Hanse 345 - Reviews and Opinions
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Category: Hints & Tips
Forum Name: 345/348
Forum Description: 345/348 Hints, Tips and News
URL: https://www.myhanse.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7237
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Topic: Hanse 345 - Reviews and Opinions
Posted By: Swanji
Subject: Hanse 345 - Reviews and Opinions
Date Posted: 15 February 2013 at 06:32
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Hi All I have just read a review of the Hanse 345 in the March 2013 edition of Voile et Voiliers, an excellent magazine in my opinion. The article header says "A clever and refined cruiser. Full of good ideas on board this German boat. The result is not always convincing but not a lot is missing..." The article concludes that "This cruiser is well finished and as a package well thought through that represents good value for money" Overall a good review then but after reading the article again, I cannot help but feel that those reviewing the boat were left feeling a little disappointed with the sailing performance which was assessed over 100nm and in a variety of wind conditions from light force 2/3 to strong force 6/7. This disappointment is not due to the hull design from the NA's which they really liked but rather due to the way the boat has been set up and which could be remedied. What they particularly did not like was the self tacking jib concept that is a part of the Hanse ethos, the mainsail sheeting system and the fact that there are only 2 winches. So what were their potential solutions? - An overlapping genoa that would power the boat in lighter winds, would be more useful off the wind fitted to genoa tracks which are an option. Maybe Hanse should be leaving the self tacker as an option on future models given the strong views that exist? - an additional 2 winches. They felt that having 2 winches only was not sufficient - some resolution to the mainsheet system which they felt was too far forward ( over the coach roof ) and too wide in terms of the attachment points on the boom. ( safety ?). To my knowledge there is no factory fitted option to improve this set up. Apart from lack of fiddles, anti-slip on the coach roof under the boom and a couple of other minor criticisms which could be fixed by an owner, they found the boat to be very well thought through. As a Hanse owner though, their principal concerns go to the heart of what a sailboat is about.The self tacking jib and the mainsheet mid boom system is standard on most of the Hanse models nowadays. The competitors seem to have adopted smaller genoas (as opposed to self tacking jibs which they offer as an option) amd a traveller on the coachroof system for cruisers which seem to me to be more seaworthy options. Time for a review? ------------- Onwards and upwards Nidri, Levkada, Ionian, Greece Hanse 350 #7, SY Evolution, standard keel, 3YM20 sail drive, 3 cabins, cherry wood interior, teak decks, feathering prop |
Replies:
Posted By: Fendant
Date Posted: 15 February 2013 at 10:10
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Swanji,
I think that your remarks are spot on: If you compare the sail area / displacement ratio of the Hanse 345 it is inevtable that you buy a "factory pre-reefed" yacht. This might be ok , together with the self tacking jib for the prevailing (stronger ) winds in the Baltic. The concept however will not work at all for the South where we have to live with light to very light winds. Currently a Hanse will always be slower than their French competitors for us in the South, so you will always have a great view on the fleet in front of you and a definite chance to win the red lantern in the clubs race.
 Same for the traveller: it will be difficult to fit one on the cabinroof in the North where a sprayhood /dodger is a must in the cold rainy climate. However I don't see really the necessity to have one permanently in the South or in the Med.
Two extra winsches and the genoa track are already on the top of my option list.
Dufour and Bavaria attach the main sheet the top of the cockpit table, seems an even more stupid option.
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Posted By: Yeoman
Date Posted: 15 February 2013 at 12:43
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Hi All,
I have sailed the 345 a lot now and can't help but think it is one of the best models that Hanse have built (I have sailed every single one from 2005 onwards).
As offered previously I would be very happy to do a MyHanse test review of the latest Hanse models as I think this would be a great addition to the forum.
Self tacking jibs have been standard on Hanses forever and I believe one of their best assets when sailing. It seems crazy to me that journalists never seem to bother looking that the overall sail area of a Hanse with a self tacker is the same as most other models with a larger genoa. They simply achieve it with a larger main.
The last 2 test sails I have done were in 6-8 knots of true wind and we were happily sailing at 5 knots so there should be no concern over the light wind performance.
If MyHanse members would like to set up a test team to come and sail the 345 or any model we have available I think it would be great.
This way we can have a discussion about our own opinions rather than others.
