At 39 feet 7 inches overall, with a 13-foot-3-inch beam and a 35-foot-4-inch waterline, the Hanse 400 displaces roughly 18,500 pounds. Its 6,426-pound ballast package combines an iron keel with a lead bulb. Those figures place it firmly among modern performance cruisers rather than in the heavy-displacement tradition.
Design and Construction
The canoe body is central to the 400’s character. A clean entry, full beam carried well aft, and flat aft sections give it the silhouette of a racer more than a lounger. The long waterline and flat run aft generate minimal wave-making, while the slightly elevated transom stays clear of the surface as the breeze builds.
Carrying the beam aft provides plenty of initial stability. The low lead bulb drops the center of gravity and increases secondary righting moment.
Buyers could choose between the standard polyester/vinylester hull and the 400e epoxy variant. The epoxy version used a thinner, vacuum-bagged layup with a foam sandwich below the waterline. This reduced weight, added impact strength and flexibility, and all but removed the risk of osmosis. The conventional hull is stiffened by a rigid floor framework and laminated foam stringers, with a balsa core above the waterline.
The boat is certified to ISO Category A Offshore and built to Germanischer Lloyd GL Yacht Plus standards. Underway, the structure remained quiet: it neither squeaked nor groaned while tacking through a 15-knot breeze and showed no twisting or bending.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Hanse 400 carries a high-aspect 9/10ths fractional rig with twin spreaders and noticeable pre-bend. Its sail plan includes a 562-square-foot mainsail and a self-tacking 90-percent blade jib, for 952 square feet of working sail area. The tall mast and generous sail plan make the boat quick and powerful without requiring a massive genoa.
All lines lead aft through sculpted deck plates and rope garages. The primary winches sit beside the helm, simplifying short tacking in confined waters, even when sailing single-handed. A mainsheet track on the coachroof was standard; racers could choose an optional cockpit-forward mainsheet.
On a close reach, the 400 points high with little helm input. It tacks through about 75 degrees without losing much momentum, and in a constant Force 4 plus off the wind, the log stays above 8 knots.
A semi-balanced spade rudder and Jefa drag-link steering provide fingertip control while maintaining watertight integrity between the rudder bearings. The rod-link system is light and sensitive, with good feedback. The boat also spins deftly around its keel, making tight marina berths manageable without a bow thruster.
Accommodations
Hanse developed the interior with Judel/Vrolijk and offered as many as 16 layouts and 99 options, so few Hanse 400s are identical. The plan is divided into a forecabin, saloon, and aft section, each available in several configurations.
The forecabin offered the most choice. Owner versions could trade locker space for a second head or a desk, and pullman- or vee-berth arrangements were available. In the saloon, buyers could choose between dinette-and-sea-berth and twin-armchair configurations. Long, straight settees also serve as sea berths, and headroom is a generous 6 feet 5 inches.
Aft, the choice was between two small cabins or one cabin plus storage. The berths are 6 feet 6 inches long.
Flat interior surfaces have a matte-urethane finish, complemented by white gelcoat and Corian. The sole is durable faux teak and holly, while the joinery came in either dark mahogany or light birch. The L-shaped galley includes a stove, oven, sink, and fridge, although counter space is tight for serious cooking. The head is roomy and has a separate shower.
Practical Sailor notes that the Hanse 400 isn’t a long-term liveaboard, but is well suited to summer cruises and club racing.
Known Issues
The 400’s drag-link steering gear and autopilot drive are open to seawater and occasionally get doused. The saildrive also demands close attention to its zincs, as well as care to avoid stray-current or galvanic corrosion when adding electrical equipment.
Although the 400e’s epoxy construction reduces the risk of osmosis, conventional hulls aren’t immune. Jefa aluminium rudder stocks can corrode and pit just above the blade, sometimes because of galvanic action, and the rudder-post bushes may wear prematurely. Deck mouldings can be thin, and any damage to the keel matrix requires proper inspection.
The Verdict
The Hanse 400 is an exactingly engineered racer-cruiser that delivers real sailing performance without giving up cabin comfort or easy handling. Its beamy, flat-aft hull and lead-bulb ballast provide both initial and secondary stability. A self-tacking jib and lines led aft make it forgiving for a short-handed couple.
For offshore ambitions, the epoxy 400e is the smarter buy. The drawbacks are typical of the genre: modest tankage, thin deck mouldings, and steering components exposed to the elements.
Pros
- Standout sailing performance compared with mainstream cruisers
- Self-tacking jib and coachroof-led lines simplify short-handed tacking
- Epoxy 400e hull reduces weight and all but eliminates osmosis
- ISO Category A Offshore certification and GL Yacht Plus construction standards
- Quiet, rigid structure with watertight integrity between the rudder bearings
Cons
- Saildrive and drag-link steering exposed to galvanic-corrosion risks
- Jefa aluminium rudder stocks prone to pitting, with bushes that may wear prematurely
- Modest fuel and water tankage for extended cruising
- Thin deck mouldings and limited long-term liveaboard capacity
