are bavaria sailboats any good

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Considering a bavaria

• Thread starter Thisoldfish
• Start date Nov 23, 2012
• Brand-Specific Forums

Thisoldfish

Hi all- new to the forum and joined specifically to get some "owner feedback" (or any feedback). Just sold our '28 caliber to get a bigger boat. Will mostly be for east coastal cruising with wife/3 kids. In 5 years we're splitting to island hop for a year (yes... With the kids... For now..). Ultimately when kids older and out we look to live aboard. So, I was targeting around '40 and the other day looked at a bavaria 38 Ocean CC (1999). Well maintained (oringial owner/loads of maintenance records etc). My 2 big concerns: 1/ wobbly stanchions. I've read this is a weak point of Bavarias- I think they're the stainless bases. On my quick look it appears that the stanchions are moving within the bases- however there doesn't seem to be any movement of the bases within the toerail cap. Per the owner there are no leak issues. So- how big a deal is this? 2/ saildrive. I know nothing about it and growing up sailing on various family boats I am only accustomed to traditional straight shaft/stuffing Box. How much maintenance does the saildrive require and what are the pitfalls/things to look for when I take another look at the boat? Obviously I'll have the boat surveyed but would love to know if there are any easy red flag things to look for that might make me abort going that far. Kind of makes me nervous having an external gearbox (or whatever the technical term is) that isn't easily acessable etc. Are there any other major issues with this model/year that would be good to read up on etc? Thanks in advance. Happy thanksgiving Brad  

Remember you maybe getting a boat with an iron keel. So be aware of all the extra maintenance an iron keel may need.  

Don't really know what the big difference is other than iron can have corrosion- what extra maintenance (other than being aware of that) is there from lead?  

Hi Brad - There were a couple other threads on both Bavaria 38 Oceans and hundreds on sail drives. We have a Bavaria 40 Ocean and absolutely love it. Like most boats it had issues we needed to correct and we make sure we do all the regular maintenance. Yes the stantions are wobbly but they work fine. Yes I would prefer solid stanchions but the cost is a lot. I've put fishing net along sides of the boat to keep the dogs from jumping off. The rest of the boat makes up for the stanchions. If you have questions about the Ocean series let me know - there aren't that many around. I know of 2 in NJ. There were only 40 Ocean 40's made to my knowledge. This year I put a kiwi prop and I enjoyed sailing it even more. I gained about 1/2 knot when sailing. Here is one thread on the 38 Ocean from this site. http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=856112 All in all I think the ocean series is a very comfortable cruiser. The saildrive debate you can research. I've maintained ours religiously and haven't had any issues. You can find a LOT of debate of the pros/cons of saildrives. Last year we replaced the sail drive gasket. Thats a relatively big job. The book says every 8 years or so. We got 10 out of it and the gasket was still fine when I removed it but didn't want to take chances. If I were going to a remote region of the world I would opt for a boat with a standard shaft/stuffing box configuration but the saildrive works fine for the type of cruising we do. It also provides a smoother/quieter ride in my opinion. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to me.  

Separate base and tube on the stanchions. BONUS! That's what my old Grampian 26 had. If you bent a stanchion, all you have to do is replace the tube. When the stanchions bent on my Catalina 309, they were a b**** to replace because they're one-piece. Not only that, but they're installed at the factory prior to the mating of the hull and deck. VERY difficult to replace later on.  

If you have the choice between the standard prop shaft & stuffing box verses the saildrive, then the simpler shaft is obviously less maintenance. I have seen some saildrives suffer from serious metal corrosion if the sacrificial annodes are not changed religiously regularly. Both stuffing boxes & saildrive gaskets can leak, but the saildrive can cost A LOT to repair & or replace down the road. The stuffing box & S.S. shaft design are tried & true & wil last the life of the boat, if maintained. Applying epoxy injection into the stanchion bases would help to stiffen them up some. Otherwise Bavarias & all German boats for that matter, tend to have a good reputation for sailing performance & endurance. Just matters if you can afford it! ps. What type of diesel engine does it have? I would avoid Volvos which were popular with saildrives. Parts are hard to find & very expensive to maintain.  

