The boat measures 15.55 meters overall, with a beam of 4.75 meters and a displacement of 14,700 kg over a cast-iron keel. Hanse conceived it for relaxed offshore passage-making without giving up what the press described as thrilling performance within its class.
Design and Construction
The hull and deck use a GRP balsa-sandwich construction with vinylester resin and an isophthalic gelcoat. Hanse had standardized this approach across its range by 2012, citing greater osmosis resistance and structural strength than basic polyester construction.
The round-bilge hull carries a deep single rudder and a cast-iron keel. Buyers could choose between drafts of 1.98 meters and 2.4 meters; the deeper version is some 400 kg lighter than the shallower keel. Twin helms and slender hull lines reflect the boat’s aim of combining performance with comfortable handling for a short crew.
Rig and Handling
Hanse designed the 508 from the outset for easy handling by a couple, and the rig follows that brief. The standard 95% self-tacking jib provides effortless handling and superior sailing performance and has four leech battens set parallel to the luff, avoiding the chore of trimming a genoa through every tack.
The German-sheeted mainsail can be controlled from either side of the cockpit. Both the main and headsail have halyard locks at chest height on the mast. The standard sail plan includes a 65.5-square-meter mainsail with five full-height vertical battens. Hanse also offered optional Seldén in-mast furling and electric power for the twin Lewmar 55 self-tailing primary winches.
Seldén supplied the aluminium mast and stainless-steel rigging, while Hanse offered four grades of sailcloth.
Accommodations
The 508 came in four layouts, all retaining the same saloon, galley area, and twin aft cabins. The spacious saloon has lounge seating alongside a fully equipped L-shaped galley.
Forward, buyers could specify either twin double cabins or one expansive owner’s cabin. The latter includes a king-size bed, ample storage, large skylights, and an en-suite designer bathroom.
Farther aft, the options included different numbers and arrangements of heads and showers, a navigation station, and an additional crew cabin for charter use. One layout places a crew berth in the forward storage area. The manufacturer describes the interior as fascinating, luxurious, and customizable, with spacious berths and an emphasis on comfort and style.
Engine and Systems
The standard engine is a turbocharged Yanmar 4JH4T, producing 75 hp at 3,200 rpm. It drives a two-bladed propeller through a Saildrive leg.
Engine access is practical. Lifting the counterweighted companionway provides access to the front of the engine, including the dipstick, water expansion tank, saltwater pump, and alternator belts. Hinged panels in the twin aft passageways provide access from either side. The start battery is mounted directly above the engine.
An optional bow thruster was available. A fold-out teak bathing platform completes the cockpit-side comfort equipment.
Verdict
The Hanse 508 is a modern, couple-friendly bluewater cruiser with a genuinely flexible interior and a rig designed for short-handed sailing. Its balsa-sandwich vinylester construction and choice of two cast-iron keels place it firmly in Hanse’s contemporary Judel/Vrolijk performance-cruiser line.
Four accommodation layouts allow the boat to suit both private owners and charter programs while preserving the core arrangement of saloon, galley, and twin aft cabins.
Pros
- Self-tacking jib and German-sheeted main make short-handed sailing realistic
- Four interior layouts, all retaining the same saloon, galley, and twin aft cabins
- Vinylester and isophthalic-gelcoat balsa-sandwich construction for osmosis resistance
- Practical engine access through the companionway and aft-passageway panels
Cons
- The deep single rudder and 2.4 m draft give the boat a deeper-water focus, despite the shoaler option
- The Saildrive leg brings the usual diaphragm-service considerations associated with the type
