, which was followed by the raised saloon version in 1999. The bulk of the length in the 56 was added from the keel aft, increasing the waterline to just over 51 feet. The deck mold was redesigned as well to accommodate a larger cockpit and a beamier and taller coachroof. The result is increased comfort inside and out, and a sleek exterior that suggests good speed on long passages.
Key Characteristics
The Taiwanese yard Queen Long builds Hylas hulls from Twaron, a bulletproof Kevlar-like carbon aramid fiber. The 56 hull is solid, with no coring, and has external lead ballast of 20,020 pounds. Two keel drafts are available, 6’ 4” and 7’ 4, and a skegged rudder provides optimal performance and protection in case of grounding. The hull-deck joint is an inner flange glued down with 3M 5200, fastened to the toerail through 6″ centers with aircraft locking bolts, and tabbed together from below.
On deck, a hefty dual bow roller makes for easy anchor launching, and the Hylas trademark steel bow plate protects the deck from dings. The divided anchor locker has separate storage for docklines and fenders and forms a watertight collision bulkhead. A second watertight section is behind the dual aft lazarettes.
The cockpit table seats six guests.
Everything from the oversized Antal winches to the beefy 12” cleats says the Hylas 56 is ready for offshore work. The triple-spreader rig includes a 76’ Selden mast, and forward and aft lowers with individual chainplates add extra strength. A suit of Doyle sails includes a choice of mainsail configurations including in-mast furling, and a 135% genoa that brings the total sail area to 1,821 square feet. That might sound a bit intimidating, but all lines are led aft and the electric winches mean that shorthanded or singlehanded sailing is not a problem.
The cockpit was extended 24 inches fore and aft from the 54 model, and its beam was increased eight inches. That allowed Hylas to install a cockpit table that accommodates six guests rather than the previous drop-down folding table that only sat four for dining. Also, with the longer hull aft the deck storage under the stern steps has increased dramatically, so it can house an air compressor and several SCUBA tanks as well as many other toys.
On the 56 the coach roof was extended seven inches on the beam, offering a much larger main saloon. Also, the saloon ports were eliminated and replaced with a single, fixed circular dark Lexan port that wraps around the entire main living area.
Accommodations
Down below the tour begins with the guest cabin forward that has a walk-around island berth 6’8” long. Three rows of drawers under the berth provide excellent storage, as does a hanging locker. A door to starboard leads to the guest head with a shower stall. Opposite is the third cabin. Because Hylas is a semi-custom builder, this cabin can be designed with upper and lower bunks, a workbench area, an office, or a utility room with extra storage.
The main saloon has a great room feel.
The saloon has a terrific great-room feel, most likely because it is of a great-room size. Bamboo flooring is available and really adds to the sumptuous feel. A straight settee to starboard and a L-shaped dinette to port complete the main social area. An office-sized, L-shaped navigation station has a swiveling chair and a split instrument panel with instant access to the wiring harness and connections.
The galley to starboard is almost 11 feet long and has acres of countertop space. It also serves as a walk-through to the aft stateroom, a posh space with copious storage and a generous, easy-to-get-into centerline queen berth. Double bookshelves are at the head of the bed, and a sizeable hanging locker is amidships, just aft of the machinery space. The en suite head has a separate shower stall and room for a washer/dryer combination. On the 56, this stateroom not only gained a bit of length, but also two inches of headroom.
The galley has 11 feet of counter space and serves as the pass through to the aft cabin.
Systems
The tanks are stainless steel and under the saloon with 555 gallons of fuel and 500 gallons of water, appropriate for a long-distance cruiser. There are two house banks of batteries: four AGM 8Ds for 840 amp hours, and three 8Ds for an additional 675 amp hours. A 135-amp alternator charges the house bank, and a separate 60-amp alternator charges the dedicated starting battery.
The engine horsepower was increased from the 125-hp Yanmar on the 54 to a Volkswagen common-rail 150-hp on the new model. Most notable is the accessibility of the systems from the engine to the various pumps and electrical connections. Dick Jachney knows how his boats are used, so he designs them to be serviced and maintained easily no matter where in the world they might go.
What it Does Best
Hylas does three things very well, and the 56 is no exception. First, they build tough offshore boats that make safe and comfortable passagemakers. Second, they make sure these sizeable boats are completely manageable by a couple, the majority of cruisers. Third, Hylas works very closely with new owners to customize and personalize the vessels as much as is practical. The result is a quality build, a functional design, and a feeling of elegance with myriad creature comforts. The Hylas 56 is what comes to mind when one says “the total package.”
The aft stateroom has plenty of room and built in storage.
Trade-offs
For those who are cruising or doing coastal jaunts with kids, it might seem that a 56-foot boat could pack in more individual and private spaces for various family members. The Hylas 56 is a true couple’s boat; it is all about luxury for a few, not housing for many. And that’s fine because that’s what Hylas owners are looking for.
Performance
The Hylas 56 would be happiest in blustery conditions in excess of 20 knots. Nevertheless, once she gathers speed even in light winds, she holds it and glides powerfully through the water. Polar charts show that in 10 knots of breeze at 60 degrees apparent, the boat will make 4 knots. Cracking off to a beam reach in 16 knots she’ll make 7-8 knots in flat water. On a broad reach in 20-25 knots plus of wind, she’ll hit her stride at 9-10 knots.
This is a moderate-displacement boat, and it’s not built for in-harbor beer can races in light winds. And with that much length, you might be thankful for a bow thruster in tight quarters. So isn’t it nice it comes with one?
Similar Boats to Consider
If you’re looking for comparable boats of similar size, you might consider checking out the new version of the Tayana 54 or the recently introduced Southerly 57 Raised Saloon. With the emphasis on elegance and luxury, the Hylas 56 even reaches toward the premier British Oyster series, especially the 575. You’ll notice quite a bit of value in the Hylas line by comparison. The 56 has a base price of $879,000 and you can expect to add another $200,000 to a sailaway price. But given the quality and the presentation of the Hylas 56, it looks like I’ll be dragging folks down to the docks to visit Dick Jachney for years to come.Where To Learn More
For more information on the Hylas 56, visit the Hylas USA website.
UPDATE: Find out why the Hylas 46 was chosen as one of the 5 Top Affordable Bluewater Cruising Sailboats.
Zuzana Prochazka is the President of Boating Writers International (BWI) and the Technical Editor for Latitudes and Attitudes magazine. She contributes regularly to Boats.com, Yachtworld, Lakeland Boating, and Sea Magazine. She hosts Latitudes & Attitudes Television and launched her boat and gear review website, Talk of the Dock, in 2010. She is the Chair of the BWI New Products Committee and has repeatedly judged NMMA Innovation Awards and NMEA New Product Awards. She is also a USCG 100-Ton Master and serves as a judging chair for the BWI Annual Writing Contest.
