used bavaria sailboats

• Search Used Yachts For Sale
• Search Boats By Brand
• Search Boats By Type
• Search By Location
• Search By Price
• What's My Boat Worth?
• Search Boats Just Listed
• Small Yachts
• Custom Sport Fishing Boats
• Finance A Boat
• Amer Yachts
• Cabo Yachts
• French Yachts
• Gulfstream Yachts
• Hatteras Yachts
• Solaris Yachts
• Sunpower Yachts
• Sunreef Yachts
• Vela Boatworks
• Virtus Yachts
• Why List With United?
• Why Own A Boat Or Yacht?
• Custom Website For Your Yacht
• United Sold Boats
• Buy A Yacht With Crypto
• Find a Yacht Broker Near Me
• Search For Broker By Name
• Meet The United Support Team
• Our History
• Fort Lauderdale Boat Show
• Stuart Boat Show
• Miami Boat Show
• Palm Beach Boat Show
• Other Boat Shows
• Yachting News
• Yacht Closing Services
• River Forest Yachting Centers

Search All Yachts

Bavaria Yachts For Sale

It’s quite an impressive feat to be a fabulous power yacht builder or a stupendous sailing yacht manufacturer and of course, all eyes are on those first-rate catamaran shipyards as well but… ever hear of a production company that can build all THREE with the precision and quality of the finest in each to its class? One can feel rest assured when stepping into the world of Bavaria yachts that this world-class manufacturer has a handle on producing sailing yachts, motorboats and catamarans. What makes a Bavaria yacht stand out? Top of the line boat construction combined with cutting edge engineering and design all with a high degree of preciseness.

Learn More About Bavaria And Find Your Next Boat

How do you ensure Bavaria brings you to experience the joy of yachting? It’s easy… take a good measure of top quality materials, throw in some fashionable fixtures and fittings, and stir it up with A plus craftsmanship and a committed workforce.

We learn that Bavaria is 100% made in Germany. There’s actually 1000 sailing yachts and motorboats in the Bavaria shipyard in Giebelstadt, near Würzburg.

List Of Bavaria Yachts On The Brokerage Market

• Page 1 of 1

In 1978, sailor, Winfried Hermann, recognized a perfect space and, his next step was to open and establish a shipyard for sailing yachts there. His idea here was to produce industrial yachts, offer them at rock-bottom prices and give many customers the back drop to purchase their dream yacht for themselves.

It wasn’t til 2001 til they began to build motorboats. Right out of the gate, like the sailing yachts, they were an instant success. These boats were quality; built with a nice price-performance ratio —which helped them to gain popularity.

In 2010, standards for a yacht were raised and shoppers were now looking for something fast, safe, built to the highest standards and with all the amenities a modern vacation home would possess. The construction of a Bavaria yacht grew much more complicated leading to the now 600 employees of Bavaria Yachts based in Giebelstadt with a hefty production roll out of over 1000 sailing yachts and motorboats.

To ensure the best quality products, they secured market leaders in their fields. One will come to be quite impressed by its equipment and accessories. Think modern and innovative in it’s productions and you’ll have nailed it to be Bavaria yacht. One tidbit you may not have known, but Bavaria Yachts is the first shipyard in the history of yacht building! Each wooden part of a Bavaria yacht is painted up to six times on its own painting line.

What sets Bavaria Yachts apart? The people in the shipyard who offer up their all to reach new standards. Yes, these employees put all their experience, all their skills and all their passion into a product that deserves to bear it’s name.

Each ship has a special look and feeling and they work with the best designers and engineers in the world to ensure not only a unique and stylish exterior but also the interior. The joy of yachting. Yes, it can be achieved in just a few steps when choosing to go with a Bavaria!

