Boating New Zealand Boat Reviews
Reviews
Boating New Zealand News
News
Boating New Zealand Sports
Sport
Boating New Zealand Lifestyle
Lifestyle
BOAT-REVIEWS-MOBILE
Boat Reviews
BOAT-NEWS-MOBILE
News
BOAT-SPORTS-MOBILE
Sports
BOAT-LIFESTYLE-MOBILE
Lifestyle

Hanse 508

DESIGNER:
Judel-Vrolijk
Words by John Eichelsheim, Photos by Will Calver
Written
Bookmark post
Bookmarked
Bookmark post
Bookmarked
OVERALL RATING
We gave the
an OVERALL RATING of
4.5
out of 5 stars
PERFORMANCE
88
%
HANDLING
85
%
ECONOMY
82
%
SPECIFICATION
87
%
BUILD QUALITY
85
%
VALUE
82
%
  MODEL DETAILS
DESIGNER
Judel-Vrolijk
BUILDER
Hanse Yachts
PRICE AT TESTING
814,000
  SPECS
LENGTH OVER ALL (M)
15.55
LENGTH (M)
14.93
BEAM (M)
4.75
DRAFT (M)
2.4
DISPLACEMENT (KG)
14700
FUEL CAPACITY (L)
280
WATER CAPACITY (L)
630
  DETAILS
ENGINE
Yanmar 75hp
FUEL (L)
280
MAST & RIGGING
Aluminium and SS, Selden
SAIL AREA
119
CONSTRUCTION
Fibreglass (GRP)

Unquestionably some of that’s due to attitudinal expectations, bigger being considered better. What’s really made bigger yachts even possible are the technological advances in sail handling systems. The Hanse 508 typifies these changes.

Dockside
Like all boats in the Hanse range, the 508’s been designed by Judel/Vrolijk, with hull and decks being GRP balsa sandwich, laid with vinylester resin and an isophthalic gelcoat. Bucking the current trend towards chines and twin rudders, the Hanse’s hull is round bilge with a deep single rudder. The keel is cast iron and there are two depth options, drawing 1.98m and 2.4m respectively. Ours had the deeper keel – some 400kg lighter than the shallower version.


The 508’s available in four different layouts, though the saloon, galley area and twin aft cabins remain the same for all. As mentioned, one option has a crew berth in the front storage area, but for me it is ideal storage for bulky items such as sails, fenders, spare anchors and outboards.
Further aft, the front cabin can be optioned as either twin double cabins or a single, expansive owner’s cabin. There are optional layouts aft in terms of the number and layout of heads/showers, a navigation station and an additional crew cabin for charter use.
Our boat had a very practical layout – the single owner’s cabin with adjacent ensuite forward, a navigation station, twin aft cabins each with a head and one of these having an adjacent shower. The combination head/shower is accessible either from the sleeping cabin or via a separate door adjacent to the companionway.

On the water
The 508’s standard engine is a turbocharged Yanmar 4JH4T developing 75hp at 3,200rpm, driving a two-bladed propeller through a Saildrive leg. The start battery is located directly above the engine, keeping the wires to the starter motor short.
The installation looks slick and the wiring’s beautifully done. The front of the engine – dip stick, water expansion tank, salt water pump and alternator belts – is accessible via the lifting, counter-weighted companionway, while side access is from hinged panels in the twin aft passageways.