my two cents I would steer you away from an older Bavaria and might suggest looking at a Hunter or Catalina or maybe a beneteau. My experience comes from OWNING a 2003 bavaria 44 aft cabin AND more importantly now having dont work with a separate boat mfg(i wont say which). First - saildrives are terrible - great for manufacturers but really difficult for consumers. you are very right to be concerned with an external gear box. Mfg. tout the lack of prop walk but prop walk is necessary to back a 40+ boat back into a slip in tight marina quarters. Saildrives back up straight but that is a flaw......since getting the rudder to bite requires more space in reverse than a typical marina offers. I installed a thruster in mine which alleviates the issue but i still miss the prop walk on my 30 footer. A saildrive of 1999 vintage likely will be a significant failure/replacement point for you. Second - Forget about ANY replacement parts made available by Bavaria USA on a boat of that vintage. I dont know about the other manfacturers out there but as you shop you should call each of them and discuss replacement parts...particularly for the internal stuff like hatches, knobs etc. Bavaria USA was bought by Bain Capital (i think - maybe another equity shop - dont recall) and they paid too much. control of the business has changed. That change can pretty much assure absolutely no support on that 1999 model. I would strongly recommend a boat (whether a bavaria or other brand) that has hardwood interiors (as opposed to laminates in the Bavaria). I cannot stress that enough. I would also recommend against teak rails (no matter how attractive) because they are an absolute pain to maintain. You definitely want a three cabin and I would avoid the "pullman" style berths common in that vintage. I recall Beneteau and Catalina have some good options in that vintage (but dont know about the hardwood for interiors?). Also I would consider buying a boat off charter. Do some math. Factor in the lower price you will pay and assume a need to repower the boat in that analysis (figure 20k or so) and compare that cost to buying a similar boat with less worn engine - the results might surprise you (better to buy a very used ex charter boat and repower/resail it - you then have a decent hull with new engine and sails/lines for less or comparable $$$). Also - i think Bavaria's tend to be under engined in that vintage as compared to competitors. The engine should push the boat at hull speed with a clean hull at NORMAL operating RPMs. Lastly stay away from recent Beneteaus - they have done fantastic work cutting costs making the pricing more competitive but at a real sacrifice to quality of components (all laminates now). Since you have three kids (like i do) i would focus on LOWEST maintenance (whether your money or your time) - that means the following: As little teak as possible and never ever ever buy one with teak decking - too hot in the summer. Dont buy any boat with a Volvo engine - No saildrive furling main - no lazy jacks - popular in the 90s. I recall there are some good jeneaus in the 40 range three cabin style of that vintage - we almost bought one. Lastly - i live in annapolis and would be happy to show you my Bavaria and my issues with it if you like. you can PM me  

Thanks so much to you all to take the time and effort for such great responses. Really good points from all sides- always tough when something is so multivariable to figure out the weight for each variable. Njsail thsnks for thread link- very helpful. duncanhoo- in addition to the other mechanical points your comment about teak railing is definitely taken to heart. I let my caliber 30 go grey after I spent 3 days I didn't have cleaning the teak out 1st summer- so I'm in total agreement there. So, it has a Volvo which I wasn't thrilled about since I'm pretty used to/comfortable with yanmar. And I like prop walk. All said I think I need to see more beneteaus Catalinas etc. I was really sucked into the bavaria based on the nice aft cockpit and layout, maintenance and generally great boat- (plus already has genset and ac/heat)- but I do have concerns about the saildrive and Volvo. The stanchions are seeming to be less of an issue. Again thanks for all of the really helpful input. Duncanhoo if I pursue the 38 ill take you up on your offer/see how you have tackled issues that might pertain to the 38 (say hi to annap- I grew up there/ great place.  

