Hanse 400 vs Catalina 34 MkII — Comparison
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Hanse 400 | Catalina 34 MkII |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Hanse | Catalina |
| Year | 2002–2006 | 1995–2004 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | Germany | USA |
| Designer | judel/vrolijk & co | Gerry Douglas |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 12.10 m (39.7 ft) | 10.36 m (34.0 ft) |
| LWL | 10.60 m (34.8 ft) | 9.14 m (30.0 ft) |
| Beam | 3.80 m (12.5 ft) | 3.40 m (11.2 ft) |
| Draft | 1.95 m (6.4 ft) | 1.75 m (5.7 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 7,600 kg (16,755 lbs) | 5,443 kg (12,000 lbs) |
| Ballast | 2,350 kg (5,181 lbs) | 2,041 kg (4,500 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 68.0 m² (732 ft²) | 52.0 m² (560 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 29 HP | 21 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 150 L (39.6 gal) | 76 L (20.1 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 280 L (74.0 gal) | 151 L (39.9 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 8 | 6 |
| Cabins | 3 | 2 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Hanse 400 and Catalina 34 MkII represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Hanse 400 is a 2000s design by Hanse from Germany, while the Catalina 34 MkII is a 1990s offering from Catalina from USA. The Hanse 400 was penned by judel/vrolijk & co. The Catalina 34 MkII was designed by Gerry Douglas.
In terms of size, the Hanse 400 measures 12.10m (39.7ft) overall with a beam of 3.80m, compared to the Catalina 34 MkII at 10.36m (34.0ft) with a 3.40m beam. The Hanse 400 is 1.74m longer than the Catalina 34 MkII. The Hanse 400 displaces approximately 40% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Hanse 400 has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 17.87 and 68.0 m² of sail area. The Catalina 34 MkII, with an SA/D of 17.08 and 52.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The Hanse 400 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Hanse 400 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 16.2) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.77). The Catalina 34 MkII has a comfort ratio of 18.1 and a capsize screening value of 0.77. The ballast ratios are 30.9% for the Hanse 400 and 37.5% for the Catalina 34 MkII, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Hanse 400 provides 8 berths in 3 cabins with 280L of water capacity and 150L of fuel. The Catalina 34 MkII offers 6 berths in 2 cabins with 151L water and 76L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The Catalina 34 MkII is the better choice for comfortable cruising thanks to its higher comfort ratio, offering a gentler motion at sea that crews will appreciate on longer passages.
For racing: The Hanse 400 has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.
For liveaboard: The Hanse 400 offers more sleeping accommodation, making it better suited for extended living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.
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