Hanse 495

In addition the review boat came with Hanse’s Smart Mooring System of bow and stern thrusters ($39,000) and teak decks ($25,156) to complete what is a highly-specified luxury yacht.

The elongated and uncluttered cockpit is easily entered thanks to the drop-down transom door, allowing plenty space between the twin wheels and table, which also serves as a binnacle for the Simrad plotter housed in a stylish stainless-steel cabinet. Wide cockpit seating and similarly proportioned coamings reflect the ample beam of the 495.

The helmsman is well taken care of with four substantial Lewmar 54 winches shared between the two lightweight composite wheels. The pair nearest the helms, electric on the review boat, quickly gathered the mainsheet and adjusted the self-tacking headsail. Two sets of oversize jammers gather all the lines running aft, neatly hidden in Hanse’s trademark gutters.

Also at hand are the Simrad IS 20 readouts at knee height near both helms and on starboard, the AP24 autopilot nestles just above the engine controls.

The compass is relegated to below the table but within view of both helms. Moving forward in the cockpit, a tunnel entrance with a drop-down washboard leads below to the saloon. My only gripe here is for some sort of height adjuster on the washboards. But apart from that, the cockpit is functional with good detail touches that include locker openings for rope tails, cup holder recesses and a sturdy fold-out table.

Further storage reveals itself when the pulleys holding the transom are released to create a wide swim platform. Here, just inside behind the open transom are two hatches for access to the Jeffa steering gear and quadrant. The large area has ample space for gear with only the smallish hatches limiting the entry of bulky items.

The contemporary, angular look and stylish lightwood beech finish in the saloon should win this boat plenty of fans, and as Windcraft boss Peter Hrones reports, is increasingly attracting motor boaters who want the apartment lifestyle but with a mast and some strings to pull.

In the saloon Hanse has made some interesting changes but retains the angular design approach demonstrated in the earlier siblings of this 5 series (the 325, 355 and latterly the 445). For the first time, the German builder has opted for a longitudinal galley, and combined with an island bench, has created a functional portside cooking area. The double sink is surrounded by real Corian work surfaces, and cupboard space is plentiful both above and below the benches. Neat slide-out stainless cabinetry, solid push-button latches and use of gas struts reflect the high-quality approach Hanse continues to improve on.

However, I’d have preferred a four-burner stove/oven to the three-burner fitted but there is little to grumble about with room for a dishwasher if you sacrifice a set of drawers. The Vitrifigo Ocean Drawer double-drawer fridge with separate freezer is another quality touch on the 495 and blends in nicely with this stylish Birgit Schnaase designer interior. Hidden behind the fridge is the small pull-out coffee maker, which completes an excellent galley area.

Across from the galley, the L-shaped dinette should sit crew and guests comfortably. Good features here include the solid beech table that can be folded to create more space, and a further option is to have it slide down to create a queen sized bunk.

Adjoining the dinette is a full-sized navigation station which has a chart table and bulkhead space for several electronic screens, with the review boat using a Simrad NSS8 multifunction plotter. The power board is neatly laid out with key information of battery status, tankage and circuit breakers conveniently on display. Both AC and DC current is available with space for a 240V generator above the saildrive Volvo engine, which has a 115V alternator.

Further charging for the dual 150ah AGM house batteries is via a 1600watt/70amp Victron charger. Another essential on a boat of this calibre are good entertainment systems and the Hanse has plenty with 28-inch flat-screen television emerging from a cabinet on electric rails, quality Fusion digital player and waterproof housing for iPods.

Natural lighting throughout the 495 is plentiful thanks to Hanse’s recent innovative rectangular hull windows. This is further enhanced by deck-level opening hatches while Ocean Air blinds ensure privacy on the roof hatches.

The owner’s suite forward continues the apartment theme with spacious island bed, plentiful headroom and a firm Visco softec memory-foam mattress. Locker space includes a large under bed drawer, wardrobe and bookshelves all around.

The ensuite layout benefits from having a separate shower to starboard with head to port. Stylish touches in the ablutions include white ceramic bowls in both bathrooms, with an electric head in the main saloon, and the ensuite, a manual one. The polished beechwood lends pleasant warmth to the area and even the compression post near the cabin door is similarly finished.

Moving aft, noting strong longitudinal handholds on the saloon ceiling, brings us to the symmetrical stern double cabins. Floor space in them is perhaps on the meagre side, given we’re on a 50 footer but locker space is good and even includes a small vanity corner. Sleep shouldn’t be a problem either thanks to the big mattresses and headroom also is adequate.