Barnacle Bill

OK, I used to sell Bavarias and know a thing or two about them. First of all, Volvo Penta invented the saildrive. Most yanmar inboards use the volvo penta saildrive attached. The saildrive takes up less room, you don't have to worry about shaft alignment or leaking, they have more thrust and a bigger prop than the direct drive, hence more power and the work just fine. They must be installed properly, which they do in Germany and so that helps with the electrolysis issue and, yes, the anodes must be replaced just like on anything that has similar concerns. Most people don't know they have pencil anodes in their inboards. Some Bavarias came with lead keels and some with cast iron. Many Eurpopean boats have cast iron keels. Lead is heavier than cast iron and doesn't rust, but the design of the boat uses adequate weight to keep the boat sailing properly. Treat the clean cast iron with an underwater primer under the antifouling paint and your maintenance will be minimum. Someone said the engines are underpowered. Well, I used to compare Bavarias to all other brands and many people bought Hunters because of the better price tag, but you got what you paid for, in my opinion. You could compare two boats, the same size and the same year. The Bavaria had their stock engine more HP than the Hunter, for example. To upgrade the Hunter engine to a similar HP as the Bavaria there was a considerable upcharge. The Bavaria came with like 5 winches and the Hunter came with two. I could go on and on and when you actually tricked out the Hunter with the standard equipment that came with the Bavaria, it wasn't such a good deal after all (the Hunter) and the Bavaria was A classified offshore (all their models) and the Hunters were classified as either inland or coastal. The woodwork in many production boats are not real wood, but a almost paper look alike venier over a pressed wood composite. Bavarias use mostly Mahogany and the wood is solid, or if they use a venier, it is a wooden venier and not paper. I disagree with the above comment that Hunters, Beneteaus and Catalinas are better boats than a Bavaria. I have dealt with disatisfied customers who had water issues with their Beneteaus. One boat had one pump to do several jobs and there was a manifold system where you had to shut off the bilge pump valve and this valve and that valve so that there was enough suction for the same pump to take care of the shower sump. That is cutting corners and saving money. The Bavaria has a pump for each job. Some Beneteaus had a fiberglass pan inside the hull so that you could not get at hoses and wiring. Everywhere in a Bavaria, there is a panel that you can unscrew to get at all wiring and plumbing. The way Bavarias are made is with a sophisticated manufacturing facility where they use a computerized milling and cutting machine that cut out all panels and bulkheads used in the boat, right down to the berths you sleep on. No errors. They cut the holes in the deck for hatches and ports, drilled holes for all hardware. Most manufacturing facilites have a cadre of people with drills and jig saws cutting this stuff out which can affect quality control. Most facilities have runs of different sizes of boats in line. Bavaria can make a 50 footer next to a 30 footer instead of a run of all 50 footers and a run of all 30 footers, etc. They are so efficient that they reduce the price of the boat with a smaller labor force, more efficient molding, laminating, building of components and assembly and the use of computerization so that this reduction in price is passed down to the customer. So.....you actually get a better built boat at a more reasonable price. There are so many things to look at and compare between boats. Opening ports vs. non opening and the materials used. How much tankage for fuel, water and holding? When it comes to places to stow stuff, is there really adequate places? I remember using a Bavaria 38 at the Annapolis show and the ower removed 15 boxes of personal gear and raved about how much room there was to stow things. I have seen some boats that if you had a bucket to stow, there wasn't a good place for it. I don't sell them anymore, but could and would and I don't gain a thing by saying anything about them, but I think they are a great product and they are even better now with Farr designing them.  

