Design and Construction
The Hanse 345 measures just over 34 feet, with a waterline length of 31 feet 3 inches and a beam of 11 feet 5 inches. Displacement is 13,640 pounds, including 4,470 pounds of iron ballast—about a third of the boat’s weight. The fractional sloop rig carries 592 square feet of sail.
The Judel/Vrolijk hull gives the 345 a lively performance character. Hanse claimed the boat is perfectly balanced, highly stable, safe in all weathers, and genuinely quick. The 345 is a solid-fiberglass monohull with a bulb keel and spade rudder; the deck is also solid glass. By 2012, Hanse had standardized osmosis-resistant vinylester resin in the outer hull laminate. The builder joined hull and deck with Plexus structural adhesive along an inward-turning flange, a method shared across the range by this era.
The boat has Hanse’s distinctive profile: a plumb bow, high freeboard, and a low coach roof. Testers noted the absence of footblocks and praised the Jefa steering system as a delight. A folding transom opens up the cockpit but retains the security of a closed transom at sea.
Rig and Handling
A self-tacking blade jib is standard. All control and reefing lines run aft to the helm through covered deck channels, putting every line within the helmsman’s reach. There are only two winches, which limits redundancy, but the combination of a self-tacker and winches at the wheel makes the boat very easy for one person to handle.
The double-ended mainsheet is accessible from either side of the wide transom, while twin helm stations provide excellent all-around visibility. Writing in Cruising World, one associate editor found the boat enormously comfortable to helm and reported that she acquitted herself very well in conditions most cruisers would avoid.
The standard engine is an 18-horsepower Volvo Penta saildrive. A 27-horsepower version was optional for extended cruising.
Cockpit and Onboard Systems
The cockpit table provides sturdy handholds and doubles as a mount for the centralized display and compass. Covered storage bins flank the sliding hatch.
Standard electronics include a B&G chart plotter and wind instruments. An autopilot, Fusion stereo, and Wi-Fi were optional. The lighting control panel offers preset configurations at the touch of a button.
Accommodations
The standard layout places the owner’s cabin forward. In the saloon, an L-shaped settee sits to starboard and a bench settee to port. The starboard settee converts into a double bunk, and the centerline table has fold-up leaves and seating for six.
The starboard galley includes a sink, a two-burner gas range, and a fridge with both top and front access.
Hanse offered two aft arrangements. One has a single cabin to starboard of the companionway, a head with a separate shower to port, and substantial storage beneath the cockpit seat. The alternative adds two aft cabins but gives up the separate shower and storage.
Headroom exceeds six feet throughout. Five overhead hatches and opening ports provide excellent ventilation, while recessed deckhead lights add a premium feel. Testers noted, however, that the joinery and finish don’t match those of premium brands.
Known Issue
The port halyard bin also housed the gas bottle, and that proximity raised concern. Hanse said the problem had already been addressed by fitting halyard bags to the coaming, moving the lines away from the regulator.
The Verdict
The Hanse 345 brings much of a larger cruiser’s volume and well-organized cockpit into a manageable 34-footer. Its lively Judel/Vrolijk hull and deck layout are genuinely friendly to singlehanded sailing. The interior finish isn’t at premium-brand level, but the flexible accommodation and all-weather composure make it a sensible small bluewater-capable cruiser.
Pros
- Self-tacking jib and all lines led aft for easy short-handed handling
- Folding transom with the security of a closed configuration at sea
- Choice of aft-cabin or separate shower-and-storage layouts
- Excellent ventilation and standing headroom throughout
Cons
- Only two winches, limiting redundancy at the helm
- Joinery and finish below premium-brand standards
- Port halyard bin originally shared space with the gas bottle, although this was later addressed
