At 54 feet overall, with a 15.83-foot beam, the Hylas 56 is a serious bluewater boat rather than a lightweight performance cruiser. She displaces roughly 50,200 pounds and carries 20,020 pounds of external lead ballast.
Design and Construction
Queen Long, the Taiwanese yard behind Hylas, built the 56 with a solid-fiberglass, uncored hull reinforced with Twaron, a bulletproof Kevlar-like aramid fiber. The deck mold was reworked from the Hylas 54 to accommodate a larger cockpit and a beamier, taller coachroof. The coachroof itself was widened by seven inches across the beam.
The hull and deck meet at an inner-flange joint glued with 3M 5200, fastened to the toerail at 6-inch centers with aircraft locking bolts, and tabbed from below. A skegged rudder provides grounding protection. Buyers could choose between keel drafts of 6’ 4” and 7’ 4”.
Writing in Cruising World, judges cited the sturdy hull, high-quality systems installation, and copious on-deck storage as defining traits. Tester Ed Sherman also praised the excellent workmanship and magnificent systems installation.
Rig, Cockpit, and Sailing Performance
The triple-spreader rig carries a 76-foot Selden mast. Forward and aft lower shrouds terminate on individual chainplates for extra strength. All control lines lead aft to oversized Antal winches, with electric primaries intended to make shorthanded sailing routine rather than heroic.
The Doyle sail inventory includes a 135% genoa and a choice of mainsail configurations, including in-mast furling, for a total sail area of 1,821 square feet. Compared with the Hylas 54, the cockpit was extended 24 inches fore and aft and widened by eight inches. Its table seats six.
Polar data shows 4 knots of boat speed in 10 knots apparent at 60 degrees, 7–8 knots on a beam reach in 16 knots over flat water, and 9–10 knots on a broad reach in 20–25-plus knots. Cruising World found the boat gathered and held speed in 6–8 knots of wind. The in-mast-furling boat tested also performed well in the light sea-trial breeze.
Accommodations
Below, the saloon ports were replaced by a single, fixed, circular dark-Lexan wraparound port. The main social area combines a straight settee to starboard with an L-shaped dinette to port.
An office-sized, L-shaped navigation station has a swiveling chair and a split panel that exposes the wiring harness. To starboard, the nearly 11-foot galley also serves as the passage to the aft stateroom.
The aft cabin has a centerline queen berth, double head bookshelves, and an amidships hanging locker, all beneath two additional inches of headroom. Its en suite head includes a separate shower and space for a washer/dryer.
Forward, the guest cabin contains a 6-foot-8 walkaround island berth, three rows of drawers, and a hanging locker. It opens into a guest head with a shower. Opposite is a third cabin that, through Hylas’ semi-custom approach, can be configured with bunks or used as an office, workbench, or utility room. Bamboo flooring was available as an upgrade.
Deck, Stowage, and Safety Details
At the bow, a hefty dual roller and divided anchor locker separate docklines and fenders while forming a watertight collision bulkhead. A second watertight section sits behind the two aft lazarettes. Hylas’ trademark steel bow plate protects the deck from anchor dings, while beefy 12-inch cleats round out the ground-tackle arrangement.
Storage beneath the stern steps was enlarged enough to hold an air compressor and several SCUBA tanks. Cruising World also noted well-conceived handholds, logical brace points, and good berths with excellent lee cloths.
Systems and Power
The electrical system has two house banks. Four AGM 8D batteries provide 840 amp hours, while three additional 8Ds provide 675 amp hours. Charging comes from a 135-amp house alternator and a separate 60-amp starting unit.
A standard bow thruster helps with close-quarters maneuvering. Auxiliary power comes from a 150-hp Volkswagen common-rail diesel. Stainless-steel tanks beneath the saloon carry 555 gallons of fuel and 500 gallons of water.
The Verdict
The Hylas 56 applies Frers’ bluewater thinking to a semi-custom, 54-foot-plus platform. Its strengths include serious aramid-reinforced construction, a deck arranged for genuinely shorthanded sailing, and an interior that can range from a charter-grade three-cabin layout to an owner-focused configuration with an office, without feeling compromised.
This is a moderate-displacement ocean boat with the tankage and battery capacity for extended time off-grid. Its size and dense systems inventory, however, call for an owner who is comfortable with the scope of maintenance.
Pros
- Solid, uncored hull built with Twaron aramid fiber, a robust inner-flange joint, and two watertight sections
- Led-aft control lines, electric winches, and a bow thruster make singlehanding plausible
- Semi-custom interior with a walk-through galley and configurable third cabin
- Large battery banks and 555-gallon fuel and 500-gallon water capacities for extended cruising
Cons
- The moderate-displacement hull is no light-air sprinter, despite respectable polar data in 10 knots
- The complex systems inventory implies greater ownership and survey overhead