They didn’t forget an important part of this successfully equation but pride themselves on each ship’s seaworthiness. This along with a high-sided hull ensures that a smooth ride is guaranteed. There is an R-/S-Line or VIRTESS so one will not only drive safely, but will feel secure when moving around on the boat thanks to broad gunwales and a railing that extends from bow to stern. Another plus in choosing a Bavaria is their use of isophthalic acid (IPA) resins in the outer layers. This is used during the laminating process and ensures that the hull of a Bavaria is of top quality. It also offers perfectly effective protection against osmosis and promoting longevity of the Bavaria.

Last February, 2019, Michael Müller was appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and became the leader for the activities of the whole group, including Bavaria Yachtbau GmbH in Germany and Nautitech Catamarans SAS in France. This position went from vacant to a full house. Dr Ralph Kudla of CMP Capital Management Partners, represents and advises the investing equity fund, who has been delegated to the Board of Management and is now also responsible for finance and controlling of Bavaria Yachts as the Chief Restructuring Officer (CRO), explains: “In the few weeks with Michael Müller on board we have learned how effective he is and how well he has been received by employees and dealers. This is why we have asked him to take on the role of CEO.”

The experienced manager collaborated successfully before with the CMP team on other projects. Graduate engineer Michael Müller is 62 years old and has worked for brand manufacturers throughout his career. “I bring in my experience working for leading brands and I intend to reinforce the position of Bavaria Yachts as a quality manufacturer of modern sailing and motor yachts. At the moment the whole team is focused on preparing for the 2020 delivery season. They promise to meet their quality pledge as well as their promised delivery dates, so that the boats on order get into the water for the spring. In addition, we are continuously incorporating technological improvements into the production lines in Giebelstadt.” For that purpose, the management team has been strengthened by the addition of two experienced product managers: Pascal Kuhn for sailing yachts and Siep Keizer for motor yachts. Both report directly to Erik Appel, the Managing Director responsible for production.

Bavaria will knock your socks off, so add her to the consideration list for sure! She won’t disappoint.

Interesting Boating Links

Worldwide yacht sales.

• Mega Yachts For Sale in California
• Boat Sales Charleston SC
• Cape Cod Boat Sales
• Yacht Search By Location
• Sailboats For Sale Puerto Rico
• Bahamas Boat Trader
• Used Boats For Sale in Alabama
• Buying A Boat With Bitcoin
• 15M Boat For Sale

Luxury Boats & Yachts

• Azimut Yachts For Sale
• Hinckley Boats
• Rybovich For Sale
• Prestige Yachts
• $300000 Boat
• 50 Foot Boat
• Used Center Console Boats
• 2 Million Yacht
• Used Boats For Sale Under 3000
• 2 Million Dollar Boat
• Boat Trader Mastercraft
• 48 Ocean Yacht For Sale

Popular Builders & Models

• Back Cove Yachts
• Express Cruiser
• 40 Foot Sea Ray
• Sailboats For Sale Louisiana
• Tug Boats For Sale
• Used Albemarle Boats For Sale
• Small Sailboats For Sale
• Grand Banks For Sale
• Sea Ray Sedan Bridge For Sale
• Sea Ray 450 Sundancer For Sale
• Bavaria Boats
• Explorer Yachts For Sale
• Cruiser Boats For Sale
• Aquila Power Catamaran

Trending Brands & Types

• Selene Trawlers For Sale
• Meridian Yachts For Sale
• Custom Boats For Sale
• Tiara Yachts For Sale
• Picnic Boats For Sale
• Hatteras Sportfish For Sale
• Boston Whaler Boats For Sale
• Regal Boats Prices
• Leopard Power Catamaran
• Vanquish Boats For Sale
• Nordhaven Yachts

Speak to A United Sales Professional About Bavaria Yachts

• Boats for Sale
• Bavaria Yachts

New and used Bavaria Yachts 42 for sale

• Bavaria Yachts 42
• Netherlands
• United Kingdom

Search all our new or used Bavaria Yachts 42 for sale. We have Bavaria Yachts 42 brokers and sellers from around the world at great prices.

Sign up to our newsletter

By submitting this form, you agree to our Privacy & Cookie Policy

Change units of measure

This feature requires cookies to be enabled on your browser.

