Brian (et. All):  as an add-on this is a thread about the forward tank from a few years ago.  Granted Nirvana has no thruster.

http://hylasyachts.org/index.php/topic,1160.msg4134.html#msg4134

One note, in my ordeal (and it was a full on cut floor out of the forward stowage locker and rebuild everything ordeal) one thing stands out to consider.

While you are in there perform a very close inspection of the bulkhead pas-through attachment points.  On Nirvana, because the prior owner had never replaced or serviced anything forward of the bulkhead, these had degraded and became soft and impregnated thus odor intense.  I also cut them out as well as the surrounding bulkhead structure and replaced it with new glass/teak ply, the fittings, built a new, larger access panel inside the forward head and added a macerator overboard pump in there.

I do not envy you this work and wish you best of luck.

I am happy to say after 8 years she is still completely odor free and I maintain vigilant inspections of that tank, fittings and space.  I NEVER want to deal with that again.

Last note:  I also replaced the vent line and vent in the aft tank.  My guess is Starboard tacks in rough seas are the culprit.

Ken

P.S.  I have lots of photos and a write up about this I sent Queen Long as the issue with the forward tank was clearly a factory oversight error that had been with the boat since it was built.  Freely willing to share anything you need.

I have a 2007 46 and while it isn't the easiest set-up that I've ever sailed, it is manageable for one able-bodied sailor.  It isn't the type of boat that you would take out for an hour or two on a Wednesday evening after work.  I make a two to three day trip of it at a minimum; they perform exceptionally well offshore and are better suited for longer passages.

I am based on the Mississippi Gulf Coast if you're ever up this way; I'd gladly let you try you hand. 

My husband and I are considering purchasing a 45.5 Hylas. Is the rig too powerful for a single person to handle (worse case scenario if one of us got sick/injured while sailing)?

We are located in SE Florida, if anyone has a Hylas we could crew on that would be great. Thank you

Hi, we've noticed a bit of water damage fwd of the port stern window in the aft master. We're in the Great Lakes so the boat is out of the water Oct-May. I'm trying to figure out where the water is coming from. It could be the window, but it also could be something on the deck.  Here's a picture of it.

Has anyone had anything like this? Any idea where the water may be coming from if not the window?

Thanks, Yan

Jim...with hull #028 I pulled my engine out to rebuild....in doing so, I found two especially one bad,ruisty engine mounts. The one that was real bad...is where the engine exhaust was leaking/dripping down on the mount. While I was stripping and painting the bildges...all the way to the forward cabin did I inspect my keel bolts. None was leaking. While stripping and painting....I removed all excess bedding compound around keel bolts. All in all, my keel bolts looked pretty good. btw: All paint was reapplied with 2 part expoxy.