Kind regards
Phil
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Posted By: holby
Date Posted: 15 February 2013 at 19:08
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Count me in Phil..... Cheers. Dave ------------- Hanse 301, tiller steering, Volvo 2010 (10hp) 
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Posted By: Perttu
Date Posted: 15 February 2013 at 19:18
I have the same experience with 355. I am absolutely delighted with light wind performance. When on downwinds gennaker is a must but same applies too. Well done Hanse... ------------- Check my sailing videos - http://www.youtube.com/user/l11483?feature=results_main |
Yeoman wrote:Posted By: MisterM
Date Posted: 15 February 2013 at 22:21
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The Dutch watersport magazine Waterkampioen tested the 345 in their latest issue, and concluded that it is very well built, also the interior, but the sailing characteristics are not satisfactory, due to the boat being underpowered in sails. They tested the boat in light winds. What a contradiction to the test in the latest Yachting Monthly, where the 345 was described as "the family cruiser that likes a force 7!". They tested the boat in a force 6-8 and were enthousiastic about both the sailing characteristics as well as the build quality, although mentioning that it of course will not match the quality of a Hallberg Rassy (whilst not matching its price tag too). I have ordered the 385 as a replacement of a 320. The 320 in my view sailed great, even in light conditions. The self-tacking jib is a good performance jib when beating windward, also in light winds, but of course when broad reaching or running, the jib is of little value. I understand that the jib on the new range, 345, 385, etc, is bigger and the mast is somewhat aft, so that it is more effective. The 385 in all reviews and tests I've read is praised for its sailing performance, both in strong winds as in light winds. The 345 seems to be a boat with a different SA/D-ratio, therefore maybe in light winds is not the fastest, but is capable of withstanding strong winds. In light winds, a gennaker or comparable should do the trick, in my view.
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Posted By: APT
Date Posted: 15 February 2013 at 23:09
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Fendant I was informed today that Dufour is now offering a mainsheet traveller on the coach roof as a option in the dufour 335. |
Posted By: skipper
Date Posted: 16 February 2013 at 10:49
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I saw the boat on an exhibition last Saturday and my executive summary after that visit: I keep my current Hanse.
I was surpriced how the sprayhood prevented the usage of the winches and also the lack of storage in the saloon (and in the cabins). We are living onboard and eating onboard on our vacations so we need space to store things.
One strange thing were also the tapwater valve in the head, in case of a big wave hitting the boat there is a risk to get the valve hitting you body due to the location of it to close to the edge, I would have prefered a location closer to the hull (or in that direction if you get my drift). ------------- Cheers, Skipper Former owner of Hanse 342 2005 (Sparcraft mast, white hull, wheel steering, deep draft keel, short rudder) |
Posted By: Perttu
Date Posted: 16 February 2013 at 14:20
Here is some evidence about the 355 http://youtu.be/HknPT0inMp4" rel="nofollow - http://youtu.be/HknPT0inMp4 - that day we were able to maintain speeds above 4,5 knts even when true winds dropped to around 6-7 knots. And true winds averaging 7-8 knots/140-150 degrees we were doing in average 5,5 knts over the distance of 60 NM's. In my opinion very good performance for a cruiser - hope the sistership 345 can do this as well... ------------- Check my sailing videos - http://www.youtube.com/user/l11483?feature=results_main |
Posted By: panos
Date Posted: 16 February 2013 at 23:04
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Hi, First I would like to comment on the self tacking issue: after using it for about five years I would never change it, so happy I am with it. It lets you drive the boat upwind like a car! Even in races it gives you a huge advantage, provided you know how to trim it (selecting the correct hole at the clew to connect the sheet line). Also I do not miss the track! We use the vang to control the sail shape and we use the main sheet as a track. During racing and in low wind speed sailing we rig a barber hauler to move the boom to the centerline without affecting the sail shape. Very easy in these conditions! Light wind sailing: light winds are usually defined windspeeds which keep a laminar airflow over the water. The wind speed profile is linear starting at almost zero near the water surface and progressively reaching 5 knots near the masthead of a 18-20 meters tall mast. Any boat with roller genoa or jib cannt move in these conditions! Only boats that can change the front sail to a very light fabric - called wind seekers or light air #1 jibs/genoas can fill the sail and get a workable sail shape. Normal #1 jibs/genoas simply hang there useless. The situation abruptly changes at a little bit higher wind speeds. The flow becomes turbulent and the windspeeds profile changes to parabolic meaning that within a few meters over the surface the windspeed reaches five knots and does not increase much after that so that at the masthead it registers 6-7 knots. The transition is sudden and easy to notice on the water surface. This condition is not called light wind sailing! My boat can easily handle turbulent wind flow making boatspeed equal to windspeed minus one , but doesn't move in laminar flow conditions! Between five and seven knots windspeed is a HUUUUGE difference ------------- Panos Hanse 630e - selling her - |
