With its low profile, long straight sheer and more than a hint of clean, classic Down East lines, the new Hylas M44 was just introduced to the United States at the Palm Beach show. Hylas collaborated with the New Zealand builder Salthouse for the new high-end, two-stateroom cruiser, designed for maximum comfort, seakeeping ability and functional use of space.
Inside, the new Hylas is filled with light, with large side and front windows, two long overhead sliding hatches in the salon, and a large glass door that separates the salon from the cockpit. The galley is aft, on the port side, and it has a hinged window that opens to the cockpit, making serving – and conversation – easy in the salon or in the cockpit. The U-shaped galley has Corian countertops, a large pull-out pantry for storage, a four-burner gas cooktop, oven and grill, microwave, fridge and freezer.
A three-person bench seat is to starboard, while forward to port is a U-shaped dinette lounge and table, opposite the helm to starboard. The teak dinette table has an adjustable leg and a filler large enough to create a double berth.
Three steps down, the accommodation deck has a large master forward, with a queen-sized island berth, hanging locker and four stainless steel portholes. Just aft on the port side the guest cabin has twin bunks, with a filler to create a double bed, plus an extra pilot berth above. The head on the starboard side has a separate shower with a molded seat and a retracting shower door.
In the cockpit, there’s an L-shaped settee with a teak table to port and a bench seat to starboard, and a door opening to the teak swim platform. An overhang from the cabin rooftop provides protection from the weather.
Hylas Yachts are made by Queen Long Marine in Taiwan, one of the most established builders there; some 500 Hylas yachts are now cruising somewhere in the world. Hylas is a semi-custom builder, so they will try to accommodate a buyer’s individual cruising lifestyle.
Specs.: LOA: 44’4”; Beam: 13’6”; Draft: 3’2”; Disp.: 20,943 lbs.; Fuel: 240 gals.; Water: 185 gals.; Power: 2×370-hp Yanmar diesels. For more:
