Hanse 292 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The 292's hull is a solid 9½-ounce laminate below the waterline but incorporates a balsa core in the topsides, and the mouldings looked fair with few signs of crazing. Tie-bars below decks are essential but do not intrude, while stanchion bases look secure atop the slotted aluminium toerail, which also carries chunky bow, stern and spring cleats. Compared with the 291, the 292 gained increased freeboard and higher topsides that create more headroom down below. The keel is not bulbed and is longer in the chord at the root than at the tip, carrying around 37% of the boat's weight. The chainplates for the swept-back caps and lowers sit close to the coachroof. Owners report the boat came with standing headroom, and Yachting Monthly found her surprisingly roomy considering the slim hull.

Rig and Handling

On the water the 292 is quick and carries her sail well for a narrow hull with a large rig. The mainsheet runs to a traveller just forward of the tiller, keeping it within easy reach of the helm, though it is only a 4:1 purchase for a sizeable mainsail. A 4:1 purchase on the backstay, with a fixed wire stop as a back-up, is a bit under-powered, and the backstay tackle could do with a lot more power. Many 292s use overlapping headsails in place of the original self-tacking jib, and some crews might find the Lewmar 16 primary winches call for a bit of grunt with that larger sail. The side decks are of generous width, but the coamings sit close to the guardwires, which prevents leaning back far to keep the torso inclined outboard as the boat heels. At the helm she is crisp and responsive, and when the rudder loses grip you are only punished by a gentle broach rather than a violent one. Test sailors found she could reach up to 7 knots with tide under her, clocked 5 knots upwind in a seaway with standard sails, and with upgraded sails touched 5.3 knots upwind with more height — competitive then and still today.

Accommodations

Below, the 292 is a good deal plusher and more fully equipped than the 291. The interior is fitted out in warm-faced marine ply, with fabric-covered 8 cm foam upholstery except at the aft berth where it is 4 cm. The V-berth has under-berth lockers and shelves, and two settees about 6 feet 2 inches long serve as berths. The aft heads and open-plan saloon with forward berth give a modern feel, and the heads were moved aft while the 291's quarter berth was turned athwartships to make what almost passed for an aft cabin. A functional galley by the companionway has a stainless steel sink, a two-burner gas stove with oven, one gas bottle, an icebox, drawers and a locker. A small hinge-up chart table sits at the aft end of the port saloon berth. The yacht also features a 100-litre freshwater tank with a water pressure system. The cockpit itself has comfortably angled coamings and a good leg-bracing width between the seats.

Known Issues

Surveyors have seen a few 292s with very wet core issues, especially around the mast step, and recommend careful inspection of the main bulkhead security and its tabbing. The security of the keel matrix moulding that supports the keel needs scrutiny, particularly with the wing keel. The standard 10 hp Volvo diesel was fitted by Hanse to keep the price down and is a bit underpowered for those sailing further afield.

Refits and Ownership

The original 10 hp Volvo Penta MD2010 was a deliberate economy choice, and owners have been known to swap in an engine twice the size. The backstay purchase is worth addressing for anyone racing or sailing hard, and the winch size is a consideration if overlapping headsails are carried. The solid below-waterline laminate and fair topside mouldings suggest a straightforward structure to own, provided the core and bulkhead tabbing are sound.

The Verdict

The Hanse 292 is a fast, good-looking performance cruiser just under 30 feet that remains fun to sail and easy to handle. She rewards careful survey of her core and keel structure but offers a roomy, modern interior on a proven hull line.

Pros