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bavaria yacht factory

Inside the Bavaria factory

St editor sam fortescue goes on a tour inside the bavaria factory, which makes 1,000 boats a year.

Bavaria factory

Even back then, industrialisation was key to the business. A large purpose-built hangar housed hull after hull, busy with workers. As Bavaria CEO Lutz Henkel tells me: “Herrman was the Henry Ford of boatbuilding”.

Today, automation and process are the beating heart of Bavaria, and the 70,000m 2 halls of Bavaria Yachtbau, which turns out over 1,000 boats per year with the input of workers from 14 different countries, resembles none other that I have ever visited. The first thing I see is a row of bikes, which Bavaria’s 600 production workers use to save valuable minutes getting around the factory.

Bavaria’s output has fallen from its 2007 peak of 3,000 boats per year. But it’s not all spare capacity – the boats take longer to complete now.

Bavaria CEO Lutz Henkel explains: “I would say that we are nearly at the same capacity as before – it’s just that our boats are more complicated.

“They have a wider variety of interiors now, whereas before it was ‘take it or leave it’.”

Within a year, all Bavaria boats will be manufactured using vacuum infusion.

Production line

An unbroken production line stretches from the moulding hall through fit out to finishing, each boat on a wheeled cradle which moves from station to station on narrow railway tracks.

Machine-operated

One of the two five-axis milling machines hard at work cutting out ports, hatches and holes for fittings.

A fortnight's build

It takes just two weeks to get a Cruiser 46 gets from being just tubs of epoxy and boxes of screws to a gleaming, finished article.

Changes in processes and options have led to more premium products. A decade ago, the yard’s entry-level Cruiser 33 cost €65,000 (£51,000) ex-VAT; today, the new 34 starts at €89,000 (£70,000).

Laying up the hulls

Laying up is still a very manual task at Bavaria. It is the job of one man to dunk precut strips of glass mat in epoxy resin before they’re collected by colleagues in hazard suits and respirators. They swarm all over the mould with rollers and and in this way, it takes just a day to lay up each hull or deck before it is gently cooked at 60° in a large oven.

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Interview / Bavaria Yachts : "The company deserves clear choices and a constant course"

Marc Diening, CEO of Bavaria Yachts

Marc Diening, the new managing director of Bavaria Yachts, talks to BoatIndustry about the situation of the German shipyard and his ambitions for the sail and powerboat manufacturer.

Briag Merlet

Arriving at the beginning of August 2021 at the head of Bavaria Yachts, the new CEO of the German shipyard Marc Diening took advantage of the Cannes boat show to meet with the boating industry and discuss the company's situation. BoatIndustry asked him about his ambitions for the company.

What is the dynamic of Bavaria Yachts today, after the pandemic and the crisis the company went through after the bankruptcy in 2018?

There is a real return of confidence and growth. We expect an increase of 15 to 20%, to reach a number of boats between 650 and 700 units. Our suppliers have regained confidence and we have returned to normal payment terms. Like many other companies, our problem is more the capacity to deliver the boats. The lead time is now 12 months. Demand is strong and we sometimes have difficulty obtaining the engines.

From a jobs perspective, we are back to a good level.

L'usine Bavaria Yachts a repris un rythme industriel

What is the split between the sailboat and powerboat ranges? What are the next developments?

Today sales are divided between 2/3 sailing boats and 1/3 motor boats. Therefore, as we have just launched 2 sailing boats, the next one will be a motor boat. Details will be revealed in the fall for a presentation at the Boot Düsseldorf .

The Nautitech catamaran shipyard , which is part of the Bavaria Group, has refocused on the owner's market, to the detriment of charter . Is there an equivalent strategy for Bavaria Yachts with regard to charter?

No. The companies are different. Charter has always been very important for Bavaria. We will continue to work in this sector.

Le Bavaria C38 vise également la location de bateaux

How does Bavaria position itself with regard to environmental issues in the propulsion and construction of boats?

There is a structural change going on. It's important to really think about what the real needs of customers are, what the trends and demands are. I arrived at my position only a few weeks ago. We will surely join the trend. But the company deserves clear choices and consistency. It has seen many changes of course in the past.

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Bavaria Yachts

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Bavaria Yachts

“german engineered, sailor inspired”.

