I had a  little bit of strap attach at the top middle of the platform that helps you get it out and deployed, as that can be very difficult, but then for bring it up again. Two options and neither is ideal but:

 

1) standing on the platform bring the ladder vertical, pointing to the sky and the sitting on the deck, one foot on that little step pull up , fold that ladder in and close, or

 

2) lie on your stomach and pull on the rope!!

 

in both cases you really need another person to pull the rope inside the lazerette so the weight is taken up.

 

Those bit of rope do no more than hold the thing in place!!!

 

Speaking of swim platforms has, mine does not come back flush on the transom on one side, the dealer is trying to sort it out, but has anyone else had this problem??

 

Brad

 

 

 

On the other manufacturing issues. Yeah i hear you. There are some things that are not sorted and its just not good enough. I too have a "not quite flush" swim platform. But in Hanse's defense this is a production boat and the value for money is a function of the factory's one eyed approach of getting boats out the door.

 

However, (and this is for you Michael Schmidt as i know i echo the voice of the many here) if you want to make the transition from a smaller player and increase your production numbers to a larger scale, remember what got you where you are, a focus on your customers and quality. The factory should focus on the production of yachts, but for goodness sake empower your dealers to do what they do best and don;t get petty. Empower them immediately with all parts necessary and monies if required. If you can't manage this process, employ some who can, else suffer the consequences.

 

Now i'll get off my soap box and say... regardless they are great yachts. Strong, powerful, with industry leading ideas and fairly good value for money. But that won't be enough in the medium-term. The after sales service must improve. The dealers are great and doing all they can, but the factory is letting them down. Your clients are demanding and this website is your greatest selling tool. Don't waste it or them.

 

I agree totally and will also add this. The service one gets from the Hanse dealer depends very much on the dealer themselves, some are great others not so. I'm lucky, mine is great. However, the time and energy of the dealer shouldn't have to be spent correcting issues created in the factory!!!  The dealer has enough on his plate with the basic commissioning and installing all the odds and ends that we owners dream up to make our boat uniquely ours.

 

In addition, I find am perplexed that the fast hull form and structural quality aren't matched by quality gear and finishing. Euro styling is fine but it still isn't that good a quality. It is clear Hanse cheaps out and comments on it are all through this forum - winch sizes, block sizes, vents, ..... As an example, I've only had my 400e a couple of months, have used it maybe a half dozen times and already pieces of wood are falling off the companion way hatch having been held on by tiny screws and a bit of glue. Personally, I'd pay another couple of percent to have the gear and finishing quality match the rest of the boat.

 

Steve

John

 

I don't want to get sucked into the quality debate as we've had super service from the UK dealers and there does appear to be recognisable differences twix 461 and 470 specifications, but it does seem sad that Hanse Germany appear to be building a reputation for either not listening or not responding to owner issues.

  

I've wanted to know deck thickness for weeks - and did not want to drill to get it myself.  Were Dominics calls responded to?  Sorry no.

 

We did not like the idea of the autopilot box having to be built into one aft cabin.  Talks with Lewmar designers proved it could be mounted in other ways so the cabin intrusion was not required, but would Hanse agree and change the mounting brackets?  Sorry to say it was not to be.

 

However - all that being said - I've been checking out some Oysters, Tintrellas, and other slightly bigger cruisers for longer distance stuff - and guess thay come in around double the Hanse price for same length.  Guess maybe we do get what we pay for.

 

Cheers

JOHN

 

PS  Don't box your mast in - as at least when it leaks - you'll see it. 

 

Our rig pressure went off during winter months, mast came straight, deck seal opened up so you could see sky from below.  Trouble was I was in UK and boat in Turkey where they had an exceptionally wet winter.  So loads of water into boat. 

 

Because of boxed mast a lot of water flowed over onto headlinings, and from them even flowed across saloon headlinigs and down side walls of both main cabins.  Just has side headlinings out so full extent of water seepage was obvious.

Not an issue we can't solve - but suspect if our mast was not boxed in - we'd have maybe been made aware of possible issues before it happened and avoided the clean up.

