Boat Test: 2023 Hanover 377

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Overview

If you remember “The Girl from Ipanema” (RIP, Astrud Gilberto), then you’ll know the feeling I had when I first saw the Hanover 377.

“When she passes, each one she passes goes aaaahh.”

This new Brazilian beauty is 37-ish feet of delights, from the big cockpit that easily held nine of us on our test hop to the cabin as bright and airy as the beach at Copacabana.

Stylish and sophisticated, this Latin beauty is a big bowrider marked by a rakish black hardtop with an opening sunroof and black hull slashes, which hide the windows that keep the cabin bright.

Though the boat is clearly intended for day entertaining with the option to overnight in surprisingly luxurious comfort, one pervading question among all those who toured her at recent boat shows was: “How can it be so inexpensive?” The base price is $385,000, but that includes a long list of standard equipment—from MerCruiser power to Raymarine electronics to a 6 kW Onan genset—so there are no corners cut.

Interior and Accessories

Putting on my marine surveyor hat, I poked through the bilges (spotless and gelcoated) and into lockers (beautifully finished), and then scratched my head. I wasn’t surprised to find that the 377 meets European CE Class B requirements for yachts up to 200 miles offshore in winds to 40 knots and seas to 13 feet. The hull also carries a five-year warranty.

The answer is that Brazil has low labor costs, but that’s only the beginning; the country also has huge resources for everything from wood to fiberglass resin to the stainless steel used on handrails. The bottom line is the Hanover 377 may be low-priced, but there is nothing cheap about it. Take the twin bucket seats, where I planted my rear at the helm. They were well-padded with flip-up bolsters, impeccably upholstered, fully ­adjustable and comfy—very upscale.

Brace yourself because there is a seemingly endless variety of upholstery options (leather and vinyl), exterior finishes (15 colors), interior colors (eight) and flooring options, which include the synthetic teak on our test boat. Our test boat had oak cabin floors and bulkheads, with teak on the cockpit sole. 

The cockpit’s L-shaped settees face each other, while the outdoor galley (with a Kenyon grill, fridge and sink) on the transom takes advantage of the wide platform and the fold-down starboard side, which creates a beach and has room for partying at the sandbar.

The skipper gets a matte-black dash with a pair of Raymarine 11-inch monitors, MerCruiser (or Volvo Penta) shifters, the optional joystick, Lenco tabs and the aforementioned seats. A deep walkway (safe for kids) to port leads forward to what Hanover calls the “solarium” with triple lounges that feature adjustable backs atop the cabin.

A second delight in this South American import is the cabin, which is far larger than I expected, starting with 6 feet, 5 inches of headroom, which is unlike the usual cave on many day trippers. A wraparound settee forward converts into a queen berth, and the enclosed head features a separate stall shower (27-by-36 inches) with a teak seat and Lucite door. The aft cabin, tucked under the cockpit, has a wider-than-queen berth (5 feet, 5 inches) and a startling 9 feet of headroom under the helm for pulling on your britches. The cabin also has a mini galley with a microwave, one-burner induction cooktop, fridge, and stowage for morning coffee without tiptoeing out to the cockpit galley.

Engines

But the fun really starts when you punch the ignition to power up. Our test boat had the ­upgraded MerCruiser 6.2 MPFI inboard gas engines of 350 hp linked to Bravo 3 dual-prop contra-­rotating sterndrives. First, the 377 comes up flat and fast without needing to nurse the trim tabs to maintain forward visibility. Once on plane, the 377 handles like a much ­smaller boat.

Thrown into a hard-over turn at near top speed, it banks and spins with no cavitation, thanks to the solid bite of the Bravo 3 sterndrives. Some boats encourage you to get up to top speed and then just blast along. This is not one. If you ever harbored the notion of doing doughnuts just for the heck of it, the 377 will satisfy your urges.

Time to plane was a smidge over 6 seconds. It was also quiet-running, hitting just 84 dB(A) on our sound meter at wide-open throttle; harbor speed was a whispery 69 dB(A).

Power choices start with the standard MerCruiser 300 hp, and you can opt for the 350 hp Merc on our test boat or choose either 380 hp or 400 hp Volvo D6 diesels. An outboard version of the 377 is also available. Hanover has allocated room in the engine room for the optional Quick X10 gyro. 

If you’re shopping, there’s not much similar at this price. Sea Ray’s Sundancer 370 ($878,898 base) is about the same size but 5,000 pounds heavier, with a similar layout and better finish. 

This Brazilian import is priced at entry level but punches far above its weight in quality and amenities. 

As the song says, “When she walks, she’s like a samba that swings so cool and sways so gentle.”

How We Tested

• Engines: Twin 350 hp MerCruiser 6.2 MPFI
• Drive/Prop: Bravo 3 16″ x 20″ pitch stainless-steel double-prop propset
• Gear Ratio: 1.81:1 Fuel Load: 200 gal. Water on Board: 25 gal. Crew Weight: 600 lb.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

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