Hidden away in Northern Bavaria, miles away from any major body of water, is the largest boatbuilding facility in the world. Since 1979, Bavaria has been leading the way in boating engineering and craftsmanship. In 2008 Bavaria Yachts built over 2,000 boats, each craft made to order, using the most innovative production line in boatbuilding.

The Dream Factory

Building out boats beam-to-beam rather than bow-to-stern, means Bavaria can fit 31 stations on the assembly line, with fewer functions at any one station. This limits overcrowding and prevents any installation problems. This way of assembly also means that a Bavaria 31 and a Bavaria 50 can be produced on the same production line.

Cutouts for hatches, drilling and taping for would normally take two Bavaria employees four hours. A robotic CNC machine can do it all in 20 minutes - with improved accuracy.

Hull and deck lamination is still completed by hand, but the Bavaria factory’s chain drive mold movement system allows drying ovens and molds to be rotated on their cradles, reducing labour time.

Cruiser Series

German boat builders pride themselves on the unique individuality of the crafts they build. If you’re looking for a boat which is unique, robust and beautiful then you should definitely consider a Bavaria cruiser.

A Bavaria cruiser is a steady performer, reinforcing a reputation for yacht building with amazing results. All lines on a Bavaria cruiser are led to the cockpit for easy sail handling. The newly restyled Cruiser series offers a large salon illuminated by skylights and fixed hull ports. The placement of numerous opening ports and hatches offer a natural cross ventilation.

The Bavaria 34 Cruiser is 35 feet and offers increased interior volume which creates a large entertaining area. A generous L-shaped galley, navigation table, large cabins and lots of natural light and ventilation all contribute to liveable yacht below deck.

With the 55 Cruiser, Bavaria have conjured up the epitome of superior design and technology with style and function. Featuring the performance and design that is Bavaria.

Vision Series

Bavaria's new vision offers increased standard equipment, added speed potential by way of new hull designs, a ballast ratio above 35% and increased sail areas.

For cruising comfort, standard features include large galleys, stylish side windows, a vast amount of storage, solar-powered stainless steel vents, spinnaker winches and dual steering wheels. Bavaria’s vision deck salon series symbolises the features that make Bavaria Yachts the fastest growing sailboat manufacturer in the world.

Comfort and space are two of the ingredients which make the Bavaria 40 vision the best of both worlds. The well proportioned sail plan allows for increased performance and stability which translates into a sailing experience not often found in a production cruising boat.

The flagship of the Vision series, the Bavaria 50 Vision does not disappoint. Rugged yet elegant, the 50 Vision will meet the needs of the most demanding sailor. Yet another example of Bavaria technology exceeding expectations.

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Nautitech Catamarans

Excellent sailing characteristics, a generous space concept where cockpit and saloon merge into one living space, cabin layouts created for owners and their guests, and a perfect design - that's what NAUTITECH CATAMARANS stands for.

The shipyard in Rochefort, directly near the Atlantic Ocean, has been part of the Bavaria Yachtbau Holding GmbH since 2014.

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BAVARIA and S&J

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S&J Yachts is proud to be Dealers for Bavaria Yachts

Representing both sail and power from the mid-atlantic through florida. bavaria sail ranging from 34’ to 57’ and power ranging from 29’ – 55’.

S&J Yachts continues to grow both in locations and new boat offerings. Now with ten locations from Maine to Florida and offices in Annapolis, MD; Rock Hall, MD; Deltaville, VA; Charleston, SC; and Palmetto, FL utilizing some twenty brokers, S&J Yachts is proud to announce that Bavaria Yachts has appointed them as dealers to represent both Sail and Power from the mid-Atlantic through Florida.  In addition to being the North American agent for the Discovery Shipyard:  Discovery, Southerly, and Bluewater Catamarans, S&J Yachts will now be offering Bavaria Yachts ranging from 33 feet through 57 feet in both sail and power.

Bavaria Yachts itself is one of the largest builders of watercraft in the World with advanced fiberglass technology and the renowned craftsmanship of German quality at its Giebelstadt, Germany, state of the art modern factory.  In North America, Bavaria is offering a line-up of six sailboats attractively priced from $180,000 to $600,000 for the award winning Bavaria C57.  Known for their attention to interior detail and designed for family comfort as well as performance, Bavaria Yachts has a history of balancing sailing capabilities with space all wrapped up in each boat.  On the power side, Bavaria Yachts unites its passion for the water with attention to every detail of comfort and safety adding value to every boat produced with a list of extensive standard equipment and space utilization.  From the NEW Vida 33 outboard to the grand Bavaria R55, S&J Yachts will have the right powerboat for you.

