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Hylas doesn't have to build our boats as well as we do, in fact we could build them half* as well and it would be completely acceptable to most. The Hylas buyer is, however, more discerning and more likely to sail to remote destinations and spend far more time at sea than the average sailboat owner. Strong and troublefree sounds like a pretty good design parameter for an offshore sailing yacht hull. Wouldn't you agree?
We believe that the human eye and the human hand are still the most effective means of achieving the quality we demand. For that reason, we hand lay-up our solid fiberglass hulls using only the finest materials, including state of the art non-woven glass, vinylester resins and isophthalic gelcoats. As if that wasn't enough, we add an additional two layers of epoxy barrier coat in the bottom to further prevent osmotic blistering. Watertight bulkheads forward and aft define the serious offshore sailing yacht, and you can rest assured that no corners are cut, ever, to achieve the strongest and safest hulls we know how to build... and we've been at it for over twenty-five years. If this sounds like a "belt and suspenders" approach to you, you have successfully received our message!
As an additional feature on our larger yachts, (and available as an option on the 46 and 49) we are proud to build our Hylas 54 and 54RS, along with the new Hylas 70 hulls using Twaron(TM) an engineered fiber that has several times the strength of normal steel and is 60% lighter and two times stronger than normal fiberglass products. Its principal benefit is to add significant puncture resistance, providing greater peace of mind for the offshore venturer. This also provides a moderately lighter laminate than many boats, with far greater strength. Lighter and stronger structures are really important values in a performance cruising boat. Excessive weight is the enemy of performance and comfort at sea. More weight means bigger rigs, higher stresses, bigger winches... the list goes on and on. Our construction methods provide more usable space for you, your guests and all the gear and provisions you need for long passages, while most importantly, providing you with the strongest hull that modern technology permits.
The risk of collision at sea or accidental grounding underlies our decision to use this material, which in other applications, is employed in bullet-proof vests, aerospace projects and a myriad of other performance-dependent fields. Yes, it is relatively expensive, but when you're charging along at ten knots in a gale, at night, with low visibility and big seas, would you like to be worrying about whether the laminate, the very shell of your boat, is up to the test? With a Hylas, relax. Enjoy the ride!
Furthermore, as mentioned above, Hylas uses only the highest quality vinylester laminating resins. The reason? It's the best, and virtually eliminates any possibility of osmotic blistering. The flexural properties of vinylester resin perfectly match the high-modulus (low stretch) properties of the fiber we use. Of course neither resin nor fiber alone are capable of doing the job by themselves. It is the marriage of the two media that makes the cured laminate strong... and in this case, delivers the best in the industry.
Sail on, secure in the knowledge that your Hylas was built to the highest standards, not the least expensive.
* defined as using common fiberglass materials that possess less than half of the tensile strength of Twaron(TM) material in the hull construction
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