Barnacle Bill said: OK, I used to sell Bavarias and know a thing or two about them. First of all, Volvo Penta invented the saildrive. Most yanmar inboards use the volvo penta saildrive attached. The saildrive takes up less room, you don't have to worry about shaft alignment or leaking, they have more thrust and a bigger prop than the direct drive, hence more power and the work just fine. They must be installed properly, which they do in Germany and so that helps with the electrolysis issue and, yes, the anodes must be replaced just like on anything that has similar concerns. Most people don't know they have pencil anodes in their inboards. Some Bavarias came with lead keels and some with cast iron. Many Eurpopean boats have cast iron keels. Lead is heavier than cast iron and doesn't rust, but the design of the boat uses adequate weight to keep the boat sailing properly. Treat the clean cast iron with an underwater primer under the antifouling paint and your maintenance will be minimum. Someone said the engines are underpowered. Well, I used to compare Bavarias to all other brands and many people bought Hunters because of the better price tag, but you got what you paid for, in my opinion. You could compare two boats, the same size and the same year. The Bavaria had their stock engine more HP than the Hunter, for example. To upgrade the Hunter engine to a similar HP as the Bavaria there was a considerable upcharge. The Bavaria came with like 5 winches and the Hunter came with two. I could go on and on and when you actually tricked out the Hunter with the standard equipment that came with the Bavaria, it wasn't such a good deal after all (the Hunter) and the Bavaria was A classified offshore (all their models) and the Hunters were classified as either inland or coastal. The woodwork in many production boats are not real wood, but a almost paper look alike venier over a pressed wood composite. Bavarias use mostly Mahogany and the wood is solid, or if they use a venier, it is a wooden venier and not paper. I disagree with the above comment that Hunters, Beneteaus and Catalinas are better boats than a Bavaria. I have dealt with disatisfied customers who had water issues with their Beneteaus. One boat had one pump to do several jobs and there was a manifold system where you had to shut off the bilge pump valve and this valve and that valve so that there was enough suction for the same pump to take care of the shower sump. That is cutting corners and saving money. The Bavaria has a pump for each job. Some Beneteaus had a fiberglass pan inside the hull so that you could not get at hoses and wiring. Everywhere in a Bavaria, there is a panel that you can unscrew to get at all wiring and plumbing. The way Bavarias are made is with a sophisticated manufacturing facility where they use a computerized milling and cutting machine that cut out all panels and bulkheads used in the boat, right down to the berths you sleep on. No errors. They cut the holes in the deck for hatches and ports, drilled holes for all hardware. Most manufacturing facilites have a cadre of people with drills and jig saws cutting this stuff out which can affect quality control. Most facilities have runs of different sizes of boats in line. Bavaria can make a 50 footer next to a 30 footer instead of a run of all 50 footers and a run of all 30 footers, etc. They are so efficient that they reduce the price of the boat with a smaller labor force, more efficient molding, laminating, building of components and assembly and the use of computerization so that this reduction in price is passed down to the customer. So.....you actually get a better built boat at a more reasonable price. There are so many things to look at and compare between boats. Opening ports vs. non opening and the materials used. How much tankage for fuel, water and holding? When it comes to places to stow stuff, is there really adequate places? I remember using a Bavaria 38 at the Annapolis show and the ower removed 15 boxes of personal gear and raved about how much room there was to stow things. I have seen some boats that if you had a bucket to stow, there wasn't a good place for it. I don't sell them anymore, but could and would and I don't gain a thing by saying anything about them, but I think they are a great product and they are even better now with Farr designing them. Click to expand