Tour the Bavaria Cruiser 34 and Tour Bavaria C45 sailboats IN STOCK now in Annapolis | C38 stock boat arriving in Florida May | New VIDA 33 stock boat arriving in Annapolis May. Contact S&J Yachts to get on a Bavaria known in Europe as “A synonym for luxury and comfort”.

On the power side, Bavaria Yachts unites its passion for the water with attention to every detail of comfort and safety adding value to every boat produced with a list of extensive standard equipment and space utilization.  From the NEW Vida 33 outboard to the grand Bavaria R55, S&J Yachts will have the right powerboat for you.

The NEW Bavaria Vida 33 now available in the United States from S&J Yachts.

A Bavaria yacht is the perfect interaction of many elements. Everything is built around the extensive expertise of German engineering. It is an art that looks back on a long and successful tradition in boat building.

Feel the quality…experience the value.

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BAVARIA YACHTS

Bavaria is a German shipyard established in 1978 in the north of Bavaria. It is located south of Würzburg. Bavaria History was made when the administrator sold it for the first time in 2007. Then in 2009, History repeated itself, and Bavaria was sold to Anchorage advisors and Oaktree capital management. In December 2012, the brand expanded and bought the Dufour and Italian Cantiere del Pardo (big sun) ship. Unfortunately, the banking crash saw company values fall significantly. During the last ten years, growth has been steady but nowhere near the levels pre 2010. Production of Bavaria Yachts has been affected by the covid crisis in the same way all manufacturers have.

bavaria yachts boats sailing

Product Line

This company specialises in the construction of pleasure craft, sailing and motor, which it exports worldwide. The size of the units produced is between 8.20 m and 15.90 m.

For an example of a typical yacht, please see the post-Bavaria  Yacht For Sale . The annual production is 1,700 to 2,000 ships, and the design is computer-aided. The company has two assembly lines: one for sailboats (60% of production) and one for motorboats (40% of production), which produce fifteen and five daily units. The yard posted 550 jobs in 2010 and has launched more than 30,000 yachts since its creation. The new range is designed by a subsidiary of BMW, Designworks USA.

Other interesting pages about boat manufacturing are as follows by the link  Amel Yachts  More information about Boat production can be found at  Jeanneau history.

BAVARIA YACHT

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IMAGES

  1. Boat building on the assembly line

    bavaria yacht factory

  2. Inside the Bavaria factory

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  3. Inside the Bavaria Yachts Ultra-Modern Factory: How It's Done

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  4. Bavaria Yachtbau Archives

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  5. Bavaria Yachts is Back in Business

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  6. BAVARIA C65

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COMMENTS

  1. BAVARIA YACHTS

    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.

  2. The shipyard

    BAVARIA YACHTS - 100% made in Germany. BAVARIA YACHTS has been known since its founding as an innovation leader in serial yacht manufacturing. Over 600 sailing yachts and motorboats are manufactured on the shipyard of BAVARIA YACHTS in Giebelstadt, near Würzburg. Four production lines, each 125 meters long, a carpenter's workshop where the ...

  3. Bavaria Yachtbau

    Bavaria Yachtbau was founded in 1978 by Winfried Herrman, a window manufacturer, and Josef Meltl, a yacht charter broker. By 2006, the company had grown to produce approximately 3,500 sailing and motor yachts and employing 600 people. Bavaria Yachtbau is one of Europe 's largest yacht manufacturers and is the biggest yacht yard in Germany.

  4. How do they build Bavaria yachts? Factory Tour

    Do you want to see what the Bavaria Yacht factory looks like? Are you interested to see the Bavaria Yachts assembly line?Bavaria Yachts was founded in 1978 b...

  5. Inside the Bavaria factory

    ST editor Sam Fortescue goes on a tour inside the Bavaria factory, which makes 1,000 boats a year. Bavaria, based in Giebelstadt, central Germany, was founded in 1978 by a window maker, Winfried Herrman, to build a simple little fin-keel trailer-sailer called the 707. She was built until 1985, when number 350 rolled off the production line.

