The Hanse 508 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Hanse 508, a fractional sloop, was designed by Judel/Vrolijk & Co and built in Germany by Hanse Yachts.

A Hanse 508 sailboat flying an asymmetric spinnakerA Solent Rigged Hanse 508 sailboat flying an asymmetric spinnaker

Published Specification for the Hanse 508

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

Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)

Length Overall: 51'0" (15.6m)

Waterline Length: 44'5" (13.5m)

Beam: 15'7" (4.8m)

Draft: 7'10" (2.4m)*

Rig Type: Solent Rig

Displacement: 32,408lb (14,700kg)

Ballast: 8,929lb (4,050kg)

Designer: Judel/Vrolijk & Co

Builder: Hanse Yachts (Germany)

Year First Built: 2018

* Shallow draft version available drawing 6'6" (2.0m)

The Hanse 508 sail plan & underwater profileThe Hanse 508 Sailplan & Underwater Profile
The Hanse 508 Sailboat Interior LayoutOne of the several Interior Layout Options available on the Hanse 508


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


Published Design Ratios for the Hanse 508

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 20.1

  • 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: 27.6

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

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 165

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

4. Comfort Ratio: 27.9

  • 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 508

1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 20.1 suggests that, in the right hands, the Hanse 508 will have enough performance to leave most other sailboats of similar waterline length well astern. 

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 27.6 would usually mean that the Hanse 508 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 L-shaped keel, she's likely to be considerably stiffer than her published Ballast/Displacement Ratio might suggest.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 165 tells us the Hanse 508 is a light displacement sailboat. If she's loaded with too much heavy cruising gear her performance will suffer to a degree.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 27.9 suggests that crew comfort of a Hanse 508 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 508 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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