Hanseboot 2014 … with a different set of eyes

2014 has been my fifth Hanseboot so far – it looked different!

Last year I wrote about how they changed the layout and how the big “A” halls were not open. 2014 follows the same concept and that’s not at all what I am referring to.

I’m looking at it from a different perspective – almost as if I had a different set of eyes. My first visit in 2009 was with Markus, a friend of mine. We just went to have an exiting afternoon. None of us thought about buying a boat or anything. We started by strolling from boat to boat – the bigger, the more luxurious the better.

Dehlers new 46

I mentally stopped at the new Hanse 445 – nominated for EYOT at that year. Dark red cherry wood veneer combined with white leather, teak all over  the deck, 3 spacious cabins, 2 bathrooms and – according to the exhibitor – a quite fast and agile boat: 7 knots … I didn’t not know what that meant at the time. I was very surprise about the price though, only 280T€ – my bank account would not allow it at all, but it seemed doable – sometime.
That day we also checked the smaller Hanse’s. The smaller they got, the more reasons we found why this was not for us. To little space in cabins, you cannot walk past the salon table without anyone getting up etc.

Today, we looked at the boats with sailors eyes – not experienced once – but with ~ 1.000nm logged on our own keel with our Seascape 27 – a different layout all together.

Germany premiere of Hanse 455, the successor of the 445 premiered in 2009. A nice boat really and I really don’t mean to offend anyone. We strolled through the boat … WOW … but why would anyone ever want to take the dinghy along into the front cabin? That’s at least easily possible within this spacious cabin. The dinghy wouldn’t even be noticed really.
Not specific to Hanse, boats of this size and type have loads of open placement areas – secured only with a little rail. First tack and maybe a book placed flat onto the surface would be the only thing not bursting into 1.000 pieces on the nice looking flooring. It’s the stuff that looks marvelous on high-gloss brochures, that get’s your emotions cooking yearning for a romantic ride – no waves, fair winds all sunny until sundown, that probably shakes the wallet of a freshman asking the question for up-sizing.

Today, we were longing for other kind of luxury – more down-sized. How can we stay warm and dry even if the rain-front caught up with us? Between Liquid Rubbing Compound for Medium Oxidation, Hull Cleaner, Toilet Treatment, Water Proofing, etc. what’s the stuff that’ll get the boat clean and conserve it properly? Can we improve our storage system: easier access of items without breaking or making noise at heavy sea?  What’s the next skill to learn towards crossing the Atlantic some day? How can we ensure power supply for our smartphones and tables used for navigation at longer trips at sea?  What’s the right glue to get this / that fixed on a top coated surface? Can we somehow fit a dinghy, so we do not have to swim ashore?  …

Today, I would like to promote a project although it is already all over the press in Germany. The project I’m talking about is Bente 24. It’ll be the next Volkswagen or rather Volksboot. A boot for the masses, developed by a bunch of guys in their spare time. Almost like open source, fresh an versatile. It’s no luxury compared to the boats I talked about at the beginning of the post. It’s more down to the earth, affordable with probably every luxury  you need when sailing. Please see for yourself. I’m exited to follow its development and contribute if I can.

BENTE 24

I’m also exited to see how my perspective will change with the years to come. Maybe I’ll own a Hanse 455 someday not knowing how to live without a dinghy in my front cabin without a clew why I wrote what I wrote today.

More impressions