Buying a 2012 445

Hello all, I am new to this group. I’ve joined as I’m seriously looking to buy the above yacht. Any tips that I should be looking for.  It has a fully battened main and self tacking jib, generator, a/c, very good tender and Davits. Any good tips please. The boat looks in great condition. TIA

Been a very happy Hanse 2013 445 owner for six years. The 445 is a good strong boat. We have had no problems with the Hanse construction inside or out. Problems have been with equipment provided by other companies who supply all boat builders. Recently had an email asking similar question so here was my list:-

(1) Check for grounding damage on GRP in front and behind keel area. Can be major cost (many ten thousands of €) if impact has caused hull delaminated or inner grid damaged. Very common for keel/hull joint to show rust at the bow end, it has been called the ‘Hanse smile’ and easily repaired.

(2) Standing rigging. Replace at ten-years, cost me ~7,200€.

(3) Sails if original, could be pretty tired at 13-years. We paid ~10,200€ for headsail/main last year.

(4) Volvo D2-55 is a very strong reliable Perkins unit. The saildrive diaphragm should be replaced every 7-years. Diaphragm parts kit is ~300€ plus around 2,000€ in labour if you pay a yard. Check for electrolytic corrosion on saildrive aluminium leg, severe damage is rare but new casting is ~7,500€. 

(5) Steering: Cables in Jefa steering break if not maintained properly. They should be inspected and re-greased every year. Some say replace at ten-years. Check for cable damage at pulleys under the steering wheel pedestal and cracks in chain links. A full new cable/chain kit from Jefa is ~800€.

(6) Rudder: Also a Jefa part, can suffer electrolytic corrosion of aluminium stock as boats (Hanse and non-Hanse) have lost their rudder due to cracks starting in corrosion holes. Each haulout, the rudder needs to be dropped ~100mm inspected and paint applied. Many owners miss this procedure. New rudder is ~4,000€ and is a special order which takes a very long time.

(7) Thruster: Check the lower/raise mechanism is smooth and all metal parts exposed to water are thick with grease to prevent corrosion and marine growth. Our stern thruster leaked from drive shaft seals allowing water inside electric motor … a two day repair requiring haulout. Check them over very carefully feeling behind the motor casings for rust. Seals and new motor are ~600€ with full new thruster unit at ~7,000€!

(8) Fischer Panda generator: my list includes leaky heat exchanger (~800€), leaky exhaust elbow (~900€) and leaky gas/water separator (650€). These generators are known to be difficult and expensive to repair.

(9) Original 2x 165Ah AGM house batteries are too small for a 45’ boat so power upgrades including lithium batteries installs are common. Check work has been carried out to a good standard and any lithium batteries are ‘Lithium Iron Phosphate’ (or LiFePO4) chemistry and not ‘Lithium Ion’.

(10) Touch-panel digital lighting system. Check it works, replacement is ~1,400€. It is made by big German company ABL Sursum but seen at least four people on the forums with dead units.

(11) Check that aircon works properly. It is a complex/expensive system. We have it … and very rarely use it.

(12) Check all the nav instruments work. At 13-years old, you may find buttons on Simrad IS40 displays no longer work (500€ new now) and if wind sensor bearings have not been replaced, they stick. 

(13) Check the safety kit. Liferaft service is every three-years, typically 600€. EPIRB batteries expire as do fire extinguishers, flares and lifejacket inflators. Easily reach 1,500€ on getting safety kit current.

I will reiterate my first comment, the Hanse part of the boat appears very well built with very few (if any) grumbles on the many forums … it is parts suppliers who also supply pretty much every boat builder that cause problems. Hope that list does not put you off buying a 445 and will be similar on any 45’ boat.  Costs will give you an idea of how hard you need to haggle on price … but get your own prices, don’t take my word for it!

Good luck.

Edited by Ian Coverdale - 15 August 2025 at 22:48