Designed by German Frers and built from 1993 onward, this center-cockpit yacht carries the elegant lines and tasteful sheer associated with his work for the builder during that era. Even so, it remains less common than its siblings in the Hylas range.
Design and Construction
The 45.5 has a solid, hand-laid fiberglass hull and an end-grain-balsa-cored deck. In high-stress areas around the mast base and deck fittings, the balsa gives way to solid fiberglass. The hull-to-deck joint is both glassed and mechanically fastened, with stainless steel bolts on four-inch centers secured through the toe rail. The result is a tidy, durable connection between the two molds.
The yacht measures 46 feet overall, with a 13.5-foot beam and a displacement of 22,320 pounds carried on a 50% displacement ratio. That puts it firmly in the cruising-weight class without making it feel sluggish.
The tighter aft section and abbreviated boarding platform distinguish the 45.5, both visually and functionally, from the later 46. The trade-off is a little less aft-deck space in return for a tighter, more classic silhouette.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The 45.5 carries a high-aspect masthead-sloop rig. It is well balanced and lends itself to short-handed sailing: fun and easy to manage, yet capable of phenomenal performance once the breeze builds.
With a sail-area-to-displacement ratio near 17.5 and a displacement-length ratio approaching 182, the boat is tuned for passage-making rather than all-out speed. Even so, its balanced helm and high-aspect sail plan allow a couple to manage it without drama. It is stiff and quick when the wind pipes up.
A skeg-hung rudder and fin keel with a 6.67-foot draft provide directional confidence. The cockpit is generously sized and smartly arranged, placing winches and controls within easy reach of a lone trimmer.
Accommodations
Below, the two-cabin layout provides a sizeable guest stateroom forward with its own ensuite head. Aft, the full-beam owner’s stateroom has a centerline queen berth and a private head with shower.
In the main saloon, a starboard settee with a convertible pilot berth faces a wraparound dinette to port. A full-length passageway galley runs along the starboard side, providing ample counter space and storage for extended living.
Numerous opening hatches and portlights bring natural light and ventilation deep into the hull, keeping the interior bright without relying on power. The center-cockpit arrangement also shelters the aft cabin from companionway traffic and gives the saloon a settled, residential feel.
Verdict
The Hylas 45.5 is a Frers-designed center-cockpit cruiser that shares the Hylas 46’s proven hull form in a slightly more compact and less ubiquitous package. It’s easy to sail short-handed, stiff and quick when the breeze builds, and constructed with a thoughtful deck-core strategy and a secure hull-to-deck joint.
The practical two-cabin interior is well lit, though not expansive. Compared with the later 46, the tighter aft section also leaves less space for lounging around the swim platform.
Pros
- Shares the Hylas 46 hull form
- Well-balanced, high-aspect rig suited to short-handed sailing
- Solid, hand-laid hull and balsa-cored deck, with solid fiberglass at high-stress points
- Secure, bolted-and-glassed hull-to-deck joint
- Two-cabin layout with a forward guest suite and full-beam aft owner’s cabin
- Numerous openings provide good natural light and ventilation
- Strong performance in stiff breezes while remaining fun and manageable
Cons
- Less common than other Hylas models, which can complicate parts comparisons and resale benchmarks
- Tighter aft section and shorter sugar scoop than the Hylas 46 reduce aft-deck and swim-platform utility
