Hanse

[Alden68]

Does anyone have any info on Hanse yachts.....particularly their newer designs? How do they rank amongst the production range (Bavaria to Tartan/Sabre)?

I have researched them as much as I could on the net and was just looking for some first hand info.

Thanks

[tommyt]

Alden68,

The Lake Michigan email list, which has been real quiet lately, had a new Hanse being delivered last year. I have not heard much about the boat since, but the boat was used at Strictly Sail Chicago as a floor model and delivered in spring 2006. The owners name is Alan Silverman, out of South Haven, Mi I believe, and it was a new 370e.

I am sure you will find him on the list and can email a response and then get to PM's

[bestfriend]

All I can say is that the one I saw at stictly sail looked like IKEA down below. I thought it was very cold and ugly. It wouldn't matter to me how it sailed, I couldn't live with it.

[Gene T]

Hanse is an interesting boat. I have looked at a 370 quite closely. My impressions are they need to get an award for innovative thinking for user-friendliness. There are so many things to like about the design.

On the down side they have galvanized backing plates behind the keel bolts and all the hardware on the boat is undersized to the point of looking cheesy. Windlass setup looks like an afterthought.

There is some history of the earlier 371 loosing a keel causing a recall.

The epoxy option is interesting and the pricing looks fair.

Sorry no sailing experience but they look like they would handle nicely, point well and and be easy sail single handed.

[svsirius]

Talk to SV Rocinante on the Renegade Cruisers Board. They have been cruising on a new Hanse 40 for the last 6 months or so.

[Alden68]

Thanks for the responses, I will contact those people.

All the reviews I have read say that these are real sweet sailing boats.

BF I know the interior is modern but i am intruiged. I wonder what they look/feel like in person.

[Giulietta]

Alden, as yoiu can imagine, we have many many Hanse here in Portugal, some of which ToomyT and Valiente saw.

In fact my marina neighbour is a Hanse 37, and I have sailed many times in them.

If you need further help let me know.

[Alden68]

Gui -

I am very interested in learning more about the boats. I am meeting with a broker in 2 weeks and would like to be armed with some info so he can't get the upperhand on me. I am looking at the 370 in particular. It seems like a great boat but it must have some cons. My goal is to increase my sailing enjoyment...in terms of speed and ease. Currently have a 40 year old full keeler and the romance has worn off.

Hanse seems to fit the bill in terms of style, speed, ease and price. I just want to make sure I am not looking at a piece of garbage and being fooled by the glitz.

[Valiente]

I explored a Hanse at the last Toronto boat show (it was between 40 and 45 feet) and while I thought it had some good idea, I didn't like the build quality for offshore. I don't like the Dufour 40 for similar reasons. I *did* like the Tartan 4100, but that's a pricey boat.

It strikes me that few people know how to build a sufficiently strong and safe boat these days with the proper materials that is really anything beyond a coastal cruiser. If I wanted that, I'd buy a Catalina or a Bendytoy, because they don't pretend to be "Lloyd's Offshore Class A" or whatever that certification is. A lot of those Bavarias and Hanses do have those classifications, but then you go below and see the absence of handholds and four metre wide saloons and no positive locking in the hatches and so on and so on.

Such boats might survive a bad blow, but they are the same ones abandoned by crews because they injure people and give the impression they aren't going to stay in one piece.

Having said that, Hanse isn't a bad choice for coastal/up to 30 knots, I suppose. My personal tastes are severely out of whack with the majority of recreational boaters.

[Alden68]

Valiente -

I think I'm fine with the inshore capabilities of the boat, or any other cruising boat. I (at least today) do not have blue water ambitions with my own vessels. My current boat has more unprotected glass in it than the John Hancock building and that has never stopped me from enjoying her for weeks at a time. I figure as long as I dont see the opelia crab fishing fleet near by I don't really need a boat built to Loyds exacting offshore standards. Loyds to me is a heat and serve barbecue pork thing that the grocer sells

That being said is it foolish to NOT buy the best boat possible?? I don't know. My current boat isn't seaworthy on the jack stands but I coudn't have any more fun on her. Thats what its all about....right?

I really just want to make sure that in a year....assuming I buy the Hanse....I won't be kicking myself because the keel fell off on the mooring.