Significant Problems on 445/455?

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

   Hi all,
As much as we love our 455, we've had some significant issues in the last two months which if we had been crossing oceans would have been serious. These include a snapped steering cable (on a 10 month old yacht) and now the engine won't start, which we strongly suspect is a failed MDI as part of the 2016/17 bad batch - we are still awaiting a Volvo Penta agent's diagnosis but we've checked all connections. 

Not knowing what else could go wrong is raising our doubts about heading into the Pacific with it's 3+ week passages, atolls and deep anchorages. We want to make sure we're on top of all possible problems as we do the 5-month crossing.

Could you please let us know what significant problems you have had with your Hanse (regardless of model) that you could not fix or work-around yourself?

Many thanks,
Fil and El

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
Tranquilo Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Sub Lieutenant Joined: 27 February 2018 Status: Offline Points: 7	Post Options Post Reply Quote Tranquilo Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Significant Problems on 445/455? Posted: 27 February 2018 at 20:29
	Hi all, As much as we love our 455, we've had some significant issues in the last two months which if we had been crossing oceans would have been serious. These include a snapped steering cable (on a 10 month old yacht) and now the engine won't start, which we strongly suspect is a failed MDI as part of the 2016/17 bad batch - we are still awaiting a Volvo Penta agent's diagnosis but we've checked all connections. Not knowing what else could go wrong is raising our doubts about heading into the Pacific with it's 3+ week passages, atolls and deep anchorages. We want to make sure we're on top of all possible problems as we do the 5-month crossing. Could you please let us know what significant problems you have had with your Hanse (regardless of model) that you could not fix or work-around yourself? Many thanks, Fil and El
	Website: http://www.tranquilo.me/ Instagram: @sailing_tranquilo (www.instagram.com/sailing_tranquilo) Youtube: www.youtube.com/tranquilome Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tranquilo.me

bovine Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commadore Joined: 18 November 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 405	Post Options Post Reply Quote bovine Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 February 2018 at 23:18
	Hi tranquilo To be fare these are Not significant problems, both these issues could be fixed in a couple of hours David

kipwrite Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commadore Joined: 14 October 2015 Location: New York Status: Offline Points: 495	Post Options Post Reply Quote kipwrite Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 February 2018 at 00:09
	I’m very curious to understand how your steering cable broke - and if there’s an at-sea workaround for this failure other than the emergency tiller. Edited by kipwrite - 08 March 2021 at 15:58
	Kipwrite

StavrosNZ Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rear Admiral Joined: 24 October 2014 Location: New Zealand Status: Offline Points: 581	Post Options Post Reply Quote StavrosNZ Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 February 2018 at 01:31
	Like the other replies these issues are not significant problems (i appreciate it feels like it when they keep happening). Volvo loose bolts and leaks and MDI units are well known problems unfortunately. I am a very fussy owner and i must say i spent 4 years getting my boat to a point where i felt happy and issues and upgrades were complete, the list of issues was long. Most stemmed from the way the boat was put together or suppliers products thats simply were not unto the task they were built for, or Hanse specifying under sized items for the size and loads on the boat (blocks, windlass, genoa tracks etc etc). All manufacturers are the same and unlike cars (there is significant low cost human labour component in a production boat) they are not 100% from new. As my farther told me a long time ago, the best boat to buy is one thats had one fussy owner for a few years and all of the problems will be ironed out and gear upgraded...........many years on life has taught me he was dead right.
	Stephen 2010 H400 #691, Auckland, New Zealand

Persse Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Captain Joined: 21 April 2013 Location: Yorkeys Knob Status: Offline Points: 154	Post Options Post Reply Quote Persse Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 February 2018 at 03:44
	Hi Tranquilo Excellent work on your You Tube channel. Car manufacturers have complete control over their suppliers, boat builders much less so, the problems I had were nearly all component problems. Had a couple of dodgy wind instruments ( a real nuisance to diagnose and fix) bad hull join sealer and only one issue that was caused by the builder. They sited the pump to the A/C too high and did not install a fuse for the condensate pump. All in all, very minor points. I would be concerned about steering cables failing though and would be making absolutely sure the alignment was ok. Phil O

