Hanse 311 Buyer's Guide
The Hanse 311 is a Judel/Vrolijk-designed 29-footer built by Yachtzentrum Greifswald, and it remains a common sight on the European and Commonwealth brokerage scenes. As a beamy cruiser with a broad stern, two private double cabins, and a self-tacking jib, it appeals to couples and small families who want simple systems and sheltered-water capability without a complex inventory. Knowing which layouts and upgrades actually appear, and what to inspect, separates a sound purchase from a leaky one.
Layouts on the Used Market
Most boats follow the standard interior with a bow V-berth and a starboard aft double behind a door, plus opposing saloon settees and a port aft head with shower hose. A "charter" version exists with two mirror-image aft quarter doubles, useful if you regularly sail with another couple, but the standard master-quarter arrangement gives the better-served berth and hanging locker. Headroom is 6 ft 1 in, and the saloon table mounts on the stainless compression post. The forward berth reads short for adults; the tight pipe berth off the lazarette is best ignored as real sleeping space.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market the 311 commonly carries a self-tacking jib, a chartplotter, a cockpit shower, and an autopilot — the self-tacking rig is the boat's defining handling asset, and the autopilot pairs naturally with it for short-handed passages. Heating is often seen and worth having in the UK and northern Europe. Less commonly, buyers will find solar, a swim platform, or a short-handed setup as owner upgrades; the swim platform is a stern addition rather than the fixed transom, which does not open. Power and energy centers on the standard Volvo Penta saildrive and 12V refrigeration, so solar is the meaningful range extender when present.
What to Inspect
The rudder runs on an alloy shaft, and water ingress into the semi-balanced blade can cause internal degradation over time, so check the stock and blade for softness or staining. The standard keel is a cast-iron fin on stainless bolts; confirm no weeping at the hull joint. The deep cockpit locker lips can let water past drainage into the aft berths and bilge — inspect both with a dry hand and a flashlight.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats turn up regularly in the United Kingdom, Portugal, Italy, Slovenia, Canada, and Sweden. For a buyer, the checklist is short: confirm the self-tacking jib and roller furler operate cleanly, verify the rudder shaft is dry, look for cockpit-locker leaks, and prefer the standard iron-fin saildrive over the swing-keel unless the 0.95–1.80 m draft range suits your waters. A well-kept 311 with heating and a working autopilot is a low-stress entry into two-cabin cruising.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Hanse 311. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 11 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 25 | 1 | $50,955 | — |
| Sep 25 | 2 | $45,689 | -10.3% |
| Oct 25 | 1 | $40,696 | -10.9% |
| Nov 25 | 1 | $89,900 | +120.9% |
| Dec 25 | 1 | $44,251 | -50.8% |
| Jan 26 | 3 | $63,839 | +44.3% |
| Apr 26 | 5 | $54,732 | -14.3% |
| May 26 | 6 | $35,226 | -35.6% |
| Jun 26 | 2 | $44,161 | +25.4% |
| Jul 26 | 3 | $51,014 | +15.5% |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $40,758 | -20.1% |
Where they're listed
Hanse 311 listings appear across 8 countries. United Kingdom has the most listings with 6 (26.1%), followed by Portugal and Germany.
Country view
23 listings · 8 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | $42,087 | 6 | 2 | 26.1% |
| Portugal | $31,442 | 5 | 1 | 21.7% |
| Germany | $51,937 | 3 | 2 | 13.0% |
| Canada | $77,298 | 2 | 0 | 8.7% |
| Italy | $58,225 | 2 | 0 | 8.7% |
| Sweden | $51,902 | 2 | 0 | 8.7% |
| Slovenia | $54,045 | 2 | 0 | 8.7% |
| Netherlands | $39,477 | 1 | 0 | 4.3% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
10 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beneteau 311 | 32.25' | $ 46,850 | 108 | 29 |
| Hanse 315 (2006) | 31' | $ 108,299 | 75 | 21 |
| Hanse 320 | 31.59' | $ 69,288 | 32 | 13 |
| Hanse 311You are here | — | $ 44,161 | 25 | 6 |
| Hanse 342 | 33.96' | $ 72,437 | 21 | 4 |
| Elan Boats 31 | 30.84' | $ 48,849 | 15 | 5 |
| Hanse 291 | 29.2' | $ 23,032 | 13 | 4 |
| Hanse 301 | 29.49' | $ 31,184 | 12 | 0 |
| Hanse 355 | 34.74' | $ 95,048 | 7 | 1 |
| Beneteau Oceanis Oceanis 311 | 32.25' | $ 44,251 | 4 | 0 |