The first outboard-powered Hylas M47 just arrived in the U.S. from the company’s yard in Taiwan. The M47, an adaptation of the diesel-inboard-powered M44, has two 300-hp Cox diesel outboards on its transom. Hylas says it’s the first twin-diesel outboard on the U.S. recreational boat market.
The Cox CXO300s push the new Hylas to a top speed of 31 knots, and a cruising speed of 17 knots. The outboards burn just 15 gph at 2,500 rpm. With the outboard’s standard four-blade props and the boat’s standard 475-gallon fuel capacity, the Hylas has a range of 1,000 nm. With optional 700-gallon tanks, the range goes up to 1,500 nm. Optional Sharrow props produce faster, and more fuel-efficient, speeds.
With the outboards, the M47 was designed for the U.S. market. Outboard-powered cruising boats have become popular here in the past few years, and Hylas wants to expand into the power cruising market.
Photo by Billy Black
It launched the M44 in 2018; it was a blue-water cruiser with clean, classic lines and a nod to Down East looks. The M44 was designed to Dean Salthouse, whose family has been designing boats in New Zealand for 70 years. Hylas also introduced its M49 at the Miami show in February; it had twin 370-hp Yanmar diesel inboards, with a top speed of more than 30 knots.
The new M47 is made for long-distance as well as weekend cruising, with a spacious, open layout. The views are unobstructed from the helm station to the transom. The salon has an L-shaped settee and a hi-low teak table that can be converted to a berth. The helm station has a standard Raymarine MFD, autopilot, electronic controls, and a joystick for the outboards.
Below, the M47 has two staterooms and one head. The master is forward with a queen-sized berth and a cedar-lined hanging locker. A guest cabin amidships has a lower berth that splits into two twins or combines to form a large double berth. An upper Pullman-type berth could be used for an extra guest or for storage. The head has a separate stall shower.
Hylas says it choose the Cox diesel outboards for the efficiency, reliability and longevity. Cox offers a 5-year, 1,500-hour warranty for the outboards, and they have a rating of 6,000 hours of running time. Hylas also believes that the owners of its existing sailboats have a basic understanding of diesel engines, and would feel comfortable with the Cox diesel outboards. With the outboards, the M47 has a draft of just 2′ 6″, making it attractive for the shallow waters of the Florida Keys, the Bahamas, the Chesapeake or anywhere else.
Hylas makes its boats at the Queen Long yard in Taiwan.
Specs.: LOA: 47’; Beam: 13’6”; Draft: 2’6”; Disp.: 21,500 lbs.; Fuel: 475 gals.; Water: 190 gals.; Power: 2×300-hp COX diesel outboards. Read more:
