This is a substantial, mid-displacement cruiser intended for offshore work rather than weekend racing. She displaces 27,777 pounds on a 40-foot waterline and carries 12,346 pounds of lead ballast, giving a ballast-displacement ratio near 44 percent.
Design and Construction
The hull is laid up with solid glass for impact resistance and strength, while the deck uses an end-grain balsa core to reduce weight and add stiffness. Construction details carry ABS approval.
The 12,000-pound external lead keel is secured by no fewer than fifteen one-inch bolts. The fin-keel underbody is paired with a deep, semi-elliptical spade rudder balanced off a partial skeg. A low-freeboard profile keeps the center of effort modest.
Period testers described the general interior construction as essentially a fine wooden boat fitted inside a fiberglass hull and deck. The overall build quality was considered exceptional.
Below the waterline, the easily driven hull form combines with a sail-area-to-displacement figure of around 22 in light trim. That gives the boat enough canvas to move efficiently through the water without feeling over-canvased.
Rig, Sailing Performance, and Handling
The Kemp rig has double spreaders and split lower shrouds. Its mast section is stout enough to do without running backstays entirely. All running rigging leads aft to the cockpit, keeping sail handling within reach of the helm.
The test boat carried a conventional full-batten mainsail with lazy jacks. Later cruising versions are often fitted with electric furling for both the genoa and mainsail, making the boat manageable single-handed.
Writing in Yachting Monthly, test sailors described the Hylas 46 as tight, responsive, and pleasing to steer. For a bluewater cruiser, they found her genuinely rewarding at the helm, although the partial-skeg rudder doesn’t provide the linear feedback of a fully balanced spade.
In cruising trim with full tanks, displacement rises to nearly 21,000 kilograms and the sail-area-to-displacement figure falls to about 14.4. That puts her firmly among heavy-displacement cruisers and marks her as a heavy-displacement cruiser that will comfortably cope with heavy weather, though she is slower in light air. The low freeboard can also allow occasional spray to reach the cockpit.
Cockpit and Accommodations
In its midship configuration, the cockpit is high and compact but very comfortable. The elevated helm position feels secure rather than exposed.
Below, the aft owner’s cabin is the more sumptuous of the two. It has an en-suite head and a 60-inch island berth, larger than a queen. The forward guest cabin is also en suite, with decent stowage and a 42-inch amidships berth.
The saloon provides flexible additional sleeping space. The main settee converts into a double berth, while the starboard settee folds into twin bunks. In its normal position, the main-cabin table serves as a small cocktail table; it expands into a full dining surface when needed.
Plenty of opening hatches, all fitted with fly screens, help keep the interior airy. Maximum headroom is six feet eight inches, and air conditioning and fans are available below.
Equipment and Systems
The engine is beneath the main companionway, under the galley island. Access is excellent, with full reach from the front and removable panels on the other three sides. Plumbing and through-hulls are meticulously labeled and easy to reach.
The standard Yanmar diesel produces around 62 to 75 horsepower and drives a shaft. Tankage is generous, with 100 gallons of fuel and 200 gallons of water.
Deck and safety equipment includes substantial grab rails over the Dorade vents, high lifelines, clean decks, and a secure cockpit. Full-length teak-and-stainless rub rails run just beneath the sheer. Other conveniences include a transom locker, folding bathing ladder, deck shower, and a saltwater hose at the bow for washing the anchor and chain.
Verdict
The Hylas 46 is a thoughtfully engineered Frers cruiser, combining a robust solid-fiberglass hull with a light, stiff balsa-cored deck and a heavily bolted lead keel. Her accommodations are genuinely livable for two couples, while her rig can be handled shorthanded without sacrificing sea-kindly manners.
She isn’t a lightweight racer. In full cruising trim, she has the displacement and moderate sail-area-to-displacement figure of a boat built to absorb heavy weather with composure, at the cost of light-air speed.
Pros
- Solid-fiberglass hull, ABS-approved construction details, and fifteen one-inch keel bolts
- Two en-suite cabins, including a 60-inch aft island berth
- Versatile saloon with three additional berths
- All running rigging led aft
- Stout mast requires no running backstays
- Manageable shorthanded
- Excellent four-sided engine access
- Clearly labeled, easily reached plumbing
Cons
- Partial-skeg rudder lacks the feedback of a fully balanced spade
- Low freeboard allows occasional spray into the cockpit
- In cruising trim, the sail-area-to-displacement figure falls into heavy-displacement territory, slowing the boat in light air
