Built in Greifswald, Germany, the 505 epitomizes the sleek Euro-style big boat: plumb bow, high sides, near-flush deck, flat sheerline, and a low-profile coachroof. She measures 50 feet 6 inches overall, with a 44 foot 5 inch waterline and a 15 foot 7 inch beam carried well aft. At 30,900 pounds, she’s no lightweight flyer, but the design brief focused on making her genuinely manageable under sail by one person.
Design and Construction
Below the waterline, the 505 has a solid-laminate hull. The topsides and deck are balsa-cored to reduce weight and insulate the interior. The entire lamination schedule is built on vinylester resin, with epoxy-based outer layers for osmosis resistance.
A robust fiberglass grid carries the rig loads and supports the T-Speed cast-iron keel. The keel is externally fastened with stainless bolts and carries ballast low for a healthy righting moment. Bulkheads are bonded to the hull sides and deck for stiffness, while the chainplates are integrated into a bulwark measuring from 3 to just under 6 inches.
The standard keel draws 6 feet 9 inches. Hanse also offered a 6 foot 6 inch shoal keel with correspondingly higher ballast. A high-aspect, balanced spade rudder extends nearly to the keel foot, giving the boat maximum bite and resistance to being pushed off course.
Rig, Sail Handling, and Performance
The powerful fractional sloop rig has double swept spreaders and carries more than 1,300 square feet of sail. The keel-stepped spar comes with a fully battened mainsail and self-tacking jib as standard. The self-tacker runs on a forward track for very tight sheeting angles. Buyers who wanted the 1,390 square foot sail wardrobe could specify an optional 105% headsail with inboard tracks.
Most sail controls run from the mast base through under-deck channels. They turn at blocks near the mast step and emerge at clutches ahead of the Lewmar 55 electric primary winches beside each helm. A second pair of 55AST winches farther forward handles optional downwind sails. The bow roller includes an attachment point for an asymmetrical sail or code zero, and the headsail furler is built into the stemhead.
Test sailors recorded 9.4 knots on a close reach and 10.2 knots with 27 knots of wind on the beam. Under power, the 72-horsepower Volvo diesel and saildrive turned the 505 within her own length, even without a bow thruster. The boat ran at 7 knots at 1,500 rpm and reached 9.7 knots near flat out.
Cockpit and Deck
The cockpit is all on one level, with no step, sill, or bridgedeck between the companionway and cockpit sole. A drop-down stowaway door can be deployed quickly in rough conditions. The deck areas on either side of the companionway remain clear of winches and clutches, keeping the main traffic paths uncluttered.
Two water-protected stowage scoops and a centerline table with a 12-volt fridge serve the cockpit. Fold-out helm seats pair neatly with the fold-down transom swim platform. The pulpit also carries a teak step for bow-to mooring.
The standard arrangement includes ten flush hatches; 19 flush hatches and portlights were counted on the test boat. That boat also had a huge forward sail locker, highlighting the available practical volume.
Jefa steering provides precise control and good feedback, although it becomes slightly heavy in gusts.
Interior and Accommodation
Hanse offered five cabin plans. The owner’s arrangements include an elegant forward double with separate head and shower compartments, or an island berth flanked by bureaus. Forward, buyers could choose between an owner’s suite and two double cabins.
The aft cabins are generous doubles with hanging lockers and overhead shelves. A utility room to port can accept a bunk, allowing it to become a private cabin.
In the saloon, an L-shaped settee sits to starboard. The port-side galley includes a four-burner stove, oven, double sinks, microwave, drawer refrigeration, dishwasher, and espresso machine; a wine cooler was optional. A forward-facing navigation station and shallow companionway steps complete a layout clearly intended for comfortable liveaboard cruising.
At the nav station, a comprehensive distribution panel includes tank gauges and meters, along with a touch-screen control for the LED lighting.
Verdict
The Hanse 505 is a thoughtfully engineered midrange cruiser that trades raw, featherweight performance for singlehanded manageability, conservative construction, and a genuinely luxurious interior. Its deck plan works well because winches, clutches, and control lines stay out of the main traffic paths. The sail plan is powerful but remains docile through the self-tacking jib and under-deck control system.
Pros
- Sail handling designed around singlehanding, with all lines led to the helms and electric primary winches
- Solid-laminate underwater hull, balsa-cored topsides, and osmosis-resistant vinylester resin
- Low-profile Euro styling, a flush deck, and a wide beam carried aft for volume
- Five flexible cabin plans, including the option to convert the utility room with a berth
Cons
- The 30,900-pound displacement limits light-air acceleration despite an SA/D near 21
- The saildrive transmission introduces the typical diaphragm-service considerations not found with a shaft
- The shoal keel saves only 3 inches of draft while adding ballast, without recovering much draft versatility