Natural light seemed a bit limited despite the four hatches, as these are all on the small side. Both stern cabins have access to the engine room while the saloon companionway easily lifts on gas struts to reveal the 72hp Volvo engine. All service components -- oil, water and filters -- are accessible from the front.

The review boat came with conventional slab-reefed mainsail, Furlex TD400 headsail furling and outboard wire shrouds. The twin backstays on the review boat also had the optional hydraulic adjuster.

Main sheeting is from the mid-boom to double Lewmar blocks on the cabin top then led aft to the electric Lewmar 54 beside the portside helm. With boats of this size, mainsail area becomes a challenge for short-handed sailing so in-mast furling is a Hanse option worth consideration. North Sails ACL carbon weave sails were preferred on the review boat because of their longevity and performance.

The outboard shrouds ensure the 495 has clear side decks, aided by the genoa cars location on the coachroof where strong hand grips are the only protrusions. Flexing of the top panels here comprised the otherwise quality finish throughout the deck.

Moving forward to the bow, the vertical Lewmar V2 windlass protrudes above the deck (in contrast to the Furlex TD400 which is underdeck) and is equipped with 10mm stainless chain attached to a 25kg Delta anchor. The single bow roller looks a bit inadequate on a cruising boat of this stature though.

Behind the pulpit, a low-profile Lewmar hatch leads down into the sail locker which can also double as a crew area. This is a large space that could fit bunks and has a forward hatch through to the anchor well. Looking back down the decks, there is little to intrude thanks to pop-up cleats, smooth integrated GRP toe rail and laid teak.

The GRP hull is ultra-modern with very little overhangs, equally modest topside flare and snub nosed bow with volume carried aft. Underwater, the impressively large spade rudder is nearly as deep as the cast-iron keel with T-bulb, while the hull shape has a fair degree of rocker. Hull construction is foam-cored with isophtalic gelcoat and vinylester laminate.

Comfortably seated out on the teak-clad gunwale, with composite wheel in hand, the responsive Jeffa steering gear controlled the rudder easily as we sped along in the light spring breeze. It didn’t feel like 50 feet of boat was between me and the horizontal telltales on the self-tacking jib, which slid from side to side without fuss as I tacked my way seaward along the Pittwater shore.

Hardening up on the varying breeze as it rounded Scotland Island I leaned forward to stab the Lewmar’s electric button, then strolling to the portside did the same for the headsail. Easily done, and shows that Hanse really has got things pretty right in the ergonomics department for short-handed sailing.

Also nicely placed were the large screens of the Simrad IS20 instruments which confirmed our speed of 6.8 knots in the 9.1-knot breeze, perhaps slowed down slightly by the rather tight battens on the mainsail. However, as the stats confirm, the 495 should be a nimble performer in light airs.

Also to hand are the jammers for all lines running aft, so a quick flip of the black plastic jammers eased the outhaul while another tweaked the Selden vang; all done while at the helm.

Seating here has the option of flip-out teak bases on either helm as well, which shelters you nicely under the bimini. Chasing the fickle westerly breeze kept me busy at the helm as wind shifts dictated constant tacking, bearing away and finally running as we rounded Scotland Island, which showed 4.2 knots on the Simrad as the breeze lightened to 6.3 knots. A good time to hoist the asymmetric spinnaker which hangs off a ring on the bow roller, but alas we didn’t have it ready.

With the end of the breeze, we turned into the wind and released the Spectra main halyard which dropped the big sail neatly into the lazy jacks, while the headsail quickly wound in on the Furlex. With sails doused, the Volvo was switched on, which hardly could be heard apart from the extractor fan, as I pushed the throttle forward to unfold the three-bladed propeller.

This was an opportune moment to play with Hanse’s Smart Mooring System of bow and stern thrusters. The system on the review boat is fitted as two independent drop-down Maxpower motors controlled by separate joysticks. So, in effect, there are three separate propellers at your disposal. This seems overly complicated but proved effective in keeping the tall topsides of the 495 from blowing off the wind as I went astern, then did a figure of eight. Simply twist the forward joystick to starboard, then the stern one to port, while for more grunt the main engine can be used. However, I’d recommend going for the much simpler single joystick, computer-controlled pod drive system that I understand is also available from Hanse. In forward mode, the 495 was no slouch either as the Volvo saildrive propelled the 495 to a speedy nine knots with revs at 2900.

Overall, this Hanse 495 is beautifully appointed yet at a competitive base price, while also rewarding owners with a stylish, user-friendly boat that looks good both in the marina and during your summer cruise.

Distributor:
Windcraft
Tel: 02 9979 1709 and web www.windcraft.com.au
Address: Bayview Anchorage Marina
Waterfront Office 2, 1714 Pittwater Road, Bayview, NSW 2104