There are few records of the boats that came out of David Hillyard’s Littlehampton yard including knowing exactly how many were built since no records were kept by the yard until after the Second World War when the boat numbers were started at an arbitrary 400. The number typically assumed is that probably over 800 were built as there are certainly records for 600 with tonnages between 2.5 and 29 tons.
So it is only a well imagined guess that this 12 ton Hillyard was built for a tall owner. To achieve the increased height in the accommodation she was built with an extra plank in the topsides. The result is actually quite surprising with a real sense of space in the main saloon and aft cabin created by the addition of the extra plank. With plenty of varnished wood, a good sized galley a great aft cabin with its own heads and an abundance of lockers and stowage it seemed to me that this boat could either accommodate a large family when cruising or provide a really great live-aboard.

In true David Hillyard fashion it was not just the vertical that was catered for but the horizontal as well so she features extra long berths. Stepping on board on a warm spring day and greeted by the current owner, I knew immediately this boat was something special. Their reputation for being solid, trustworthy boats goes before them but there is something more – something intangible about these boats. All owners love to talk about their boats, which is one of the best parts of my job and so I was given the full guided tour with anecdotes as well. It was the first time I knew that every Hillyard built came out of the yard with its own Bible with the name of the boat inscribed on the front.

After the guided tour and the other anecdotes I left her in the knowledge that these boats are something special indeed and that they were built with passion that I regret is rarely found in boatbuilding today.

At Boatshed Dartmouth we accompany all viewings as well as taking up to 80 photographs of all our boats. So there is plenty of information available if you’d like to know more and a warm welcome if you’d like to take a closer look at a very special boat.

Contacts and links:
View more information on this 12 Ton Hillyard we have for sale
Click here to contact Paul about selling your boat
Click here to contact Paul Singer, Boatshed Dartmouth
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