The Hanse 388 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Hanse 388, a fractional sloop, was designed by Judel/Vrolijk & Co and built in Germany by Hanse Yachts.

The Hanse 388 sailboatThe Hanse 388

Published Specification for the Hanse 388

Underwater Profile: L-shaped bulb fin keel & spade rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)

Length Overall: 37'5" (11.4m)

Waterline Length: 34'2" (10.4m)

Beam: 12'9" (3.9m)

Draft: 6'8" (xm)*

Rig Type: Fractional sloop

Displacement: 17,835lb (8,090kg)

Ballast: 5,269lb (2,390kg)

Designer: Judel/Vrolijk & Co

Builder: Hanse Yachts (Germany)

Year First Built: 2017

* Shallow draft version available drawing 5'4" (1.6m)


Hanse 388 sail plan & underwater profileHanse 388 sailplan & underwater profile
Hanse 388 Interior LayoutOne of the several interior layout options for the Hanse 388


Read more about the latest boats in the Hanse range...


Published Design Ratios for the Hanse 388

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 18.2

  • Less than 16 would be considered under-powered;
  • 16 to 20 would indicate reasonably good performance;
  • Over 20 suggests relatively high performance.

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 29.6

  • Under 40: less stiff, less powerful
  • Over 40: stiffer, more powerful

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 201

  • Under 100: Ultralight
  • 100 to 200: Light
  • 200 to 275: Moderate
  • 275 to 350: Heavy
  • Over 350: Ultraheavy

4. Comfort Ratio: 26.3

  • Under 20 indicates a lightweight racing boat
  • 20 to 30 indicates a coastal cruiser
  • 30 to 40 indicates a moderate offshore cruising boat
  • 40 to 50 indicates a heavy offshore boat
  • Over 50 indicates an extremely heavy offshore boat

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 1.9

  • Under 2.0 (the lower the better): Better suited for ocean passages
  • Over 2.0: Less suited for ocean passages

read more about these Key Performance Indicators...


Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Hanse 388

1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 18.2 suggests that the Hanse 388 will, in the right conditions, approach her maximum hull speed readily and satisfy the sailing performance expectations of most cruising sailors.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 29.6 would usually mean that the Hanse 388 would have a tendency to heel uncomfortably in a gust, and need to be reefed early to keep her sailing upright in a moderate breeze.

However, as she has much of her ballast concentrated in a bulb at the foot of her keel, she's likely to be considerably stiffer than her published Ballast/Displacement Ratio might suggest.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 201 tells us the Hanse 388 is a moderate displacement cruiser, which means she'll carry all your cruising gear without it having a dramatic effect on her performance. Most of today's sailboats intended for offshore cruising fall into this displacement category.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 26.3 suggests that crew comfort of a Hanse 388 in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a coastal cruiser with moderate stability, which is not the best of news for anyone prone to seasickness. 

5. The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF) of 1.9 indicates that a Hanse 388 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0. 


Other sailboats in the Hanse range include:

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