Show price in:

Show lengths, beam and draft in:

Show displacement or weight in:

Show capacity or volume in:

Show speed in:

Show distance in:

BAVARIA YACHTS

45 years of yachting, welcome to the world of bavaria yachts, sailing yachts.

Sailing is the passion to experience the sea and the wind. Discover pure joy of sailing and your personal sailing yacht.

Motor Boats

Modern design, powerful and safe driving characteristics and plenty of space for the most beautiful hours on the water.

Catamarans from NAUTITECH combine unforgettable sailing moments and maximum comfort for owners, who love the sea.

News from the world of BAVARIA YACHTS

Gaining additional practical experience, learning new things and exchanging ideas with each other - more than 35 service technicians from our dealers were able to do all of this during a week-long BAVARIA service workshop at our shipyard.

It is the Oscar of the yachting industry, the European Yacht of the Year Award. The BAVARIA YACHTS team is all the more proud that the BAVARIA C46 was able to beat six competitors in the "Family Cruiser" category

Last week, the last BAVARIA VISION 42 was completed in Giebelstadt. On Friday morning, part of the BAVARIA YACHTS team gathered to give her a fitting farewell. The sailing yacht celebrated its premiere at the boot Düsseldorf in 2012 and the almost 13 metre long yacht was built in the shipyard for just over 12 years. 

We will answer all your questions about spare parts supply and repairs, and provide tips and assistance.  We will help you to get your yacht back on the water!

At the beginning of last year, the BAVARIA SR41 won the "British Motorboat Award", the BAVARIA SR36 won the "Best of Boat Award" just a few months later and was nominated for the "European Powerboat of the Year". This year, the latest motorboat from Giebelstadt also remains true to this "award tradition".

BAVARIA YACHTS got off to a flying start at the Cannes Yachting Festival, where the German shipyard was represented with a total of eight motor and sailing yachts.

With the world premiere of the new BAVARIA C46, BAVARIA YACHTS starts the new boat show season at the Yachting Festival in Cannes. The new BAVARIA C46 develops, interprets and expands the design concept of the German shipyard's very successful C-LINE

06.03.2024 Seasickness - information, prevention and tips Read more

17.02.2024 All aboard: Going sailing with children. What needs to be considered? Read more

27.04.2023 Buoy instead of anchor: correct approach and buoy check Read more

BAVARIA YACHTS – 45 Years of Yachting

BAVARIA YACHTS has been a manufacturer of innovative series yachts for 45 years. Over 42,000 sailing yachts and motorboats have been built on the 200,000 m² site since 1978.

What makes us special and what we especially show greatness in, is the experience of our employees. We deliver perfection, for which about 700 employees give their best. 

Every day, with every move - We are BAVARIA!

We look forward to showing you our BAVARIA yachts for six days in the harbour of La Ciotat! Come along and let us inspire and advise you.

Experience the pure joy of yachting.

Used Yachts For Sale

Sail monohulls 40ft > 50ft,        bavaria boats for sale, bavaria 46 boats for sale.

• Open & Center console boats
• Cabin boats
• River boats
• Used Beneteau motorboats for sale
• Used Jeanneau motorboats for sale
• QUICKSILVER
• CAP CAMARAT
• MERRY FISHER
• New motorboats
• Used aluminium sailboats for sale
• 10 to 12 meters used sailboats for sale
• 12 to 14 meters used sailboats for sale
• Used Beneteau sailboats for sale

Used Bavaria sailboats for sale

• SUN ODYSSEY
• New sailboats
• Boats ad visibility booster pack
• Boat quotation
• Frequently asked questions

B2 MARINE DJINN 7

Beneteau oceanis 393 clipper, compromis 888, bavaria 41 cruiser, bavaria 430 lagoon, bavaria 320, bavaria 38 holiday, bavaria 32 cruiser, bavaria 37 cruiser, bavaria 44.3, bavaria 31 cruiser, bavaria 41 holiday, bavaria vision 40, bavaria 39 cruiser, bavaria 50 cruiser, bavaria 38 cruiser, bavaria 34 cruiser, bavaria c50 style, bavaria 390 lagoon, bavaria 46 cruiser, bavaria 33 cruiser, related searches.

yachts found

Bavaria yachts and boats for sale, used & new from ancasta, bavaria 32 2012.