This boat has the optional bow thruster, making marina manoeuvring a walk in the park. Out in open water the yacht slid along comfortably at seven knots at cruising revs, with just shy of nine knots available if you crack the whip.
I’m on the helm when the call’s made to head to wind to unfurl the sails. I crank the wheel a bit over a turn and the yacht spins around like a big dinghy within a boat length. An amazing response. I do a lot of helming over the next two hours in conditions raging from virtually nothing to 25 knots and the response continues to impress.
Even close reaching in 25 knots of breeze with an over-trimmed main couldn’t induce a round up, nor did the helm load up significantly. It seems designers Judel/Vrolijk have learned a trick or two from their top-level racing designs.
Hanse offers four grades of sailcloth, each a step upwards offering better performance at a higher price. The sail cloth on this boat is the FCL (Fast Cruising Laminate) fabric, one step up from your basic Dacron.
The standard 95% self-tacking jib has four leech battens set parallel to its luff. One common criticism of self-tackers is their lack of area in light conditions, but the Hanse wasn’t slow in the light. It’s aided by the biggish main, which combined with correct mast placement balances the self-tacker, giving enough total area for light winds. During the hour spent sailing around in two- to five-knot winds I was always able to manoeuvre and tack the yacht.
For me, the benefits of the self-tacker, especially in this size of yacht, hugely outweigh any perceived downside. Tacking is as simple as turning the wheel, while the headsail flicks effortlessly across onto the new tack.
Our Hanse has the optional Seldon in-mast mainsail furling. No question, past in-mast furlers have earned a less than glowing reputation for sail shape – a hollow leech being one issue – along with horror stories of jamming under pressure. But in-mast furling systems have come a long way.


The Hanse mainsail has five full-height vertical battens to support a positive leech and the obviously well-sorted Seldon engineering made the unfurling/furling process as simple as that of a furling headsail.
Of course, the laws of physics still apply – the mainsail is a sizeable 65.5m3 in area – and careful co-ordination between the person easing the outhaul and the one operating the furling unit is essential. Given that and proper maintenance, an in-mast furling should be no more or less prone to issues than a furling headsail.

The primary winches are twin Lewmar 55 self-tailers, with our boat having the electric power option. This made all sailing operations – halyard hoisting, sheeting, vang, outhaul, furling etc – as easy as fitting the appropriate rope into the self-tailing winch and pushing a button. Tension to suit, apply the jammer, free up the winch and job over. Too easy.
I found the standard layout got a trifle cluttered if the trimmer and helmsperson were on the same side, but as the German sheeted main can be operated from either side this isn’t a major.
Both main and headsail have halyard locks at chest level on the mast, which locked off at the start of the season take the loads off the jammers. As always, correct halyard tension is essential for good furling – too tight isn’t good for sails or bearings, too loose and the sail doesn’t furl properly.
Our review day had been scheduled as part of a Hanse owner’s regatta organised by the local sales agent Dominic Lowe and the local Hanse agent, Windcraft. The main event of the regatta was a race from off Takapuna Beach to Kawau Island and we stooged around the start area for over an hour in very light winds along with a gaggle of other Hanses, Dehlers and the odd Moody.
Our division was last away, but due to the very light conditions none of the other yachts had travelled very far.
Largely thanks to the shift-spotting abilities of Ric Hawkins from the Australian Windcraft office, over the next half an hour we managed to sneak into the lead just in time for a 25-knot rain squall.
Under full sail, the Hanse handled this more than comfortably and, although the helm gained some weight, there was no suggestion of a round up. Sadly, the yacht’s owner had other commitments planned for his afternoon so we pulled out the race just before Tiri Channel while leading. What a shame.
With the breeze now settling into the mid-teens, furling the sails, cleaning up and breaking out the fenders took less than ten minutes – and not having to deal with sail ties, bags and covers seemed almost decadent.


From the outset the Hanse 508’s been designed to make handling as easy as possible for a couple. Certainly, in the conditions we had – virtually nothing to 25-knots of breeze and relatively flat water – it was everything its promotional material promised.
Of course, this was on a new boat in relatively benign conditions. What happens in sudden 50-knot squall, or in the dark, or when there’s an equipment failure, mightn’t be as pretty. One can only recommend owners and crews practice reefing and winching in strong winds in a controlled situation before cruising out-of-the-way places or heading offshore.


That reservation aside, everything else about the Hanse 508 is on the credit side of the ledger. The layout – on deck and downstairs – is great, the helm’s fabulous and handling easily within an experienced couple’s abilities.
That alone could add a decade or more before the dark day when, through the aging process, one has to trade the yacht for launch.
That’s got to be a good thing.

Related Articles

Comments

This conversation is moderated by Boating New Zealand. Subscribe to view comments and join the conversation. Choose your plan →

This conversation is moderated by Boating New Zealand.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Boating New Zealand
Boating New Zealandhttps://www.boatingnz.co.nz
Boating NZ is New Zealand’s premier marine title devoted to putting its readers behind the wheel of the latest trailerboats, yachts and launches to hit the market. It inspires with practical content and cruising adventures, leads the fleet with its racing coverage and is on the pulse of the latest maritime news and innovation.

