Sailboat Hanse 418 for sale

A nod to the ‘old days’: the Hanse 418

… at least that is what can be inferred from the fact that the Greifswald shipyard still actively lists the Hanse 418 on its website as a sailing yacht in the 40-foot class. In the case of the Hanse 315 and Hanse 348 – which also belong to the previous generation, designed by the German design firm Judel/Vrolijk – this is understandable, as there are no successors for these models yet. But why is the shipyard still actively offering the Hanse 418 for sale? After all, its successor – the superb Hanse 410 – has long been under construction. In 2023, the shipyard introduces the new design by Berret-Racoupeau, thereby continuing the modernisation of its range. This has proved successful, as the new yachts are sleeker, more modern and feature more stylish interiors.

So the Hanse 418 must have something going for it. And as long as it’s still being actively marketed, we assume that it can still be ordered as a new build from dealers and the shipyard. This yacht was launched in 2017 and is based on the highly successful Hanse 415, which it in turn replaced. In terms of dimensions, the 418 is largely similar to the more modern 410, although the latter is wider (which will become important later on).

So, if you’re looking to buy the very best Greifswald has to offer at the moment, you’d be better off reading our article on the Hanse 410 – but if you’re keen to snap up a bargain or want to find out more about the second-hand market, then welcome to the Hanse 418!

The key yacht size: around 40 feet

In the boating industry, 40 feet is something of a ‘magic threshold’. This is because, generally speaking, vessels of this size and above are no longer referred to as ‘sailing boats’. From this point on, the term is ‘sailing yacht’. This is an important threshold that affects more than just the terminology – the yachts themselves take a huge leap forward in terms of quality, luxury, sailing performance and versatility. At 40 feet, developers and designers now have the opportunity for the first time to incorporate truly spacious cabins (especially aft). The galley now offers enough space to be fitted out as a beautiful, fully equipped kitchen with plenty of refrigeration options and, above all, storage space.

And this extra storage space, in turn, makes it possible for the first time to seriously promote the yacht’s suitability for long-distance cruising. Of course, you can sail safely across the Atlantic in a 35-foot sailing yacht, but it’s unlikely to be very comfortable. Both in terms of on-board luxury (you really do need to take far more with you on such blue-water voyages than you might think!) and in terms of how the boat handles the sea, because the demands of an oceanic wave are quite different from those in the Baltic or the Mediterranean. It is generally accepted that only yachts of 40 feet or more become stable and large enough to navigate the open ocean in a reasonably comfortable manner.

Last but not least: 40 and 45 feet are the most popular boat sizes in the charter business. After all, people tend not to want to charter a boat on holiday that’s smaller than the one they own. So these are interesting customer groups. And how does the Hanse 418 fit into this picture?

Plenty of space and comfort: the Hanse 418 concept

In a nutshell, that is the guiding principle behind the Hanse 418. These models are characterised by their straight bow – which was considered very modern at the time – and which, on the 418, also widens towards the top. This is a ‘trick’ to create more space inside, as compared to its French successor, the 410, the entire bow section of the Hanse 418 is narrower. Furthermore, the freeboard is higher, and the deck rises quite steeply. All this gives the yacht a modern, yet rather ‘bulky’ appearance – especially when standing in front of its bow, it is quite impressive.

The space below deck has been converted into large cabins – we’ll come back to that later – whilst on deck there is a thoroughly spacious cockpit, which, however, is worlds behind its successor, the 410, in terms of comfort. You’ll read more about that in detail shortly.

The Last of Judel/Vrolijk: certainly interesting from a sailing perspective

Although the shipyard and even some sailing magazines never tire of emphasising that the sailing characteristics of the Hanse 418 and Hanse 410 are similarly agile and excellent, we believe the boats do differ slightly. Looking down at the hulls from above, you can see how the older 418 tapers slightly towards the stern, whilst the newer design retains its full width right to the very back. Furthermore, with a lightweight of around 10.5 tonnes, the Hanse 418 is approximately 700 kilograms heavier than the newer Hanse 410. With 86.8 square metres of sail area upwind for the Hanse 418 – which, moreover, is only available with a self-tacking jib (i.e. no genoa!) – the new Hanse 410 is powered by a maximum of 92 square metres (and here you can order a genoa in addition to the self-tacking jib). Based on these figures alone, it should be clear to everyone that the 410 must be clearly superior to the ‘older’ 418 in terms of sailing performance.