 

PPS  Absolute bastard of a job removing side headlinings in saloon.  Have had to dissassemble glass boxes in order to get headlining out and they have more glue than screws holding them together.  Again - if Hanse listened and put the side headlinings up in two parts - bit bit aft of glass boxes and small bit in front - the whole job would be so much easier........   

 

I completely agree. Like i said great boat but yes i too feel bad that the dealer has to bear the brunt of complaints that are the factory's fault and responsibility.

 

We don't have the mast boxed in. The dealer is very kindly sorting an alternative out for me. To be honest i don;t wanted it boxed in but would like to see an nice fabric finish or something. The little piece of wrap around the factory supplies is a joke.

 

On the water pouring in. I haven;t have this around the mast. But a note to all, have your dealer silicone up the three holes in the emergency rudder stock. The screw on close mech on the stock is shocking. It requires a lot of lube around the o ring, potentially a larger o ring and most likely the slots that allow it to push and screw need to be machined to allow more than a quarter inch turn as it doesn;t create a seal. The result is water in the aft cabins. However don;t despair, fill the three holes in side the stock and apply a little silicone around the seal on the cover (it'll easily come away if you need it, lets just hope nope of us ever do!!) and you are water tight. This is a jefa issue, but the factory should have sorted it.

 

Brad

If you check your's out you might find there is a foam plug across the mast section just level with the spare spinnaker exit sheave.  Halyards and cables run up through it via conduit.

 

It may not stop all water, but it should stop most.

 

We simply sealed the top of the boot with self amalgamating tape and seems we're pretty watertight now.

 

Cheers

JOHN

I've got a new 470 and I've found it quite easy to lift the platform using a boat hook on the small bit of webbing attached to the platform As its come up past the vertical it stays in place quite happily until I pull the chord inside the lazarette to secure it. The problem I've got is that the platform does not currently go all the way down as the bottom edge and the hull meet before it gets to the horisontal - does anyone else have this issue? At the moment Hanse are being very slow to address this issue so if anyone from Hanse is reading this can you please sort the problem out pronto as I've had the boat for several weeks now and have not been able to use the platform!!

Best wishes

Jonathan

 

If you are thinking of swimming off the back with current UK weather, maybe Hanse are doing you a favour in not moving faster to fix the alignment issue...........

JOHN

Jonathan

 

B

 

 

 

Yes i agree that the ladder is not structurally sound as is. Tobo, another owner had problems with the mid pivot point on his new 470 a couple of months back and posted details. I used mine for the first time the other week in the Solent!! (first and last time I'm swimming in the solent!) But i was a little disappointed with the thought going in to the ladder. But on the other had i love the fact that it folds away. Clearly i want everything!

 

I think the solution is reinforce the top connection and then add some wire from the top to the bottom on the ladder, kind of like the way the platform itself is supported. This might reduce the load on the mid joints and importantly stop the ladder from swinging under the platform when you try to climb up it.

 

This is something I'll turn my mind to when i know I'll be in warmer climes. So note for a while yet unfortunately!

 

B

ZIFFA

Have replaced them with regular terminal ends and shackles.

JOHN

PS  Have also added a blue webbing tab (our hull is blue) that fits under the ladder when it is dropped.  This prevents the blue paintwork from any rubbing PLUS when made the right length, gives us a small tab to pull the platform open with.

 

But is the webbing tab also positioned at the point where the ladder folds over the platform edge?  Where it can work to protect twix paintwork and stainless ladder?

 

And re ladder length....our 461 ladder folds down, then has a second fold,  so we've two and a bit steps below water level.........no issues even with a fattie like me getting out OK.

 

Maybe its another small (but in this case negative change), that's helped Hanse keep the price down?

 

David 

 

I'm curious, have others suffered as tobo has with the welding pulling apart. I haven't yet but on the two (cold) occasions i have i have looked at these joints and wondered how long they last?

 

 

B

Our ladder shows no signs of coming apart and its possibly been used more than most others over three years - but I'd quite agree it is stupid and wrong that new owners have to worry about such quality / safety issues.

 

JOHN