More from Boating New Zealand

International SailGP teams pus...

The international teams at the Sydney SailGP event brought the heat, naviga...
NewsNewsRun-up to Sydney

White Pointer boats celebrates...

To honour its impressive 30th Anniversary milestone, White Pointer Boats ho...
Anniversaries & MilestoneEvents & GatheringsFishing

NZ Antique & Classic Boat...

The stunning alpine backdrop, the beauty of vintage boats, and a uniquely c...
News

Close calls, a capsize and a c...

Tension rises as Sydney’s practice races set the stage for intense competit...
Run-up to SydneySailGP

New Zealand’s SailGP Cha...

The Black Foils faced a tough outing in Auckland, struggling to find their ...
Run-up to SydneySailGP

Historic boat sinks in D’Entre...

A rare and historic vessel has been lost in Tasmania’s D’Entrecasteaux Chan...
Australian Wooden Boats FestivalBoating Festivals & EventsGlobal Coastguard Updates
-- ADVERTISEMENT --

Follow Us

Weekly Newsletter

Stay up to date with the latest developments shaping New Zealand's Boating world.

Social Media

Follow us on social media to stay in the loop with the latest trends and news shaping New Zealand's boating scene!

-- THINGS WE LOVE --

GET
STARLINK
HERE

-- DIRECTORY LISTING --

NZ Events Worth Adding to Your Calendar

Have an event you'd like to list on Boating New Zealand. Contact us with the details.

Catch all the action of the Vendée Globe Race, starting 10 Nov, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. Follow along with excitement at Boating New Zealand.

FISHING

Stabicraft Fish N Chicks Tournament, 6 - 8 Feb 2025 in Tauranga. Dress up theme is “Ladies of their Time”. Raising funds to help find a cure for Breast Cancer.

Surtees Annual Fishing Competition, 28 Feb - 1 Mar 2025 in Whakatane

Hook Me Up Fishing Competition - Matakana vs Hillside, 7 Mar 2025 in Whakatane

The Kubota Billfish Classic, 12 - 15 Mar 2025 in Mercury Bay, Whitianga

ITM Fishing Competition, 13 - 16 Mar 2025 in Whangaroa

NZ Lure Masters (Catch, Measure and Release competition), 3 & 4 Oct 2025, New Zealand wide

Stabicraft Te Anau Manapouri Fishing Classic, 25 - 27 Oct 2025 TBC in Te Anau Manapouri

REGATTAS

New Zealand Sail Grand Prix, 8 & 9 Feb 2025 in Sydney

Toyota Youth International Match Racing Cup, 26 Feb - 4 Mar 2025 in Auckland

PIC Harbour Classic, 28 Feb - 1 Mar 2025 in Auckland

Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race 2025, starting 11 Oct 2025 TBC from Sydney Harbour

PIC Insurance Brokers Coastal Classic, 24 Oct 2025 TBC from Auckland to Russell

Rolex Sydney to Hobart, 26 Dec 2025 starts in Sydney, Australia

Bay of Islands Sailing Week, end of Jan 2026 at Bay of Islands

NZ Millenium Cup, Feb 2025 at Waitemata Harbour

HYDRO THUNDER

Lucas Oil Hydro Thunder Race - Karapiro, 7 - 9 Feb 2025 at Karapiro

Lucas Oil Hydro Thunder Race - Lake Rotoiti, 8 - 9 Mar 2025 at Nelson Lakes

Lucas Oil Hydro Thunder Race - Lake Twizel, 29 - 30 Mar 2025 at Twizel

JET BOAT RACING

UIM World Jetsprint Championships, 25 Jan -2 Feb 2025 at Wanaka (25 & 26 Jan) and Wanganui (1 & 2 Feb)

2024/25 NZ Jetsprint Championship R4, 23 Feb 2025 at Wanganui

2025 NZ Marathon Coast-to-Coast, 16 to 25 Mar 2025 starting at Greymouth ad finishing at Christchurch

2024 Golden Homes NZ Jet Boat Marathon, 2025 dates TBC on Southland Rivers (Oreti, Waiau and Mataura)

National Jet Boat Rally 2024, 2025 date TBC at Oliver Road, Bendigo (near Cromwell)