• Make Bavaria
• LOA 32ft/10m
• Class Sailing Cruiser
• Hull Glass Reinforced Plastic
• Keel Fin Keel
• Engine Single Diesel
• Drive Sail Drive
• Layout Aft Cockpit
• Ancasta Ref 34079
• Name Merlot

Bavaria 32 - Ref 34079 has been saved to your account.

Your account cannot save boats.

You must login or register to save boats

Login Register

Bavaria 44 2002

• LOA 45ft/14m
• Ancasta Ref 42995
• Name Penny Grace

Bavaria 44 - Ref 42995 has been saved to your account.

Bavaria 42 2001

• LOA 42ft/13m
• Ancasta Ref 43125
• Name Mary Flavin

Bavaria 42 - Ref 43125 has been saved to your account.

Bavaria 33 Cruiser 2014

• Model 33 Cruiser
• LOA 33ft/10m
• Ancasta Ref 43538
• Name Phoenix IV

Bavaria 33 Cruiser - Ref 43538 has been saved to your account.

Bavaria 9.7 Easy 2015

• Model 9.7 Easy
• Ancasta Ref 42575
• Name Aritaur Opium

Bavaria 9.7 Easy - Ref 42575 has been saved to your account.

Bavaria 32 2004

• Class Performance Power
• Engine Twin Petrol
• Drive Outdrives
• Layout Sports
• Ancasta Ref 43303

Bavaria 32 - Ref 43303 has been saved to your account.

Bavaria 51 2018

• LOA 51ft/16m
• Ancasta Ref 36936
• Name Halcyon Days

Bavaria 51 - Ref 36936 has been saved to your account.

Bavaria Cruiser 32 Avantgarde 2013

• Model Cruiser 32 Avantgarde
• Ancasta Ref 42669
• Name Solid Aire

Bavaria Cruiser 32 Avantgarde - Ref 42669 has been saved to your account.

Bavaria 30 Cruiser 2006

• Model 30 Cruiser
• LOA 31ft/9m
• Ancasta Ref 42421
• Name Banksia

Bavaria 30 Cruiser - Ref 42421 has been saved to your account.

Stay in touch

Sign up to our e-news, save your searches, save your favourite boats and much more…

MyAncasta: login or create account

Privacy Overview

• New Sailboats
• Sailboats 21-30ft
• Sailboats 31-35ft
• Sailboats 36-40ft
• Sailboats Over 40ft
• Sailboats Under 21feet
• used_sailboats
• Apps and Computer Programs
• Communications
• Fishfinders
• Handheld Electronics
• Plotters MFDS Rradar
• Wind, Speed & Depth Instruments
• Anchoring Mooring
• Running Rigging
• Sails Canvas
• Standing Rigging
• Diesel Engines
• Off Grid Energy
• Cleaning Waxing
• DIY Projects
• Repair, Tools & Materials
• Spare Parts
• Tools & Gadgets
• Cabin Comfort
• Ventilation
• Footwear Apparel
• Foul Weather Gear
• Mailport & PS Advisor
• Inside Practical Sailor Blog
• Activate My Web Access
• Reset Password
• Pay My Bill
• Customer Service

• Free Newsletter
• Give a Gift

How to Sell Your Boat

Cal 2-46: A Venerable Lapworth Design Brought Up to Date

Rhumb Lines: Show Highlights from Annapolis

Open Transom Pros and Cons

Leaping Into Lithium

The Importance of Sea State in Weather Planning

Do-it-yourself Electrical System Survey and Inspection

Install a Standalone Sounder Without Drilling

When Should We Retire Dyneema Stays and Running Rigging?

Rethinking MOB Prevention

Top-notch Wind Indicators

The Everlasting Multihull Trampoline

How Dangerous is Your Shore Power?

