Motor Boat & Yachting — November 2017

We were pleasantly surprised by
Seaward’s latest 39. Not by its
traditional exterior styling or
bombproof hull – features that
we take for granted – but because
the interior feels so light, roomy
and beautifully built.
It has achieved this by mounting
the engines on vee drives rather than
straight shafts, pushing them further
back in the hull to free up space. This
has allowed an extra twin cabin to be
slotted in under the wheelhouse and
by mounting the inner berth on a lower

level, both have sufficient headroom

to avoid feeling claustrophobic.

Wisely, the owner hasn’t tried to

cram in too much below decks and

by opting for a curved corridor galley

in light oak, it makes the most of the

available light and ensures there’s

plenty of space to move around

freely. Handcrafted cabinetry, with

handrails integrated into the fiddles

and mouldings on every locker door,

add depth and detail.

Using technology borrowed from

superyachts, the wheelhouse is

This wheelhouse cruiser may not look
or sound familiar to European-based
motor boat owners but in fact, it’s a
tried-and-tested proposition based
on one of New Zealand’s most highly
regarded craft. Down there it’s called
a Salthouse Corsair and has a
reputation for being one of the
toughest tools around.
With production now entrusted
to Queen Long Marine in Taiwan, the
yard behind the equally well-regarded
Hylas range of sailing yachts, UK
importers Grabau International
decided to rebrand it accordingly.

It’s an intriguing proposition that

won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but

could well push the right buttons

for serious dayboat owners and

ex-sailors looking for a comfortable,

no-nonsense motor cruiser.

A long cockpit with full-length

overhang, drop-down curtains and

plenty of seating and storage space

flows through into an equally spacious

wheelhouse with exceptional visibility

thanks to wraparound windows and

some of the slimmest mullions we’ve

seen on any boat. With most of the

hull given over to deck-level living

AT A GLANCE

Length 42ft 0in (12.81m)

Beam 12ft 9in (3.96m)

Engines Twin Yanmar 8LV 370hp

Top speed 26 knots

Price from £682,959 inc UK VAT

Price as shown £760,000 inc

U K VAT

Seaward 39

Hylas M44

AT A GLANCE

Length 44ft 4in (13.5m)

Beam 13ft 6in (4.12m)

Engines Twin Yanmar 8LV 370hp

Top speed 31 knots

Price from $695,000 ex VAT

Price as shown $829,125 ex VAT

space, there is only room for one

decent master cabin in the bow

and a small twin-bunk guest cabin.

The finish is simple but high quality

with masses of teak and easy access

to all the technical spaces. Unusually,

the tender is designed to be dragged

up into the cockpit or lifted on to the

roof for longer trips.

Traditional shaftdrives with a stub

keel to protect them from grounding

give a top speed of 31 knots, while

the heavily flared bow is designed

to punch through anything.

Contact Grabau International.

Tel: +44 (0)1590 673715.

Web: http://www.grabauinternational.com

mounted on a box-section aluminium

frame with shock-absorbing rubber

dampers, while the bulkheads are

made from sound-attenuating

plywood and the engine bay is lined

with noise-absorbing insulation. The

result is claimed to be the quietest,

most assured ride yet.

Contact The Boat Development

Company. Tel: +44 (0)1983 280333.

Web: http://www.seawardboat.com

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STARS OF SOUTHAMPTON

Challenging sea

conditions don’t

faze the Hylas

A spacious saloon with high visibility...

Space and comfort have

both been increased

in the Seaward 39

Noise reductions

mean a quiet

ride is promised

The master is one of two cabins

The oak galley accentuates the light

...and an attractive teak-fi nish cabin