  6. Interview / Bavaria Yachts : "The company deserves clear choices and a

    The Bavaria Yachts factory has resumed an industrial rhythm What is the split between the sailboat and powerboat ranges? What are the next developments? Today sales are divided between 2/3 sailing boats and 1/3 motor boats. Therefore, as we have just launched 2 sailing boats, the next one will be a motor boat.

  7. BAVARIA YACHTS

    At BAVARIA we don´t just build yachts - we make dreams come true. Passionately, with real german engineering, with absolute attention to detail and always 100 % made in germany. For the happiest ...

  8. Bavaria Yachts

    In 2008 Bavaria Yachts built over 2,000 boats, each craft made to order, using the most innovative production line in boatbuilding. The Dream Factory. Building out boats beam-to-beam rather than bow-to-stern, means Bavaria can fit 31 stations on the assembly line, with fewer functions at any one station.

  9. How Yachts are made at the Bavaria Factory in Germany

    The first part of this video was recorded over twenty years ago at theBavaria factory in Germany. At the time Bavaria had been building yachts for many years...

  10. Bavaria Yachts

    Bavaria Yachts, Giebelstadt. 35,619 likes · 520 talking about this · 958 were here. At BAVARIA we don´t just build yachts - we make dreams come true. Passionately, with real German engineering, with...

  11. Bavaria Yachts is Back in Business

    The Bavaria Yachts factory in Giebelstadt, Germany as seen when it was at full production. It was officially announced last week that Bavaria Yachts has been bought out of administration by a private equity fund, and the transaction has been approved by German authorities. The yacht builder went into self-administration in April, 2018 and has ...

  12. Bavaria Yachts: Models, Price Lists & Sales

    The factory started with the production of 7 and 8 meter boats, and it was the first company in Germany to put the production of yachts on stream. In 2001 Bavaria Yachts started producing motor yachts and they also quickly gained popularity, which grew thanks to their advantageous price/quality ratio. All this made Bavaria Yachts a popular brand.

  13. Catamarans

    Excellent sailing characteristics, a generous space concept where cockpit and saloon merge into one living space, cabin layouts created for owners and their guests, and a perfect design - that's what NAUTITECH CATAMARANS stands for. The shipyard in Rochefort, directly near the Atlantic Ocean, has been part of the Bavaria Yachtbau Holding GmbH ...

  14. Bavaria by Farr

    Germany s Bavaria Yachts, not long ago the 800-pound gorilla of European boatbuilding, took a pummeling during the recession. For years its philosophy of strict engineering practices and budget control had seen its value-priced cruising boats flying off the factory floor. By 2007 the factory was cranking out nearly 3,500 boats a year to feed a seemingly insatiable, mainly

  15. Inside Super Luxurious Boat And Yacht Factory

    CREDIT - https://www.bavariayachts.comYoutube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5Et2R0oIJYA BAVARIA yacht is the perfect interaction of many elements. Every...

  16. BAVARIA and S&J

    Bavaria Yachts itself is one of the largest builders of watercraft in the World with advanced fiberglass technology and the renowned craftsmanship of German quality at its Giebelstadt, Germany, state of the art modern factory. ... state of the art modern factory. In North America, Bavaria is offering a line-up of six sailboats attractively ...

  17. Bavaria Yachts for Sale

    Bavaria are builders of sailing yachts, motorboats, and catamarans, each of exceptional quality and engineering since 1978. With 16 different sailing models, 11 models of motorboats, and catamarans that are built by its sister company Nautitech, the company offers a wide range of vessels. Bavaria yachts are made in Germany in its facility that ...

  18. Bavaria History Yacht Factory

    For an example of a typical yacht, please see the post-Bavaria Yacht For Sale. The annual production is 1,700 to 2,000 ships, and the design is computer-aided. The company has two assembly lines: one for sailboats (60% of production) and one for motorboats (40% of production), which produce fifteen and five daily units.

  19. Bavaria Yacht Production Line

    This is the video of how Bavaria Yacht is produce in the factory

  20. Bavaria Yacht Help!

    Bavaria 36 - External pear anode. Started by mrclu. 3 Replies. 240 Views. March 13 2024, 10:17. by symphony2. Cleaning the heat exchanger of a Volvo D2-55. Started by Ailatan.

  21. Bavaria Factory 2003

    https://www.networkyachtbrokersbarcelona.com/bavaria-yachts/In 2003 we visited the Bavaria factory in Germany. We made this video it shows the hull construct...