The first of Hylas Yachts’ new M49 cruisers – designed by New Zealand’s Dean Salthouse and built in Taiwan – has arrived in Auckland. 

Built by Taiwan’s Queen Long Marine Ltd, the 15m M49 is an extension of the Salthouse’s highly-regarded M44 – already a popular seller for Hylas. The company’s motor yacht range now comprises three models – the M44, M49 and M58. In addition to conventional recreational use, applications for the M44 include customs and police patrol, commercial fishing and game fishing.

The M49 was developed for an existing owner wanting a larger model with more room in the aft lounge, an increased capacity for water toys such as kayaks and paddleboards, and enhanced dinghy stowage. Its lengthened aft cockpit adds 1.4m to the LOA and 0.81m to the waterline.
In addition to its performance and handling advantages, the M49 offers many options for customisation – among them larger guest accommodations, a second head and more extensive interior and exterior storage lockers.
The increase in the aft lounge sees an additional entertainment area, which extends between the galley and outside seating area. This space can be customised with additional pullout refrigerator drawers, wet bar, combination washer and dryer, or used as extra storage. Beneath the sole in the aft lounge is an additional storage locker for fishing gear, dive equipment and water toys.
Her airy interior layout features two large accommodation cabins and two heads. The forward owners’ cabin can be configured with a conventional island double or with five single bunks. The guest cabin (just aft to port) has a twin berth (with infill to convert it into a double), with a further bunk berth above.
The large lower deck bathroom comes with an electric head as standard (switchable between fresh or salt water), acrylic stone counters, and a dedicated shower cubicle.

At the forward end of the pilothouse is the helm station with a double helm seat and a large instrument console able to accommodate twin 12-inch MFDs. A sliding door allows access to the side decks. Opposite the helm station is the dinette with a U-shaped settee and a height-adjustable dining table. An infill to create a daybed or double berth is standard.
Aft of the helm station is a further lounge settee with built-in twin stainless steel drawer-fridges and a pullout pantry. Opposite is the U-shaped galley with cooker, microwave, freezer and twin sinks in the acrylic stone counters. Access to the cockpit is via a sliding door.
In addition to the cockpit door and the helm station deck access, there are also two sliding sunroof hatches, a further sliding window adjacent the dinette and an opening window aft of the galley. When opened it creates an attractive ‘flow’ between saloon and cockpit.
In the cockpit is an L-shaped settee to port with a height-adjustable table. It, too, can be turned into a sunbed or occasional outdoors double berth using an infill. Opposite to starboard is a linear sofa. The extended cockpit contains a wetbar and pop-up grill for alfresco dining.

The aft end of the cockpit can be opened, allowing a tender to be brought aboard (there are also dedicated dinghy tie-down points on the pilothouse roof). At the stern is a large bathing platform area with stainless steel guardrails.
Powered by twin Yanmar 8LV-370 8-cylinder diesels, the M49 has a maximum speed of 31 knots.

Specifications

loa 15m
lwl 14m
beam 4.12m
draft 1.00m
air draft 3.95m
displacement 11.5 tonnes
fuel capacity 900 litres
water capacity 720 litres
engines 2 x Yanmar 370hp
base price $1,33 million