In the midst of the design rush to bring every imaginable home comfort aboard, I found the Hanse 418 charter in Croatia to be surprisingly basic in both its aesthetics and its performance. The lodgings farther down are really pleasant. On the deck, everything is in order.
The 418, which was designed by Judel/Vrolijk and is being constructed at the Hanse yard in Greifswald, Germany, has taken the position of the 415 in the center of the nine-boat range for the brand. It has an upgraded interior and a completely new deck arrangement, but it has the same slippery hull as its predecessor. However, it has twin wheels, fold-up helm chairs, a sturdy midline drop-leaf table in the cockpit, and modest bulwarks, upon which the lifeline stanchions rest.
The “appearance” of a Hanse boat is characterized by a relatively high freeboard and a low-profile coach roof. This design decision translates immediately into superb views from either wheel either sitting or standing, and decks that are simple to walk about on after one has stepped over the fairly broad cockpit coamings. This is in addition to the fact that the vessel has a decent appearance.
On the sea, Hanse like to keep things uncomplicated. All of the lines used to operate the sails are routed aft from the mast, through the seahoods, and into a bank of clutches and a Lewmar winch that are located right in front of each wheel. The cockpit is kept clear of debris thanks to the line bins that are located next to the wheels. While sailing into the wind, the self-tending jib makes tacking as simple as turning the wheel, and when sailing into the wind, the double-ended mainsheet ensures that control of the full-batten main is easily accessible from either wheel. The boat that we sailed has a second set of winches situated forward on the cockpit coamings for handling a downwind sail. This is absolutely an option that I would select if I wanted to spice things up when reaching or running the course.
The 2019 Candidates for Boat of the Year
To minimize blisters, Hanse gives its hulls and decks an outer covering of gelcoat before applying a layer of vinylester resin. This process is known as “laying up.” After that, a balsa core is encased in fiberglass, and polyester resin is injected into the entire structure. The deck and hull of the boat are joined together using glue, and each stanchion has a through-bolt. A cast-iron keel can either take the form of an L-shaped foil measuring 6 feet 10 inches or a shallow-draft arrangement measuring 5 feet 9 inches.
In the lower levels, there is a plethora of customization that can be done to the layout, the gear, and the fit and finish. The boat that we were on had furniture made of light-colored French oak, and the countertops and couches were dark in hue. However, there are a number of other wood styles and accent colors that are available. The hull included three enormous apertures on each side, which allowed an abundance of light to enter, and many openings in the roof ensured that there was constant circulation of air throughout.
Hanse 418 Layout
The wide beam of the 418 is continued forward into the owner’s cabin, allowing for the possibility of a king-size island bunk. Additionally, there is the option of either a pair of hanging lockers or a locker to port, as well as a head and shower to starboard. To starboard is a spacious U-shaped sofa and drop-leaf table in the saloon; opposite is a settee with a rear-facing nav station at its aft end, against the head and shower compartment’s forward wall. Both settees face the forward wall of the head and shower compartment.
The reviewed 418 has the choice of outfitting the aft cabin to port with a second sleeping cabin or with a storage and work room on the starboard side of the boat. If the second option is selected, the L-shaped galley provides a greater amount of counter space, and it is this configuration that I would select for sailing and living onboard as a couple.
The boat had a price tag of $285,000 when it was first offered for sale. This price includes the usual 40-hp Volvo engine and saildrive, teak decks, electrical equipment, electric winches, and Fast Cruising Dacron sails from Elvstrm. You may choose to forego a few toys in order to save some money, or you can spend on a 57-hp engine, a second head, and some of the other comfort packages that Hanse provides. Either way, when you leave the dock, you’ll have a boat that is simple to sail and a lot of fun to manage. That’s a really decent bargain, no matter how you look at it.
Specifications
| Length | 12.40 m / 40.68 ft |
| Draft | 2.10 m / 6.89 ft |
| Displacement | 9800 kg |
| Build | 2018 / 2021 |
| Beam | 4.17 m / 13.68 ft |
| Engine | 39 HP |
| Fuel capacity | 160 l |
| Water capacity | 320 l |
Hanse 418 photos
