Design and Construction
Both hull and deck are solid fiberglass, and the boat carries a fin keel with a spade rudder. At 29.2 feet overall with an 8.86-foot beam, the 291 shows a length-to-beam ratio of 3.27 — a relatively narrow, nautical proportion that keeps the topsides lean rather than borrowing the beamy volume later Hanse models became known for. The 5,732-pound displacement carries 2,315 pounds of lead ballast for a 38 to 40 percent ballast ratio, and the wetted surface runs about 269 square feet. The hull's immersion rate of roughly 790 pounds per inch means she settles predictably under load, and the fin keel draws between 5.31 and 5.61 feet depending on that load, keeping her within reach of most marina approaches anchor.
Rig and Performance
The 291 is rigged as a fractional sloop with 366 square feet of sail area, and her displacement-length ratio of 157 places her among the "light racers" of her size class. That lightness, combined with a motion comfort ratio in the 18.1 to 19.2 band, suggests a lively but not punishing motion profile for a boat of this length. The capsize screening value comes in at 1.94, and the theoretical hull speed for a displacement hull of her waterline is 6.8 knots. Under power with the Volvo Penta installation and a saildrive transmission, the calculated maximum speed is about 4.8 knots — modest, but consistent with a small coastal cruiser whose real pace belongs under canvas.
Accommodations
This Carl Beyer design measures 29.2 feet overall as a fractional-rigged single-hull cruiser with a 25.59-foot waterline and an 8.86-foot beam. The length-to-beam ratio of 3.27 and the 366-square-foot sail plan describe a sailing-first character rather than a voluminous coastal cruiser. No interior plan or berth count is given in the available specifications.
The Verdict
The Hanse 291 is a small, light-displacement fractional-sloop cruiser that represents the opening chapter of Hanse Yachts as a sailboat builder. Carl Beyer's early-1990s design is conventionally built in solid fiberglass with a fin keel and spade rudder, and its numbers describe a quick, manageable coastal boat rather than a voluminous liveaboard. The short production run and first-of-line status make her a modest but coherent entry point into the brand's history.
Pros
- Lean 3.27 length-to-beam ratio and light-racer displacement profile for responsive handling
- Solid fiberglass hull and deck with lead-ballast fin keel
- Draft under 5.61 feet keeps most marinas accessible
Cons
- Sparse specification of interior accommodations and onboard systems
- Limited production run (about 100 hulls) may constrain spares and comparable-boat familiarity
- Saildrive and small Volvo Penta powerplant yield only about 4.8 knots under engine