DIY survey of boat solar and wind turbine systems

What’s Involved in Setting Up a Lithium Battery System?

The Scraper-only Approach to Bottom Paint Removal

Can You Recoat Dyneema?

Gonytia Hot Knife Proves its Mettle

Where Winches Dare to Go

The Day Sailor’s First-Aid Kit

Choosing and Securing Seat Cushions

Cockpit Drains on Race Boats

Rhumb Lines: Livin’ the Wharf Rat Life

Re-sealing the Seams on Waterproof Fabrics

Safer Sailing: Add Leg Loops to Your Harness

Waxing and Polishing Your Boat

Reducing Engine Room Noise

Tricks and Tips to Forming Do-it-yourself Rigging Terminals

Marine Toilet Maintenance Tips

Learning to Live with Plastic Boat Bits

• Sailboat Reviews

Bavaria 38 Ocean

This german-built production cruiser has first-class construction and is favorably priced. for serious cruising, however, she does have a few drawbacks such as a small galley and marginal sea berths..

In our travels to the boat shows, we’ve noticed an increased number of German and Scandinavian boats distributed in the U.S. by American dealerships. Part of the reason, certainly, is favorable exchange rates. To get a feel for how these boats stack up to their American and French counterparts, we decided to test sail the German-built Bavaria 38 Ocean. In a nutshell, it’s a well-built, comfortable cruiser with a small sailplan that may be well suited to offshore passage-making, but will not be exactly spirited in light air.

The Company Bavaria Yachts is a family-owned operation that began as the manufacturer of glass windows. Today, it produces boats in a new, modern plant in Giebelstadt, Germany. The firm evolved into the boatbuilding business in 1970’s, and currently produces approximately 450 boats per year, ranging in size from 29′ to 50′. Bavaria builds several distinct lines. Heavy emphasis is placed on the Holiday series, multi-cabin cruisers destined for the charter fleets in the Mediterranean. The Exclusive line consists of traditional aft cockpit sloops with fewer sleeping compartments, and a large master stateroom. The 38 Ocean features a center-cockpit intended for family cruising. The first boats imported to North America began arriving in 1995, and are in service in a charter fleet in the Pacific Northwest.

Though the company may not have the decades-old pedigree of some competitors, it enjoys among Europeans a reputation as the builder of sturdy, seaworthy boats. Bavaria funds the cost of two Lloyd’s inspectors who are permanently on site to inspect each boat as it works its way through the production line. Consequently, boats aren’t simply “built to Lloyd’s specifications,” but are issued a Germanischer Lloyd A5 certificate that covers hull, rig, engine, electrical system and locking devices.

Design Bavaria yachts are designed by the J and J design office, a relatively obscure firm founded by brothers Jernej and Japec Jakopin in 1983. Their first yacht, the Elan 31, was an immediate success, winning the 3/4 Ton world championships; more than 700 were produced. The firm subsequently formed a boat engineering company, Seaway, that offers marketing, design, tooling and prototyping services.

J and J works with more than 20 production yards in Europe, and has designed boats for Jeanneau, Bavaria, and Dufour, in collaboration with Bruce Farr, Doug Peterson and the Jeanneau design team. Three designs received Boat of the Year awards at the 1997 Dusseldorf boat show.

The pleasing lines of the Holiday and Exclusive models are similar in appearance to many Baltic, Swan, Wauquiez and Swedish Yachts.

The Ocean 38 Ocean, because it is a center-cockpit design, presents a different look. Its beam is considerable (13′ 2″), which gives us some concern regarding inverse stability and upwind performance. On the other hand, it makes for a large interior and increases initial stability.

The displacement/length (D/L) ratio is 217, and the sail area/displacement (SA/D) ratio is 17.8, numbers that are reasonable for most coastal cruising conditions. The D/L is a bit low for what most people would consider suitable for blue-water cruising.

The whale’s tail fin keel and spade rudder represent current thinking to improve lift and control. The boat is available with either 5′ 1″ or 6′ 5″ draft.