Posted By: Swanji
Date Posted: 17 February 2013 at 09:47
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Hi Panos Thanks for sharing your experience. I find it interesting that you no longer value the traveller as you once did. If I remember correctly, there was a time when you felt that having a traveller in the cockpit was an essential and that a distant second prize was to have one on the coach roof. Any other configuration was a floating caravan. :)))) Your experience though of using the kicker and the mainsheet to achieve a similar effect is music to my ears because we have the Hanse bridle system of sheeting on the coach roof. This season, I am going to turn the self tailing silver thing on top of the winches to face the stern, route the jib sheet and mainsheet to the genoa winches on the coaming as I have been doing and use the kicker far more than I have done in the past. Maybe I don't need a pad eye in the cockpit or a traveller at all. As I see it, the traveller on the coach roof would allow you to sheet the main in to the centre line which you say you are achieving via a barber hauler system in light winds. The other point is that with the self tacking jib, there is no longer a need to get the boom right back to the centre line. Yeoman mentioned in one his posts that the coptimal,position for the boom with a self tacker was about 10 degrees off centre when sailing close hauled which can be achieved without a traveller. ------------- Onwards and upwards Nidri, Levkada, Ionian, Greece Hanse 350 #7, SY Evolution, standard keel, 3YM20 sail drive, 3 cabins, cherry wood interior, teak decks, feathering prop |
Posted By: Swanji
Date Posted: 17 February 2013 at 16:31
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Hi All On our H350 with factory fitted standard self tacking jib, we found that the boats performance suffered in light winds meaning anything less than 10 knots. The factory fitted Dacron self tacker from North was smaller than spec 24.5 m2 versus 28.5 m2 and it had lost its shape particularly on the leech. We have replaced the self tacking jib with another self tacker but this time in laminate with a larger roach supported by 3 vertical battens. The new jib is 28.5m2 and has been supplied by Quantum. We are hoping that this change will improve our light wind performance significantly. To improve our off wind performance, we will be using a barber hauler system with toe clamps onnthe toe rail combined with blocks to get a better shape. We have also changed our 2 blade fixed prop to a 3 blade feathering prop from Kiwi which will also make a big difference probably more than the new jib. The new Hanses as I understand it have their masts positioned further aft, thereby increasing the fore triangle and Hanse have optimized the self tackers both in tems of size and in terms of shape to improve light wind performance. Based on the comments so far, it seems that this experience is not consistent across the range of boat sizes offered. The opinions expressed by the reviewers in magazines are hopefully independent and are formed after comparing different brands. ------------- Onwards and upwards Nidri, Levkada, Ionian, Greece Hanse 350 #7, SY Evolution, standard keel, 3YM20 sail drive, 3 cabins, cherry wood interior, teak decks, feathering prop |
Posted By: Johan Hackman
Date Posted: 17 February 2013 at 17:05
That sounds like fun! Will there be any beer on board?  Johan -------------  http://www.johanhackman.se" rel="nofollow - http://www.johanhackman.se |
Posted By: Idelfix Too
Date Posted: 17 February 2013 at 17:29
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As offered previously I would be very happy to do a MyHanse test review of the latest Hanse models as I think this would be a great addition to the forum. Count me in too Phil ------------- "Idelfix too" Hanse 430e -08 Keep sailing in free wind http://suhrfa.blogspot.se |
Posted By: Wild
Date Posted: 17 February 2013 at 18:05
There still a big difference between a german coachroof sheeting, fixed in the middle of the boom, and having the mainsheet attached at the end of the boom on a fixed point without a traveller ,like on the Hanse 630.On our 545(coachroof german sheet) it is not easy to get the main close hauled( even 10°) with the combination of mainsheet and boomvang, and barberhaulers with a short handed crew are only useable in light winds.A free cockpit is the only advantage of this system without a traveller in the cockpit IMO ------------- Wild and Wet Belgium 545e#268 |