Hanse 291 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used market for a Hanse 291 means looking at the brand's very first sailboat — a 1993-to-1995 Carl Beyer design built by Yachtzentrum Greifswald GmbH, with around a hundred examples produced. These are early-1990s coastal cruisers in solid fiberglass, and the brokerage stock sits mostly in northern European hands rather than global circulation.
Layouts on the Used Market
At 29.2 feet overall with a fin keel and spade rudder, this fractional-rigged single-hull yacht displaces roughly 5,732 pounds on a 25.59-foot waterline. The available specifications do not describe interior plans or berth counts, so buyers should treat the belowdecks layout as something to verify in person. What the numbers confirm is a lean boat: an 8.86-foot beam and a 3.27 length-to-beam ratio mean less cabin width than later, beamier Hanse cruisers, and the 366-square-foot sail plan speaks to a sailing-first character.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market, a self-tacking jib, teak decks, and a chartplotter are commonly fitted, which together make for straightforward short-handed sailing and a presentable deck. Often-seen additions include cabin heating, an asymmetric spinnaker, electric winches, and an autopilot — the heating and autopilot being the upgrades that matter most for shoulder-season comfort and longer solo passages. Buyers should not expect a generator or watermaker as standard, and the absence of those from the common tiers means extended off-grid range is an owner-built exception rather than a factory norm.
What to Inspect
The 291's hull and deck are solid fiberglass, and the boat's stated specifications describe a conventional structure. The one systems point worth a close look is the saildrive transmission paired with the Volvo Penta engine, whose calculated maximum under power is about 4.8 knots anchor; a saildrive seal and diaphragm survey is prudent on any example, since this drivetrain sits below the waterline. Beyond that, the fin keel's load-dependent draft of 5.31 to 5.61 feet and the 269-square-foot wetted surface are normal for the class and call for standard osmotic and bonding checks.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Typical markets for the Hanse 291 are Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Norway. For a buyer, the takeaway is a small, light, first-generation Hanse that rewards a simple ownership profile:
- Confirm the saildrive seals and Volvo Penta service history
- Verify heating and autopilot function if comfort cruising is the goal
- Inspect solid-fiberglass hull and deck for standard osmotic wear
- Expect to source a self-tacking jib and chartplotter as baseline, not premium, equipment
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Hanse 291. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 7 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 3 | $23,041 | — |
| Jan 26 | 2 | $23,793 | +3.3% |
| Mar 26 | 1 | $20,387 | -14.3% |
| Apr 26 | 3 | $23,185 | +13.7% |
| May 26 | 2 | $24,991 | +7.8% |
| Jun 26 | 2 | $19,748 | -21.0% |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $18,028 | -8.7% |
Where they're listed
Hanse 291 listings appear across 5 countries. Germany has the most listings with 9 (64.3%), followed by Switzerland and United Kingdom.
Country view
14 listings · 5 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | $23,185 | 9 | 3 | 64.3% |
| Switzerland | $21,447 | 2 | 1 | 14.3% |
| United Kingdom | $23,041 | 1 | 0 | 7.1% |
| Netherlands | $22,136 | 1 | 1 | 7.1% |
| Norway | $20,387 | 1 | 0 | 7.1% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
5 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanse 315 (2006) | 31' | $ 108,577 | 74 | 19 |
| Hallbery Rassy 29 | 29.2' | $ 43,477 | 59 | 13 |
| Hallberg-Rassy 31 | 31.56' | $ 92,651 | 43 | 13 |
| BENETEAU First 29 | 29.67' | $ 21,998 | 34 | 4 |
| Hanse 291You are here | — | $ 22,886 | 14 | 5 |