Design and Construction
On the 588, the outer hull laminate is a balsa-cored fiberglass sandwich in polyester resin with a vinylester skin for osmosis resistance, while below the waterline the layup is solid glass anchor. Balsa core also extends through the topsides of hull and deck. High-load areas around the carbon-reinforced chainplates tie into vacuum-bagged composite bulkheads that are fully tabbed into hull, deck, and floors for a light yet stiff structure. The cast-iron keel comes in three variations and is bolted to large metal backing plates bedded in epoxy over a robust structural floor grid, and the single spade rudder is cored fiberglass on an aluminum stock and frame.
Above the waterline, the deck is enclosed by a high bulwark that frames the flush deck visually and lends security in rough going. There are no scuppers, so any water coming aboard is routed aft rather than draining at the toe rail, and a well-placed grabrail runs along the coach-roof sides. The flush deck may be ordered in real or synthetic teak across eight finishes.
Rig and Handling
The 588 carries a triple-spreader Seldén aluminum spar with no mainsheet traveler; the German-style mainsheet is double-ended and led aft to winches by each helm. All control lines run belowdeck from the mast to clutches and Lewmar winches within reach of both steering stations, supporting the builder’s Easy Sailing concept. A self-tending jib rolls on a manually operated Furlex unit, while the twin-headsail configuration adds a Code 0 genoa on a Reckmann electric furler, and all sails are Elvström composite laminate. Twin Carbonautica wheels drive independent Lewmar steering quadrants.
Under sail, test crews found the boat genuinely quick: in 13 knots true she pinched to 30 degrees off apparent wind at 7.5 knots, and cracking to 42 degrees she touched 9 knots, surging to 9.9 close-reaching at 55 degrees anchor. Even under main alone after rolling the jib away she made 6.8 knots. Under the standard 110hp Volvo diesel (a 150hp plant is optional) with a three-blade Flexofold on shaft drive, she held 7.5 knots at 1,920 rpm against 15 knots true and reached 10.2 knots at full throttle; Cruising World noted she was among the fleet’s quietest under power.
Accommodations
The 588 is built around first-class individual space, with up to five cozy double cabins plus a separate crew cabin or sail locker forward. The owner’s stateroom ahead can be a large island-berth suite with soundproofed door, or split into two smaller staterooms with two heads. Aft, mirror-image double cabins with en-suite heads and separate showers are standard on the test layout, and the forward berths can be oriented differently per plan.
The saloon is more open than the prior 575, with larger hull portlights and six windows per side; the central settees flank a U-shaped galley to starboard or an optional walk-through island pantry. A big head at the companionway foot converts to a workroom or extra cabin. Twenty deck hatches flood the interior with light. Beneath the cockpit sits a dinghy garage widened from the 575 to accept more tenders, reached through a hydraulically lowered transom boarding platform.
Equipment and Deck Layout
The cockpit is organized for short-handed command: high coamings shield guests while crew work, twin tables flank a central walkway, and retractable bow and stern Quick thrusters were fitted on the test boat. The Williams jet-drive tender stows below the cockpit and deploys via the drop-down swim platform. The company states the hull windows are the largest possible without compromising structure.
The Verdict
The Hanse 588 is a thoroughly modern 58-footer that delivers real sailing performance without sacrificing volume or owner comfort. Her structural package—balsa-cored topsides, solid glass below, carbon-chainplate reinforcement, and tabbed bulkheads—is coherent, and the belowdeck-led rig makes her manageable from the helms. The lack of scuppers is a deliberate quirk that routes deck water aft, and the many hatches demand diligence in a squall, but the layout flexibility across twelve plans is exceptional for the size.
Pros
- Quick under sail and quiet under power, with documented 9.9-knot reaches
- Twelve layouts including split-owner’s-stateroom and separate crew quarters
- Carbon-reinforced chainplates and tabbed vacuum-bagged bulkheads
- Easy-Sailing rig with all lines led aft to both helms
Cons
- No scuppers; all deck water routed aft
- Twenty deck hatches to secure in bad weather
