Jeanneau Vs Hanse Discuss?

[nickfabbri]

We are currently deciding on which shallow draft 40 footer to buy. We want a new shallow draft boat to take through the French canals or possibly Biscay, then spend a couple of years cruising the med.
Our budget is 140-160k and have narrowed it down to a Hanse 385/ Hanse 400 or a Jeanneau 409.
I heard some bad things about Jeanneau build quality over the last few years. However similarly I have heard the same about Hanse.
Can you please offer your opinions on both, and please don't hijack the thread with talks of what you could buy with 150k that would take you round Cape horn and looks like a geriatrics mahogany library below .
Many thanks in advance

 

[BoyBlue49]

Hanse or Jeny

Hanse every time for better build quality especially buying new. I have also heard of poor quality Jenys.
I think I would go for a deep keel and sail around Biscay and have the advantage of the keel for better sailing.
If you intend a couple of years in the Med then a better sailing boat surely is preferable to the six weeks or so in the canals with a shallow keel which makes a tender sea boat.

Horses for courses, your call.

 

[Tranona]

Both are available with keels shallow enough to go through the canals as you probably know. Don't think there is really much to choose between them in quality - they are aimed at roughly the same market and cost about the same. Poor quality boats just do not survive in today's market. The choice is more likely to be based on your personal preferences in style and layout rather than any fundamental difference in design and build.

Personally would not be worried about the supposed shortcomings of shallow draft - these are cruising boats and are capable enough in most conditions you are likely to encounter. The deeper keels will have the edge in ultimate performance, but if part of your project is doing the canals, the compromise is well balanced. Once you are in the Med, as you probably know, hard sailing to windward is not what you get, so difficult to see what you lose by having a shallow keel. We made the compromise with our Bavaria 37 and have not regretted it.

As to new or secondhand it really is your choice. The pros and cons are very easy to identify and you can construct a sound argument to support both approaches. Difficulty with used at the moment is a real shortage of good late model boats to choose from, wheras you are likely to find purveyors of new boats falling over themselves for your custom.

 

[nickfabbri]

Thank you both for educated and well thought out answers

 

[AIDY]

Hanse every time for better build quality especially buying new.
your call.

I'm no expert on the other brands but the Hanse are not built that well. I've sailed and lived on a new 400. they look nice but the interier is nailed togeather and has cheap SS component outside that rust. they sail fast due to huge main sail.

but I guess if your buying a new 40 foot boat these days you dont get much / quality for 150K

happy boat hunting

 

[nickfabbri]

We have owned a Hanse from new for 3 years, and I have to say that the assembly of the boats is shocking. I gather that they are put together on a construction line .
However, the quality of the interior fittings is good. Granted they don't use solid wood. However, nor do Southerly. It is impossible to get solid cherrywood.

What compensates for the assembly problems is the aftermarket support. This is what is more than swaying me to stay with Hanse . Every single defect was rectified quickly and effectively. Fittings were changed and the work carried out under warranty without quibble. They even changed all my windows three years after on because they leaked. Again, no charge. I really can't fault them. The Jeanneau 409 and Hanse 385 are simply the two most similar boats on the market .

 

[Twister_Ken]

Unless you enjoy motoring make sure whichever you choose has good light airs performance.

Unless you enjoy sweating make sure whichever you choose had good ventilation.

Also be aware that in some locations in the Med beam affects mooring costs.

 

[jonic]

I took a shoal draft Moody 38 through the canals, spent two years in the Med then cruised it from Florida to New York, a lot of the way in company with a Jeanneau 43 DS with a deep keel. We were both surprised to find the Moody out sailed it on every point of sail by some considerable margin.

Personally I would favour Jeanneau over Hanse.

 

[Sans Bateau]

A friend sold his Hanse last year, it was 5 years old but looked 25 years old. He's now lo0king for another boat and has said he would never buy another Hanse.

 

[jonic]

If you decided against the shoal keel then you could look at something like this (which is in almost as new condition) and load it with new cruising kit and spend all the money you have saved on cruising for longer!

 

[BoyBlue49]

Bavaria 41

I must admit this would be my choice Jonic.

Having owned a Bav, all the criticism of them is a load of hog wash. Yes they too are constructed on an assembly line as most production boats are.

The OP was for opinions on Hansa or Jeny, so I reluctantly refrained from mentioning the Bav so as not to create a controversial thread as has happened before when owners of Benys etc. have hijacked the thread.

I would certainly go to look at this boat Jonic has kindly mentioned.

 

[Sans Bateau]

I agree with you, having sailed on both a Bav and a Hanse, the Bav is a far better quality boat.