We think that one of the major drawbacks of a center cockpit arrangement is the height above the water, which can translate to mal de mer in heavy seas when the boat pitches and rolls; the tradeoff is a drier ride, even when pounding to weather, as we learned on a trip from San Francisco to Hawaii.

Construction The firm boasts that most of its employees have been working for Bavaria for more than 10 years, most having come through its formal apprenticeship program. A video we reviewed showed the operation to be highly efficient. Wood is brought into the wood shop as logs and milled; workers in the lay-up process are presented with shopping carts filled with numbered sheets of fiberglass that have been precut to specific sizes by a computer, and premixed containers of resin, so there is no deviation in the lay-up.

The downside to this rigid approach is that no customizing is possible. As Henry Ford said, “You can have any color you want as long as it’s black.”

The lay-up methods are fairly straightforward. The outer skin is powder-bonded glass mat and isopthalic resins. The hull below the waterline is solid fiberglass laid up to a thickness of 32 mm with alternating layers of 15-ounce and 20-ounce Verotex woven roving. The forward section of the hull, from the bow aft to the first bulkhead, is reinforced with a 2-mm thick layer of Kevlar. Additional strength is provided by double layers of fiberglass extending 12″ to either side of the centerline from the bow to the rudderpost, and a double lamination on the keel flange, a Lloyd’s requirement.

The hull is additionally strengthened by solid fiberglass stringers, and beams running athwartships that are bonded to the hull with S-glass. The engine bed is also laminated to the hull, and an aluminum engine bracket is glassed to its timbers so that engine bolts are lagged through the metal piece to the bed.

All of the interior bulkheads, as well as cabinetry and closets, are bonded to the hull before the deck is laid on. Areas around hatches are reinforced with marine-grade plywood.

A company video shows the boat sailing at full speed into a seawall. After the third collision, the boat is hauled, revealing only scrape marks in the bottom paint.

The hull above the waterline as well as the deck are cored with 15-mm Divinycell to provide strength, warmth, and a noise barrier.

The method of attaching deck hardware is unique. Winches and cleats are mounted to 3/4″ thick aluminum backing plates bonded into the deck.

Deck Layout Because the boat is targeted for cruisers who are more likely to hoist a reacher or drifter than a spinnaker, the deck arrangement is rather simple. In fact, there are only four winches. The primary sheet winches are Harken 44 self-tailers, and on the coachroof, to handle halyards, reefing and furling lines there are two Harken 40’s aft of Rutgerson rope clutches. Track for the jib cars is located at the base of the deckhouse and is equipped with Rutgerson cars, as is the mainsheet, which is located at the aft end of the cockpit.

Though there’s adequate room in the cockpit to seat six passengers, and enough length for a 6-footer to stretch out for a nap, we discovered that the steering pedestal can inhibit crew work. The helmsman will find the mainsheet, which is located on the aft coaming of the cockpit, and both jib winches, to be within close reach from the normal steering position. However, because jib winches are well aft, crew will soon discover that moving from windward to leeward will require navigating forward around the front of the pedestal on tacks, or aft of the cockpit. Our test boat was equipped with a storm dodger that extended aft from the five-piece windshield. This arrangement kept us out of the wind on a cold winter day. When tacking, however, we found it difficult to make the trip across the boat in the space between the dodger and front of the pedestal.

With 16″ of pathway between the teak toerail and the cabin trunk, movement fore and aft is easy; additionally, boats are equipped with double lifelines, stainless steel stanchions, a bow pulpit and pulpits on each corner of the stern. So, with the addition of jacklines, a crew can operate in relative safety, even at night. The boat is a 9/10 fractional rig, which we think performs more like a typical masthead rig. The mast is a tapered, double spreader Selden spar supported by 3/8″ wire standing rigging. Standard equipment includes a Furlex headsail furler, hard vang, topping lift, and hand-cranked backstay adjuster. The sail inventory consists of a 5.7-ounce Dacron Elvstrom mainsail with car sliding system and two reef points. Buyers can opt for a conventional, fully-battened main, or an in-mast furling mainsail at no additional cost. Selection of the furling mainsail reduces the size of the mainsail by 75 square feet, and the ability to shape the sail.

Stowage on the deck is in several large areas. The bow area has a chain locker large enough for an electric winch, as well as 100′ of 3/8″ chain, and rope. The stainless steel double roller, which houses a 44-lb. CQR anchor, is designed to can’tilever downwards when the anchor is lowered. This simplifies the task while avoiding damage to the gelcoat. A second stowage area aft of the locker is large enough for dock lines and fenders, and the windlass motor.

Stowage to starboard in the stern is designated for fire extinguishers; to port is a locker for propane tanks. European boats are typically plumbed for butane, so the aft compartment of boats headed for North America must be modified to provide space for propane tanks, since sizes and shapes are dramatically different. The compartment is properly vented overboard.

The stern is clearly designed for the casual cruiser. It houses a two-step swim platform equipped with a stainless steel ladder hinged to go in the water, and a freshwater shower. The emergency rudder mounts outboard on the platform. Long-distance cruisers will be challenged by the engineering necessary to mount a mechanical wind vane.

Belowdecks The generous beam of the Bavaria 38 Ocean provides large, comfortable spaces in which to lounge and sleep. The workmanship is of a quality found in boats costing considerably more.

The layout of the saloon is fairly typical, with the galley and the engine compartment beneath the companionway. A folding dining table and 6′ 6″ settee are located to port. A similarly sized settee is to starboard, forward of the nav station. The head, with doors from the saloon or the skipper’s stateroom, is to starboard.

The boat is particularly well ventilated by four deck hatches, three forward and one in the aft stateroom, and four opening ports on each side of the deckhouse. We found the boat to be well lighted, even on a cloudy, rainy day.

The master stateroom spans the stern and has a 6′ long, 5′ 6″ wide berth in the center of a compartment having 6′ feet of headroom that is surrounded by finely finished mahogany closets and cabinetry, and heavy, 3″ cushions. Because boats seem to shrink in size in proportion to the number of people aboard, we liked the fact that both staterooms have sitting areas that, albeit small, provide some private space.

The head, which is subdivided by a plastic curtain, is equipped with a single stainless sink, hot and cold water, and a medicine cabinet. The shower area has 6′ of headroom and 30″ of elbow room.

The V-berth measures 6′ 4″ on the centerline, and is 6′ wide at the head, tapering to 18″ at the bow. Cabinetry includes a 43″ tall hanging locker to starboard and a similarly sized cabinet with three shelves to port.

About the only drawbacks we noted were the lack of a good, tight sea berth or two, and the size of working space available in the navigation station and galley, which oppose each other amidships near the companionway. But while one might wish them larger, the space would have to be subtracted from the dining area and head. One must remember that despite its great beam, this boat is still just 38′ LOA. The working surface on the nav station is only 22″ deep and 38″ wide. The galley runs fore and aft, and is equipped with a double stainless steel sink, two burner stove, and an L-shaped countertop. There’s adequate working space on the 24″ x 66″ countertop when the stove is covered. However, when the stove is in use, 24″ of countertop are lost, so the cook may have to use the dining table for preparations.

The boat’s mechanical systems are well-conceived and executed.

The engine compartment is accessible by removing the companionway steps, and via a removable panel in the galley. This permits one to work on all four sides of the engine. The Whitlock cable steering system is directly overhead and easy to inspect or service.

Wiring and plumbing are accessible by removing wooden panels in the back of stowage compartments. We found all wiring to be bundled and wrapped every 6″, which reduces the possibility of chafe. Through-hulls are bronze with stainless steel ball valves, and all hoses and manifolds are accessible and double clamped. Though the headliner is not removable, deck hardware fasteners can be inspected by removing mahogany covers attached to the overhead.