However, the narrow bow section of the 418 should offer an advantage when sailing close to the wind, not least because the hull tapers in again, particularly towards the stern. Generally speaking, these ‘more traditional’ shapes are, if not faster, then at least more pleasant to sail when close to the wind (and especially in choppy conditions). In our view, the 418 should sail a little more smoothly close to the wind and also be able to approach a few degrees higher.

The Hanse 418: a yacht that defies convention

It is unclear why the shipyard continues to actively market this boat. It may, of course, be the case that they will soon remove it from their range, because, to be honest, we can’t see any reason why they would want to create internal competition: after all, there is already plenty of competition amongst the other mass-production shipyards when it comes to 40-footers!

With the Dufour 41, Dufour offers a yacht with a very spacious interior and state-of-the-art (and somewhat extravagant) fittings. The Oceanis 40.1 sails superbly and is also modern and uncluttered in its design, whilst the Sun Odyssey 410 scores points with its ‘walkaround cockpit’ (if you’re into that sort of thing) and isn’t half bad when it comes to space either. Even the Bavaria C42, despite being a somewhat heavy sailing yacht, performs well, as its interior and space are undisputedly number one in its class.

So who knows how much longer the 418 will remain in production alongside the more modern (and, in our view, more suited to the present day) 410. However, this boat will remain an attractive prospect on the second-hand market for a long time to come. This is because, when it comes to buying one, the 418 can hold its own with a range of offers – from older models available at bargain prices to recent second-hand boats – making it a competitively priced alternative to a new boat.

Buying a Hanse 418 – Hull, design, construction & sail plan

Traditional manufacturing methods: The Hanse 418 under construction

The Hanse shipyard has long-standing ties to Greifswald and the Baltic Sea. Here, at the easternmost point of the German coast, there are interesting synergies which undoubtedly influenced company founder Michael Schmidt’s choice of location back then. This is because Hanse manufactures hulls, decks and the large GRP masts for yachts a few kilometres further east, just across the Polish border. Poland has a long tradition of shipbuilding and, with brands such as Delphia, can also look back on a successful history in GRP yacht building. A large proportion of European wind turbine production (the blades are laminated in a similar way to boat hulls) is also based in Poland. It is therefore no surprise that Hanse has outsourced its hull and deck production to this location – though explicitly not to third-party suppliers, but to its own Hanse shipyard staffed by Hanse employees. Once completed, the parts are then transported by lorry across the border, where the yachts are assembled into finished boats at the actual Hanse shipyard in Greifswald.

The same applies to the Hanse 418. However, this is where the next difference from the newer Hanse 410 comes in: the 418 is still laminated using the tried-and-tested hand-lay-up method. In this process, the boatbuilders place the GRP mats ‘wet’ – that is, soaked in resin – into the moulds and manually roll them with large rollers to remove air pockets. In this way, the hull or deck is built up layer by layer, entirely by hand. This method is tried and tested and produces stable, strong structures, but it is physically very demanding and, due to direct contact with the chemicals (particularly the toxic fumes), is not without risk to the workers. The 410 is manufactured using the vacuum process, which is significantly more comfortable, modern and also saves on materials and weight.

On the Hanse 418, the sandwich core in the hull and deck is made from balsa wood. A positive feature is that the first, i.e. the outer, layer of the hull and deck is laminated using vinyl ester resin, which is significantly more resistant to osmosis, whilst the cheaper polyester is used underneath.

Who might be interested in the Hanse 418?

That is the question. As said before, we too do not fully understand why the shipyard continues to produce this boat alongside the 410, which, in our view, is more modern, more stylish and also the better all-round package. The slight advantage upwind may well be cancelled out by the yacht’s greater weight, so there really are no rational reasons for it. But as I said, there must be something to it.

Please don’t get us wrong. The Hanse 418 is a modern sailing yacht that meets all the requirements for easy handling, balanced sailing characteristics and on-board comfort: you can’t go wrong with this boat. It’s just that the 410 is actually a bit ‘better’ and a more than worthy successor.

The Hanse 418’s sail plan – a little on the ‘tight’ side

We’ve already touched on this above: one of the drawbacks of the ‘old’ Hanse yachts was that some of these boats were built with only a small self-tacking jib. Back then, the slogan ‘Easy Sailing’ was still right at the top of customers’ wish lists. A self-tacking jib naturally offers a great deal of convenience, as it completely eliminates the ‘tedious’ task of re-routing the sheets when tacking or gybing. If you were to opt for a furling mast as well, you could theoretically even control the sailing boat with just a single winch.