WATERSPORTS

Yamaha Rollo's Marine Bridge 2 Bridge, 2025 dates tbc Staged on the Waikato River between Cambridge & Taupiri, based in Hamilton, New Zealand

ANTIQUE, CLASSIC & RETRO BOATS

25th NZ Antique & Classic Boat Show , 1 & 2 Mar 2025 at Lake Rotoiti, Nelson Lakes

SHOWS

Moana Auckland - New Zealand's Ocean Festival, 27 Jan to 9 Mar 2025 in Auckland

Auckland Boat Show, 6 - 9 Mar 2025 to be held at the Viaduct Events Centre and Jellicoe Harbour, Auckland

The Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show, 15-18 May 2025 to be held at the Viaduct Events Centre and Jellicoe Harbour, Auckland

NZ Boat, Fish and Dive Show, 30 & 31 Aug 2025 to be held at Mystery Creek Events Centre, Waipa

-- DIRECTORY LISTING --

Houston Boat Show, 29 Jan - 2 Feb 2025 to be held at the NRG Center, Houston, Texas

International Boat Shows

COMING EVENTS

Dubai International Boat Show, 19 - 23 Feb 2025 to be held at the Dubai Harbour

Miami International Boat Show, 12 - 16 Feb 2025 to be held in Miami

Palm Beach International Boat Show, 19 - 23 Mar 2025 to be held along Flagler Drive in downtown West Palm Beach

International Multihull Show, 23 - 27 Apr 2025 to be held in Terre-plein Ouest du port La Grande-Motte (34), France

Palma International Boat Show, 30 Apr - 3 May 2025 to be held at the Superyacht Village, Palma, Spain

Barcaly's Jersey Boat Show, 3 - 5 May 2025 to be held in the Channel Islands

South Coast & Green Tech Boat Show, 9 - 11 May 2025 to be held in Ocean Village Marina, Southampton, Hampshire

The British Motor Yacht Show, 15 - 18 May 2025 to be held at the Swanwick Marina, Southampton, Hampshire

The Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show, 15 - 18 May 2025 at Auckland Showgrounds, Auckland

Sanctuary Cove International Boat show, 22 - 25 May 2025 to be held in Sanctuary Cove, Queensland

Sydney International Boat show, 31 July - 3 Aug 2025 to be held at ICC Sydney & Cockle Bay, Darling Harbour

Hiswa Te Water, 3 - 7 Nov 2025 to be held in Bataviahaven Lelystad, The Netherlands

Southampton International Boat Show, 19 - 28 Sep 2025 to be held in Southampton, UK

International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition & Conference (IBEX), 7 - 9 Oct 2025 to be held in Tampa, Florida

Annapolis Sail Boat Show, 9 - 13 Oct 2025 to be held at City Dock, Annapolis, Maryland

Newport International Boat Show, 20 - 23 Nov 2025 to be held in Newport, Rhode Island

Cannes Yachting Festival, 9 - 14 Sep 2025 at Cannes – Vieux Port & Port Canto

Genoa Boat Show, 18 - 23 Sep 2025 to be held in Genoa, Italy

Melbourne International Boat Show, Oct 2025, TBC to be held at New Quay Promenade Harbour Esplanade Seven Marinas

Biograd Boat Show, Oct 2025, TBC to be held in the City of Biograd, Croatia

Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show 29 Oct – 2 Nov 2025 to be held at several locations in Fort Lauderdale

METSTRADE 18 - 20 Nov 2025 to be held at the Rai, Amsterdam

Antigua Charter Yacht Show 4 - 9 Dec 2025 to be held at the Nelson's Dockyard UNESCO World Heritage Site, Antigua

Boot Düsseldorf 17 - 25 Jan 2026 to be held in Düsseldorf, Germany

New York Boat Show, Jan 2026 to be held at the Javits Center, New York

Bahamas Charter Yacht Show, Jan - Feb 2026 to be held at Nassau, Bahamas

Monaco Yacht Show, 24 - 27 Sep 2025 on Monacco