Design and Construction
The Varianta 37 has a robust solid fiberglass laminate hull with a vinylester skin coat to resist blistering. A stiffening grid pan is bonded to the hull, while the foam-cored deck molding keeps weight down.
The bulkheads are tabbed to both the hull and deck—and on both sides, a high-end detail uncommon among production boats. A watertight bulkhead sits just aft of the forward anchor locker, and the construction meets Germanischer Lloyd standards.
Although its hull construction is heavier than that of the donor design, the Varianta weighs roughly 600 pounds less than the Hanse 375 because of its stripped-out interior. A deep cast-iron T-keel is secured with oversized bolts, while the deep spade rudder provides grip to weather.
Rig, Deck Layout, and Sailing Performance
The rig follows the Hanse 375’s general layout, but replaces the trademark Hanse self-tacker with a slightly overlapping 109 percent jib. Halyards and jib sheets lead to clutches and a pair of Lewmar 40 winches on the cabintop. Four Lewmar winches and four cleats are included.
Tapered, deck-stepped Seldén spars with double spreaders support a traditional non-furling mainsail fitted with a Dutchman flaking system. A rigid vang is standard. U.S.-bound boats get tapered Seldén spars with single-line reefing.
The traveler is mounted on the cockpit sole and paired with a double-ended mainsheet. The mainsheet tackle clips to a padeye forward of the helm. Chainplates are outboard, while the jib tracks are inboard on the cabintop.
A single large, racing-style wheel controls the Jefa steering system. Roller rudder bearings contribute to a helm that test sailors described as feather-light. The fine entry helps the boat point well. During a quiet day on Long Island Sound, the test boat tacked through less than 90 degrees and made more than 6.5 knots hard on the breeze in 12.5 knots of apparent wind on both tacks.
Accommodations
Belowdecks, the cost-cutting is easy to see. The angular interior joinery is made from Formica-faced marine plywood, and the boat comes in a bare-minimum specification, with no reading lamps and few overhead lights.
The standard arrangement has two cabins and one head, although the reviewed boat had the optional third cabin aft. The forward stateroom contains a V-berth and adequate stowage, and the saloon is arranged around a drop-leaf table.
The head is to port and includes a shower area, though it falls short of being a true separate stall. To starboard, the linear galley has a two-burner stove, a single sink, and a small refrigerator. There’s plenty of stowage, but it’s poorly organized. More refrigerated volume is optional.
Broad aft sections provide enough interior volume for comfortable cruising despite the utilitarian finish. Above the waterline, the presentation is stark white, with no cove stripe to soften the high topsides.
Power and Equipment
A Volvo diesel sits beneath the companionway steps. The standard installation is a 20-horsepower Saildrive, while a 30-horsepower upgrade is available for those who often motor against wind and waves.
The test boat had the optional 30-horsepower Volvo and a Flexofold folding propeller. In flat water, it cruised at more than 6 knots under power.
An electric-propulsion option uses a 48-volt battery pack and provides about six nautical miles of range without a genset. West Coast buyers can also specify a kelp-cutting system for the T-keel.
The Verdict
Writing in boats.com, one reviewer described the Varianta 37 as a new take on an old hull: lighter, faster, and built with high-end construction features. Its solid laminate, bonded grid, tabbed bulkheads, and adherence to Germanischer Lloyd standards give it real structural credibility.
The bare interior and stark styling, however, make clear that this is a value platform rather than a luxury weekender. It rewards sailors who put performance and honest construction ahead of creature comforts. Buyers expecting a fully finished cruising interior are likely to be disappointed without upgrades.
Pros
- Solid laminate hull with a vinylester skin coat and bonded grid pan
- Light displacement and a responsive helm, with feather-light Jefa steering
- Tacked through less than 90 degrees and sustained more than 6.5 knots close-hauled during testing
- Judel/Vrolijk hull lineage, oversized keel bolts, and a deep spade rudder
Cons
- Bare-minimum interior, with no reading lamps, few overhead lights, and Formica-faced joinery
- Stark white exterior with no cove stripe
- Poorly organized galley stowage
- Standard two-burner galley and small refrigerator limit provisioning for extended cruising
