Design and Construction
Below the waterline the 495's hull is solid, hand-laid fiberglass, while the deck and the topsides above the waterline are balsa-cored for weight savings and stiffness anchor. A solid fiberglass grid stiffens the hull, and the outer laminate on both hull and deck uses isophthalic gelcoat with vinylester resin to resist blistering. The standard T-shaped deep-draft keel and the optional L-shaped shoal-draft keel are both cast iron; the L-shaped variant carries 8,830 pounds and draws just under seven feet. At roughly 30,000 pounds displacement with an 8,818-pound iron ballast, the 495 is a substantial mid-displacement cruiser with a deep rudder and a beam of just over 15 and a half feet.
Rig and Handling
The 495 is rigged as a fractional sloop with in-mast furling main and a self-tacking jib, and her sail area totals 1,272 square feet with that jib. There is no traveler; the double-ended mainsheet works the sail, and because the only way to depower the main is with the vang, sail trim under load falls to that single control rather than a more conventional traveler adjustment anchor. Lines lead through a bank of stoppers to winches mounted close to the dual helms, which keeps trim within reach of the person steering. On the water, Canadian Boating's tester found she tacked through about 80 degrees upwind and touched just 7 knots in the puffs, with boat speed under power in the 8 to 9 knot range from the standard 72-horsepower diesel.
Accommodations
Three distinct basic cabin layouts were offered. The tested arrangement placed the master cabin forward, two guest cabins aft, and a large sail locker in the bow; another option reversed that logic with twin staterooms forward and a single owner's stateroom aft. Headroom in the saloon is a generous 6 feet 10 inches, and the interior is lit by multiple hull ports plus four opening ports and two large opening hatches. Buyers could choose among mahogany, cherry, or teak veneers. A forward-facing nav station with a large chart table anchors the working end of the saloon.
Deck and Cockpit
The 495's dual-helm configuration opens the aft cockpit, and the transom drops down to reveal a large swim platform with clever life raft storage tucked into the structure anchor. The wide stern and low coach roof give the boat a modern profile, while the tall topsides with oversized ports flood the interior with light. The test boat carried a proprietary SMS joystick mooring system and dual retractable thrusters, though these were fitted equipment on that example rather than stated standard specification.
The Verdict
The Hanse 495 is a thoughtfully engineered modern cruiser that trades some conventional control redundancy for simplified handling and a bright, open interior. Her construction is conservative where it matters—solid glass below the waterline, vinylester blister resistance, a stiffening grid—and her deck plan centers on short-handed comfort with lines led to the helms and a self-tacking jib. The absence of a traveler and the reliance on the vang for main depowering will not suit every traditionalist, but the layout is coherent for couples or family cruising.
Pros
- Solid hand-laid hull below waterline with balsa-cored topsides and deck
- Vinylester and isophthalic gelcoat laminate for blister resistance
- Three genuinely different cabin layouts available
- 6'10" saloon headroom with abundant natural light from hull and opening ports
- Self-tacking jib and helm-close winches simplify short-handed sailing
Cons
- No traveler; main depowering only via vang
- Moderate upwind performance (roughly 80-degree tacks, 7 knots in puffs)
- In-mast furling main limits traditional mainsail shape options