Carlosailfan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Captain Joined: 06 March 2014 Location: Belgium Status: Offline Points: 194	Post Options Post Reply Quote Carlosailfan Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 February 2018 at 06:50
	H 385 sailing since 2014, no significant problems, only one day the MDI of the Volvo. I had to start the engine manually to enter the port and got immediately a new one from the local Volvo dealer. And yes there is one, a stupid one, call it a real production error. The emergency tiller could not be placed after removing the cover seen the hole was drilled 5 cm out of center. My dealer arranged me a new cover but this took almost a year. Furthermore only happy sailing.
	Best regards /C

Snow White Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Lieutenant Commander Joined: 14 July 2015 Location: Brussels Status: Offline Points: 77	Post Options Post Reply Quote Snow White Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 February 2018 at 16:48
	Hi Carlo, . Who was your Dealer ? I'm living in Brussels.
	Have a good Day.

Tranquilo Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Sub Lieutenant Joined: 27 February 2018 Status: Offline Points: 7	Post Options Post Reply Quote Tranquilo Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 February 2018 at 18:21
	How did you go about installing a remote switch? Does it still work with a bad MDI? The steering cable was rusty around one of the pulleys the cable goes around up to the pedestals. There was also rust on the cable leading up to the other pedestal and a few wire strands broken. Looks like the cable is 304 steel as it was magnetic, not 316 steel which is less prone to rusting. We did check our steering cables only a month earlier on completion of our Atlantic crossing, and I must have missed the snapped wires as they were at a point on the pulleys hard to reach my hand across. We did install the emergency tiller and it worked surprisingly well apart from being difficult to hold a heading - we set up lines from the tiller to the winches but could not get the tiller straight. In the end we sailed to the nearest marina on autopilot and used the tiller to steer into the marina as the autopilot became confused with with going forward and back. Regarding blocks, we've upgraded some of ours and have plenty spare - I'm not too concerned about them breaking as easily replaced. Our concern is the likes of the MDI on the engine which cannot be fixed or worked-around offshore and must be replaced. That said we are looking at getting a spare MDI unit.
	Website: http://www.tranquilo.me/ Instagram: @sailing_tranquilo (www.instagram.com/sailing_tranquilo) Youtube: www.youtube.com/tranquilome Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tranquilo.me

Tranquilo Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Sub Lieutenant Joined: 27 February 2018 Status: Offline Points: 7	Post Options Post Reply Quote Tranquilo Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 February 2018 at 18:23
	Hi Carlos, how did you start the engine manually? Can you jump the solenoid on the starter? Thankfully the emergency tiller is fine on the 455, we needed to use it when the steering cable snapped.
	Website: http://www.tranquilo.me/ Instagram: @sailing_tranquilo (www.instagram.com/sailing_tranquilo) Youtube: www.youtube.com/tranquilome Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tranquilo.me

Tranquilo Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Sub Lieutenant Joined: 27 February 2018 Status: Offline Points: 7	Post Options Post Reply Quote Tranquilo Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 February 2018 at 18:28
	Hi Phil, Yes all our problems were suppliers equipment - Volvo and Jefa. Looks like the alignment on the cable would have been fine based on previous inspections. There was significant rust at the break point. Our dealer saying Jefa told them they only use 316 cables, however both the one that broke and the replacement one were magnetic. I've never heard of magnetic 316 steel, however the more rust prone 304 is magnetic.... And thanks for the feedback on our YT channel! Fil
	Website: http://www.tranquilo.me/ Instagram: @sailing_tranquilo (www.instagram.com/sailing_tranquilo) Youtube: www.youtube.com/tranquilome Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tranquilo.me



Welcome to myHanse.com the forum for Hanse Yachts owners throughout the world.