From a sailing perspective, of course, the whole thing makes no sense: whilst a self-tacking jib may be very easy to handle, it is virtually impossible to trim (there are no clew points; trimming is done exclusively via the sheet and is therefore very rough), and due to its limited sail area, the jib loses its pull even in moderate winds. On a comparatively heavy boat such as the 418, this is of course disastrous, as even the most laid-back sailor doesn’t really fancy having to motor when the wind is blowing, whilst others are still able to sail.

You will already have seen the figures for the Hanse 418’s sail area at the start of this article. In our view, this is where the yacht reveals its greatest drawbacks compared to its successor. However, if your sailing area is characterised by moderate to strong winds that alternate with periods of light or ‘no’ wind (as is the case in parts of Greece), then a rig of this kind may well be of interest. This is because the jib can, of course, remain set for longer in strong winds, whereas a furled genoa tends to underperform. If you then equip the 418 with a gennaker and Code 0, you’ll have enough sail area to make good headway even in light winds. So, when buying, it all depends on your sailing plans and where you’ll be sailing.

Cockpit: pros and cons

You may already have read our article on the Hanse 410: in it, we praise this yacht’s cockpit as the ‘best in the 40-foot class’ currently on the market. In particular, the two split cockpit tables offer a level of versatility and comfort that is otherwise only found on larger yachts of 45 feet and above. Only the space behind the steering wheels for the skipper is a little cramped (in favour of the luxurious guest area in front).

The cockpit of the Hanse 418 is very similar to that of the 410 in terms of the arrangement of the winches and cleats: the two working winches are also easily accessible from behind the steering wheel, so the helmsman can carry out sail trimming without having to ‘shush’ the guests in the cockpit. The secondary winches for the gennaker or Code 0 sheets are mounted on the coaming, roughly halfway across the cockpit. When sailing under light-wind sails, this is where trimming takes place on the leeward side. So far, so good.

The Hanse 418, however, has a central cockpit table – just as you’ll find on its competitors’ models. This means the helmsman always has to pass through the guest area, which is naturally much more pleasant and hassle-free on a boat with an open central aisle (and two tables). Furthermore, the 418’s cockpit cannot be converted into a ‘play area’ with large sun loungers. In this respect, the 410 is simply unbeatable when it comes to luxury.

On the other hand, as skipper or helmsman on the 418, you have noticeably more space behind the steering wheels! Whether sitting forward-facing on the folding seats or to the side on the side deck, the Hanse 418 is ergonomically better designed for skippers who enjoy steering manually for long periods than its successor, the 410. A clear advantage!

Buy a Hanse 418 – comfort below deck

A clear focus on owner-sailors: the layouts of the Hanse 418

The Hanse 418 clearly shows that, ‘back then’, the boat market was apparently not yet so heavily dominated by the demands of charter fleet operators. After all, you’ll search in vain for multi-cabin versions of this yacht. Whilst other manufacturers offer 4-cabin versions or even 3-bathroom variants even in the 40-foot class, the Hanse 418 is still quite clearly designed for use by traditional private owners.

In the standard configuration, the boat comes with two cabins and one bathroom. The owner’s quarter in the foredeck is spacious, furnished with a lovely island bed and two large wardrobes. The large hull windows allow plenty of natural light in and create a pleasant play of light as the water is reflected onto the cabin ceiling. Aft, the single bathroom with an integrated shower is situated on the port side, with the port aft cabin for guests adjoining it. Opposite is an L-shaped galley, which can certainly be described as spacious, as it extends into about a third of the (now empty) starboard cabin, thereby significantly increasing the galley’s workspace and storage capacity. A brilliant solution, especially for long-distance sailors! Adjoining this aft is the large storage locker, which is accessible both from inside and via the cockpit. Incidentally, the Hanse 410 does not offer this solution.

In the next step, you can modify this two-cabin layout by replacing the kitchen’s ‘storage area’ with an extra-large XXL shower cubicle. This means you lose some kitchen worktop space, but gain the luxury of a separate shower cubicle, which is certainly worth a great deal to some sailors.

Furthermore, a shower-toilet can be fitted in the owner’s cabin on the starboard side. This means you lose a little storage space, but gain the convenience of a walk-in toilet for the exclusive use of the owners. Here at the front of the bathroom, however, the shower cubicle forms part of the toilet.

In the final step, you can now convert the 2-cabin version into a 3-cabin version. Here, the starboard storage locker is converted into a full guest cabin. The L-shaped galley remains in place. The 3-cabin version can be ordered with either one or two bathrooms.

