Hanse 430 - Performance and function by design

by Canadian Yachting on 26 Mar 2010 Thinking of a new boat? Here's a positive review of the Hanse 430 from Canadian Yachting: What we like about Hanse is – first, performance – and second, price. The Hanse 430, like its siblings, tends to have a large sail area to weight ratio and a sense of simplicity few have been able to even consider. But I sense that it’s the performance moniker that drives the Hanse team every day.

The bow, with its distinctive stem, is complemented perfectly by the wideopen transom. In Europe, the 430 is doing well in races; it’s the 430 that Canadian dealer Pat Sturgeon and Hans Fogh pick for their race outings. First impressions are a very clean and practical layout, with an efficient, selftacking jib being an integral part of this boat’s success. Whether you race or cruise, the simplicity of a self-tacker makes any type of sailing you do a breeze.

Tacking in tight channels and easy single-handing are great features; Hanse has done its homework. On first sight, its huge mainsail will impress you; first thoughts may be that it would be tough in a tack. Far from it – balanced with the self-tacker set up, it’s a snap. One thing you might consider is getting a new blade jib – one that fills out the fore triangle a bit better by adding sail area forward (a tweak that Hans Fogh suggested).

We loved the spacious cockpit area; the teak cockpit flooring is also a nice touch. In fact, during our test sail, under
a full dodger and cockpit cover, there was more than enough room for five large guys. The sexy twin wheels are standard and the large non-skid deck is a bonus. So is the visibility at all points. The control lines are lead aft under a well-fitted deck plate adding to the look of style and simplicity.

The electric winch makes raising the main sail a breeze and opts for brute force trimming, if required. The remaining winches are well placed near the wheels for easy single-handing. We loved the new large lazarette (starting to become more popular) where you could easily stow a roll-up dinghy!

This Hanse is rigged just for me; it boasts a wonderfully functional lazy jack system that is integrated into its boom cover that makes stowing the fully battened mainsail a snap for such a large sail. The flush coach roof has large opening hatches and the deck windows are well aligned; we loved the neatly fashioned recessed hull windows. together, they combine to add a bright and open feel and all combine for great ventilation below.

Below decks does not disappoint either. Hanse’s unique building style allows for some customization; offsetting from the centerline, the berth configuration can be tweaked to provide a larger bed or allow for two cabins in the stateroom and one or two aft. But the “standard” of a three-cabin, two head layout will do just fine.

There is a rumour that Hanse’s interior design team is 100% female who have done a far better job balancing function with design – and style that will endure for many years. Personally, I like the use of white bulkheads below; the balance with the satin finished mahogany and cherry wood trim (chosen by this owner) and wood joinery is very appealing.

Today, lead times on ordering are the new norm, providing a great opportunity to customization below and above decks. Hanse’s neat web site feature at http://www.hanseyachts.com is a wonderful tool for just that. A word of caution: budget your time as the options and features they have aggregated here are endless and appealing.

The bow, with its distinctive stem, is complemented perfectly by the wideopen transom. In Europe, the 430 is doing well in races; it’s the 430 that Canadian dealer Pat Sturgeon and Hans Fogh pick for their race outings. First impressions are a very clean and practical layout, with an efficient, selftacking jib being an integral part of this boat’s success. Whether you race or cruise, the simplicity of a self-tacker makes any type of sailing you do a breeze. Tacking in tight channels and easy single-handing are great features; Hanse has done its homework.

On first sight, its huge mainsail will impress you; first thoughts may be that it would be tough in a tack. Far from it –
balanced with the self-tacker set up, it’s a snap. One thing you might consider is getting a new blade jib – one that fills out the fore triangle a bit better by adding sail area forward (a tweak that Hans Fogh suggested).

The large galley boasts a two-burner, gimballed stove, optional microwave, a large fridge with dual access from above and side and Hanse’s craftsmanship is evident with its wonderful handrails placed exactly where you need them. Forward in the main cabin, there is tons of space and a nice built-in table/desk. The forward head is spacious, bright and easy to keep clean.

Moving aft, the main salon is a great space with wonderful headroom and an engaging layout. There are two, built-in chairs opposite a U-shaped lounge chair that easily sits four, while the table doubles as a functional nav table. Personally, with the increased use of electronics in navigation today, Hanse has found a wonderful way to increase the use and functionality of the space below. The large galley boasts a twoburner, gimbaled stove, optional microwave, a large fridge with dual access and a neat counter extension.

There are the obligatory twin sinks with tons of storage for longer passages. The aft head, opposite, has a second shower and is easy to move about in.

Our test sail, in a mid-October medium dense 18-20 knot breeze, performed well – stiff and stable. While I felt somewhat trapped in the fully covered cockpit, I was impressed with the visibility and style and agreed with the owner that this is a must in order to extend the season.

All in all, another 10 out of 10 for Hanse. The 430 is well-designed with a wonderful balance of function, style and speed.