Performance We tested the boat on a rainy day on flat water in wind speeds ranging from 15-22 knots. Whether you like the looks of the five-section permanent windshield is a personal matter, but it certainly affords superior protection from the weather and is easy to see through. The center section opens to provide ventilation. There certainly is a trend amongst cruisers toward hard dodgers or at least hard-top dodgers, and a permanent windscreen is a good foundation from which to design an all-weather enclosure.

Under power, the 50-hp. Volvo Penta, equipped with a fixed, 3-blade prop, powered the boat into 10 knots of wind at 7 knots at 2,500 rpm. We noticed that at 2,100 rpm the noise level belowdecks allowed conversation at normal voice levels; at 2,500 rpm engine noise was more noticeable.

The saildrive has pros and cons. Its horizontal thrust is efficient, but the aluminum housing is vulnerable to corrosion, particularly from stray AC currents in marinas. Owners should monitor the unit carefully. The Wauquiez Pretorien 35 reviewed last month also has a saildrive, and owners were cautioned to regularly replace the zincs and to dive on it for a visual inspection every 90 days.

The boat proved responsive to the helm, and easily turned a tight 360°. She also tracked well in reverse, even in gusty conditions.

Our test boat had both furling main and jib, which will simplify sailhandling for cruising couples. The furling main looked disproportionately small for this size boat. We also learned rather quickly the importance of fully hoisting the main; if there’s a scallop at the tack, the sail will not furl into the mast.

We began the test sail with a full main and 150% genoa and discovered very quickly that we were overcanvassed. We shortened the jib to about 90% and in this configuration we sailed comfortably to within 40° of the apparent wind at just less than 6 knots. The boat tracked well. Because the jib sheeting angle is 16°, it is unlikely the boat will sail closer to the wind. Speed increased to 7.5 knots when we footed off and sailed at 85°, but she became less stable so we further reduced the headsail. She proved more manageable at 120°.

We suspect that owners will be motoring until wind speed reaches 6-8 knots, and using the 150% genoa until wind speed reaches 10 knots. In stiffer breezes, she’ll need a shortened headsail or reef in the main. However, with a properly balanced sailplan, we think most cruisers will find the boat manageable and comfortable.

Sailors in gusty conditions, such as San Francisco Bay, will find a sail inventory consisting of main and genoa to be adequate; the need for a light air drifter or reacher will become apparent where winds are lighter.

Conclusion We think the Bavaria is an exceptionally well-built boat. She’s finely finished; gelcoat surfaces are smooth; and joinerwork is of the highest quality. Crew and guests will find accommodations below to be spacious and well-appointed.

The Bavaria 38 Ocean comes well-equipped with brand-name hardware, Par head, Espar forced-air heater, and a Coolmatic 12-volt refrigeration system that fared poorly in our December 1, 1996 test. Though securing foreign replacement parts can be a headache, the North American distributor maintains a modest inventory of post-1992 parts for all Bavaria yachts.

The boat comes with an extensive list of standard equipment such as teak cockpit seating and sole, ICOM VHF radio, Autohelm ST 50 instruments, dodger, windlass and anchor with 165′ of chain.

Given current exchange rates and a sailaway price of $189,900 (US), fob Seattle, or $182,990 (US), fob Annapolis, we think the boat is a very good value. For comparison, the somewhat larger Jeanneau 40 Deck Saloon 40 lists at $190,000 and the superb but somewhat smaller Halberg Rassy 36 at a bit under $200,000. A more run-of-the-mill production boat, such as the Beneteau Oceanis 381, starts at $138,000.

Contact- Yacht Sales West, Unit B, 2144 Westlake Ave. N, Seattle, WA, 98109; 206/378-0081. In Canada, Yacht Sales West, 1523 Foreshore Walk, Vancouver, BC, Canada; 604/488-1202.

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Log in to leave a comment

Latest Videos

Island Packet 370: What You Should Know | Boat Review

How To Make Starlink Better On Your Boat | Interview

Catalina 380: What You Should Know | Boat Review

• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell My Personal Information
• Online Account Activation
• Privacy Manager