Personally, we prefer the owner’s version with one bathroom and the large galley: this version should particularly appeal to long-distance sailors or those who live and work on board. After all, neither the Hanse 410 nor any other 40-foot yacht from the competition currently offers this in this form. Consequently, this is another major selling point for buying the Hanse 418, which suddenly doesn’t look quite so ‘outdated’ any more …

Plenty of light and, above all, fresh air: the saloon

Hanse designers have always had a knack for flooding the saloon with plenty of light. The Hanse 418 features hull windows in the saloon, the owner’s cabin in the bow and the aft cabins. This is also one of the reasons why 40-footers are significantly more comfortable, especially for guests at the stern. On smaller boats, structural constraints mean that hull windows cannot be fitted at the stern, so the cabins always remain comparatively dark. This is often a problem, particularly for guests who suffer from seasickness; on the other hand, the view outside is always more pleasant than staring at a plastic wall.

This isn’t the case with boats 12 metres or longer. On these, windows in the aft hull are actually standard. This is also true of the Hanse 418. And just look at how big they are! We believe that no other yacht of this size – not even the 410 – offers such large hull windows! The view is wonderful and really enhances the aft cabins!

In the saloon, the hull windows also play a key role in creating a light and airy atmosphere. The Hanse 418 has two large skylights in the cabin roof which, together with the side windows, provide an impressive view upwards. This means there should always be plenty of natural light in the saloon, even in bad weather. The days of the ‘dark cellar’ are over. The hull windows in particular are a highlight of the Hanse 418, as they are narrower on the Hanse 410.

Disadvantage: On the Hanse 410, all (!) windows in the cabin superstructure open outwards. This naturally makes a lot of sense in tropical, hot summer sailing destinations. On the Hanse 418, by contrast, only the companionway and the two skylight hatches open outwards. This is a drawback, however, which is offset by the side windows requiring less maintenance and being less prone to leaks.

Beautiful wood veneer, simple furniture making

As far as the furniture is concerned, we would generally place Hanse in the middle of the pack amongst mass-market manufacturers. Bavaria is the undisputed leader here; the quality of their furniture is simply unrivalled. The Hanse 418 is characterised by a functional, understated design language that is simple and unadorned. Depending on the colour choice, the shipyard offers beautifully finished veneers; however, we find that solid square-edged timber or moulded parts are lacking, particularly in areas that are frequently used or exposed. Here (especially when moisture comes into play), edge-banding can sometimes become brittle, chips can appear or veneer can break away. This could be done better, as can be clearly seen with Bavaria, but also with Dufour.

On the other hand, Hanse fits its yachts – including the 418 – with particularly thick, soft and therefore comfortable seat cushions. And this applies to both the lower and upper decks. The fabrics are of excellent quality, and we therefore find that Hanse saloons are amongst the most comfortable on the market.

The options lists offer a wide range of possibilities for customising the yachts to suit individual tastes through the choice of wood finishes for the furniture and flooring, as well as for the upholstery. Whether it’s the currently fashionable light oak, classic mahogany or ‘racing’ in grey, creative owners can really let their imagination run wild here.

Summary and conclusion

Is it worth buying the Hanse 418?

If you want to sail in an area known for strong winds – such as Greece – and are looking to buy a 40-foot yacht that performs well in all wind conditions, whilst being as easy to sail as possible, then the Hanse 418 – particularly the 2-cabin version with the XXL galley (or the extra shower) – is well worth a serious look. Although the Hanse 410, with almost identical dimensions, offers more modern and comfortable fittings in almost every respect, we find the 418 to be a touch more ‘owner-oriented’. Particularly on long trips, the narrower cockpit and more space for the helmsman should offer greater safety offshore and practicality, not to mention the ample storage space.

Buying a Hanse 418 on the second-hand boat market

It is currently impossible to say how long Hanse will continue to actively market and build new 418s. On the second-hand market, given the comparatively long production run since 2017, there should be plenty of boats available for purchase in a wide range of specifications. These range from attractively priced older boats to very well-maintained, relatively new second-hand models – it’s certainly worth taking a closer look!

Do bear in mind, however, that the shipyard did make changes to certain details within the series, particularly in the design of the furniture. For instance, there are early versions featuring very simple, very angular and sharp-edged furniture, which then became more refined and elegant as production progressed.

Buying a Hanse 418 – What we particularly like about it:

• A fantastic owner’s version with an XXL galley or a private shower cubicle aft.
• Beautiful, very large hull windows that let in plenty of light, particularly at the stern.
• A lovely helmsman’s position behind the wheels.

Buying a Hanse 418 – Here’s what you need to look out for:

• It’s turned out a bit on the heavy side (compared to the Hanse 410).
• No genoa is available for this rig; only a self-tacking jib.
• Early models featuring very angular furniture design.

Further reviews and test reports: