We would agree with Crafty as well.  Zack and I are in that “sweet spot” of many Hylas owners: recent empty nesters, still working but planning on retiring soon(ish) and then living aboard and sailing Che Figata (Italian slang for “Totally Awesone”) for as long as we are able.  We spent years searching for the right boat and our research (as well as our hearts) kept leading us to Hylas.  We feel incredibly fortunate to now own Che Figata, having purchased her from Doug and Kristine Robinson (they called her Dharma) about a year ago.  We attended the Newport boat show in 2017 specifically so that we could meet the 3rd generation and were very impressed.  Though we haven’t had the pleasure of sailing with them yet, we found them committed to carrying on the Hylas legacy of quality while adapting to today’s buyer, knowledgeable, curious about what we thought worked well and what we thought could be improved and, importantly, interested in looking for ways to increase the value of the brand beyond building great boats.  These are tough times in the industry because the market is contracting but we are rooting for them because, aside from our interest in a vibrant Hylas commmunity, we believe they are working hard to take the brand to the next level by building upon their tradition of quality and delivering even greater value to the family of Hylas owners.   

Zack & Jill Hummel
S/V Che Figata
H56-18

Hi Folks,

I have been a fan of the Hylas brand for years and I’m now fortunate enough to own my own H54 which I sail offshore in excess of 3000 miles each year. Prior to that Ive sailed on a H70 for several seasons to the Virgin Islands from Annapolis and Newport. I’m very familiar with the brand and the performance of several Hylas models.

Over the years, Hylas has built over 500 yachts. They have produced award winning designs drawn by some of the worlds most acclaimed naval architects. Nobody can debate the reputation of the build. Now the company is going into its 3rd generation and from what I can see from my vantage point is that the brand is continuing their excellent reputation for building high quality offshore luxury performance yachts.

Just as the 1st and 2nd generations of family at Hylas made changes in design that led to modern classics like the H46, H49, H54, H56 and H70, the 3rd generation of family members will make changes to design as well to create tomorrow’s modern classics. Its the evolution of the brand. They’re using the same quality, same yard, same carpenters, same navel architects including German Frers and the exciting addition of Bill Dixon and Dean Salthouse to the mix both who are extremely successful in their field.

It’s not fare or appropriate to insinuate that there might be “an indication of something” What ever that means regarding the 3rd generation of Hylas family members because you saw them using a smart phone. They deserve our support and respect. We as owners and investors of their brand should give that to them (most do). They’ve earned that. They grew up in the yard building boats and they know far more about that business and the intricacies of the building quality yachts than we ever will.  Its an extremely difficult business to be competitive in and the 3rd generation has made the pledge to continue the quality build while evolving the brand so that they don’t become a company that ignores the quality of the build until the keel falls off 500 miles offshore like another popular “quality luxury brand” which has obviously stoped caring about their customers. Thank god that is not the case with Hylas.

Ive been to several boat shows over the past year and have had many conversations with the current generation, their parents and the current staff/team that spans both generations and I can assure you that despite your 3rd generation worries, The 3rd generation and the team that they have put together is working incredibly hard to prove themselves and build the best yachts Hylas has ever produced. They’re getting involved and getting out on the water and not just day sailing. They are passage making thousands of miles each year with owners while asking those owners for input to make the brand better. To say they are inexperienced and “obviously not sailors” is wildly and irresponsibly inaccurate. If you are lucky enough to sail with the members of the the 3rd gen or anybody who works with Hylas for that matter as I and many others have,  you will know exactly what I’m talking about. We are lucky to have them instead of some rich tech barron who’s just bought a new toy to play with and get bored of. Lets get behind the brand and support them. (I know many do) We owe it to them and we owe it to ourselves.

I’m looking forward to seeing and meeting many Hylas owners at the rendezvous that I hear will be scheduled for this year right after the Newport show.

Ok, trying this again.  May have been a file name issue (iCloud file names are random characters and long).

Worked for me after I posted it but be warned, the images are large and will not appear properly if viewed within the forum.  I recommend saving them locally before viewing.

also, I apologize for the readability of the text, these were taken with a scan utility while the prints lay on the floor.  if you need close-ups of a given section i’ll be happy to retake, just let me know.

Ken

Ken, I am envious of your dry bilge. The leaking probably starts when the shoe on the skeg is either removed and not properly re-bedded or stresses on the rudder/skeg when sailing break the bond between the skeg and shoe. Even then, as water fills the skeg, it might not get past the thin layer of glass covering the skeg at the hull. BTW, I also could not download your drawings although the counter indicated that I tried.

Jim Ripple
H 46-53

Actually the oil pressure is measured at the block by the oil pressure “sender”.  The Sender gains resistance as pressure rises.  The guage at the panel is ‘electrically’ connected to the sender and displays the measured resistance in analog form. 

You can inspect the sender which on the JH series engine is located above and aft of the filter on the block.  [ref. Yanmar user manual for JH series marine engines Section X II & Yanmar JH Service manual Section 1-3,4,5 “Views” and the piping diagrams on Sections 7-1,2,3,4 covering the four JH series engines]

You can also see the electrical path via the wiring diagrams for the various panels in section 9 Electrical 9-3,4,5,6 for the various engine/panel configurations.  These note the “L. O. Pressure Switch” (electric pressure {resistance} limit trigger switch)  if you have a guage on your panel the Switch (on the block) will have been replaced with a sender.

There is no pressure drop between the engine and the guage, it is electrical.  That would be a very bad design as you risk oil leakage at and between the panel and block.  Additionally head (rise/run) does not reduce pressure in oil, oil and liquids do not compress thus no loss.

Low oil pressure should be attended to.  Typically low oil pressure results from clogged filters, pipes, or wrong/bad oil.  On rare occasions may be a result of a bad oil pump but this is difficult to determine without removal and inspection.  Also though minorly, your crank shaft actually contributes to oil pressure.


I can post page copies of the notes diagrams if anyone is interested.