 

[Tranona]

I must admit this would be my choice Jonic.

Having owned a Bav, all the criticism of them is a load of hog wash. Yes they too are constructed on an assembly line as most production boats are.

The OP was for opinions on Hansa or Jeny, so I reluctantly refrained from mentioning the Bav so as not to create a controversial thread as has happened before when owners of Benys etc. have hijacked the thread.

I would certainly go to look at this boat Jonic has kindly mentioned.

For obvious reasons, I agree that a Bav 41 would be an excellent choice. Even better would be its predecessor the 1998-2002 model 42, although age is starting to tell a bit.

The dilemma for the OP is the preference for going through the canals. There are very few modern production 40 footers with shallow enough keels within the suggested budget (which is probably a bit tight for a fully equipped new boat anyway). I don't think the shallow keel will be a big handicap for Med cruising, and indeed in some places will be an advantage.

As to the choice of make, Jeanneau would be my choice, mainly because it is a boat of choice for Med charter companies, and the pattern of usage in long term cruising is very similar to charter use. Very few Hanses seem to bused in this way - probably because they don't target that market, so I think the Jeanneau is the safer bet for a new or nearly new (if you can find one).

 

[AIDY]

I took a shoal draft Moody 38 through the canals, spent two years in the Med then cruised it from Florida to New York, a lot of the way in company with a Jeanneau 43 DS with a deep keel. We were both surprised to find the Moody out sailed it on every point of sail by some considerable margin.

Personally I would favour Jeanneau over Hanse.

I guess the moody 38 is not an ideal med boat with a small centre cockpit. the S38 would be better parking stern to and lazing around in big aft cockpit.

 

[srah1953]

I had a Hanse 350 and the windows all fell out. It took a long time to get them fixed and the job wasn't that satisfactory. I understand that other 350's had window trouble. I don't know whether this applied to the hanse 400. I also found the Hanse very tender - perhaps the big main referred to previously is a factor in this - and really needed to be reefed from 12 knots of wind. Probably compensated by good light air performance. I lost confidence in the Hanse and changed to a Jeanneau 409. I haven't had it long enough to give any meraningful verdict, but so far I am very pleased with the fit and finish - and it is a beautiful boat.
best wishes with your purchase whatever it may be

 

[Twister_Ken]

Unless you're hooked on a canal transit, why not buy new or used in the Med?

 

[AIDY]

friend had his new hanse delivered to south of france

 

[Tranona]

Unless you're hooked on a canal transit, why not buy new or used in the Med?

There is some sense in that, but as usual there are pros and cons. Firstly the OP seems to want the journey there as part of the project - has been very common in the past - so makes sense to buy a boat here, get it sorted and enjoy the journey. On the other hand if you just want to drift around the Med, there is a lot to be said for buying a boat out there. It can be straightforward, or it can involve a lot of toing and froing, dealing in Euros, probably with an absent vendor who lives elsewhere and the boat is registered in another country etc. Late model ex charter boats can be a good buy as they are well equipped and generally you can deal with a well found company such as Sunsail. You can also buy a new boat through a UK dealer for delivery to major Med locations such as Spain, South of France or Slovenia. Possibilities are endless - you just have to weigh up which is best for you and your expectations.

Bit of a b****r all this choice. Much better if they are all black and you have to take it or leave it!

 

[scottie]

I can't give an either or opinion but suggest you decide whether the self tacker on the Hanse is what you want
We have found that whilst the self tacker is great for short handed sailing above 10nots wind and great for pointing the lack of area is a drawback in lower wind strength and does mean a larger main and early reefing
For racing a larger genoa is required and a asymmetric for down wind performance.

 

[mucklestone]

I have to say I am surprised you are finding quality issues with Jeanneau's. Yes they have their teething issues like most boats, and there problems, but I do not think you will find anything fundamental wrong with a Jeanneau and their construction. You can replace and fix a few hardware issues but only if the rest of the boat is sound.

Your best way is to judge for yourself, don't take our word for it. Arrange viewings of 5-10 year old jeanneau's and hanse's. Make sure you see a few boats to allow for boats having hard or easy lives. It is easy to see which is the better boat by which one still seems newest.

Personally I think you will find that the hanse's are often very faded compared to a jeanneau, and certainly the jeanneau will look generally newer.

Jeanneau are the choice of most hire/charter companies, they are certainly not poor boats. They are modern production boats, not to everyones taste, but not poorly made.

Finally you can also go on styling. I think you will find the the jeanneau to be a much better looking vessel. They are very stylish compared to the hanses.