First of all - dont believe any hype about any of these production boats sailing better/worse than the others. They are all basicly the same unless you are going to get a 7+ foot keel and great sails. Focus on the iron sail and its ability to push the boat. on your test sail if the volvo pushes it at hull speed (whatever that is on the 38) at 1800 rpms then it has enough power. if it doesnt, its underpowered. It doesnt matter what the HP is.....it either pushes the boat well or it does not. only way to know that is to test it. I would make availability of replacement internal fit and finish parts from Mfg very important...since whatever the mfg, these parts of the boat will start to need to be replaced. I dont know if any mfg has stuff for 1999-2000 boats - just call them and ask - dont trust the seller. I can tell you that Bavaria does not and to get them to support/fabricate anything custom from germany will not happen (i ahve tried). I KNOW Hunter will, by contrast, at least help replace doors for example. I dont favor any production boat over the other. My two experiences are with my first boat (hunter 30 - 1992 - then about 10 yrs old) and my second (bavaria 44 - 2003 then about 4 yrs old). here were my experiences: Yanmar in Hunter: not a single repair bill beyond regular maintenance Volvo in Bavaria: Heat exchanger issue, replaced seals on sail drive twice, boot/shoe replacement for sail drive coming up. There is no doubt that Bavaria's mfg process is vastly superior to all other players in the space. There margins (i know this) are nearly double (and tripple) the competitors. however, the components in the boat are of no greater quality than other production mfg. all of that efficiency results in simply higher profit not a significant quality improvement for the customer save issues with deck/hull joints, quality of hull glassing etc. Those issues will have been resolved or be obvious in a 13 year boat. Point is that the quality of the boat theOP is looking at will depend on many things beyond quality of manufacture - which is a boat by boat issue. The rest of the Quality discussion is just branding/marketing spin. whether the boat was manufactured in germany with "german engineering" is irrelevant....what matters is each boats current condition. Tune out completely to whatever you have read in magazines (yes the reviews are biased since the mfg pays the ad bill for the publication - trust me i know), brochures and at boat shows. Trust what you hear from owners like us and mechanics. Call each manufacturer/dealer and sees who has the best customer service Hunters are just as offshore seaworthy to sail offshore as Bavarias beneteaus etc. Offshore ratings, kevlar, etc is marketing spin as well. If you are seriously considering a real blue water run accross the pond with threekids, you should probably be considering a different boat than these. Dont get me wrong - i like my boat - but these are the issues I believe a buyer should be aware of. Remember buying a big boat is the ultimate compromise - i want this - but that is too much, this has this - this one has that ,etc. My advice - buy the biggest newest boat you can afford. The cost of trading up in size is considerable (brokerage fees and taxes on a sale will probably be more than the cost difference of buying an additional 4 feet), so make sure you are not putting yourself in that position (to want a bigger boat in five years). The industry loves buyers that keep inching their way up 4 feet at a time - the brokers and mfgs. just collect the cash all along the way. DO this - look at the price difference between a 38 and 42. then add your costs of buying and then selling the 38 (including taxes and broker fees)....see how close you are to just buying the 42 in total cost. The smartest thing i did was skip the 38 range and go straight to 44 (really 46 - the Bavaria 44 actually measures 46 - thats German engineering for you).  

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What is your opinion of Bavaria's?

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I have looked through Yeachtworld and a few other websites and found that used Bavaria's are really reasonably priced, more so than other big production boats like Hunter, Bene, and Catalinas. Why is that? How do the Bavaria's compare in terms of quality and handling to the other big production boats?  

They sell lots of boats. There are a few that have issues, most famously those that had the keels come loose and in at least one case fall off. But a closer examination would show that their safety records are OK. Big numbers in the Med charter fleets and they do OK. Basically you get a lot of boat for the money.  

TQA said: They sell lots of boats. There are a few that have issues, most famously those that had the keels come loose and in at least one case fall off. But a closer examination would show that their safety records are OK. Big numbers in the Med charter fleets and they do OK. Basically you get a lot of boat for the money. Click to expand...

I have seen some very nice looking Bavaria 49s (5-cabin) in Croatia for $98,000 or so on yachtworld. Seems like quite the deal. Better yet if you can find one with a yanmar.  

Speaking (typing?) very subjectively what puts me off Bavarias (80s/90s) is the 'chocolate brown' gelcoat they used on their liners below. A minor matter, I know.... The keel issue was rare and limited to a few (or less) examples of a race model. Never an issue on the cruising line AFAIK. I think they are probably pretty nice boats to live with. Around here they are not particularly 'bargain priced'..  

I've always liked the look of the Bavarias but find the interiors disappointing. Don't misunderstand me, I'm not expecting Hallberg Rassey quality but but but. My particular disappointment was that in order to seemingly maximise interior space they push the v-berth right up into the bow. I do stress that the only Bavarias I have been on board were at boat shows and latest would be three or four years ago, so its quite possible that they have interior layouts that overcome these criticisms though I also seems to find these shortcomings in adverts for 2nd hand boats. This when we were looking over the past few years.  

Paulo, I look at that and realise my criticism was either unjustified or more likely out of date. That is a lot of boat (interior) for 38'. Not much of a lazarette but hey, something has to give.  

I had the chance to visit Bavaria boat yard in 2006 and had the whole factory tour. It was a week after that unfortunate Match 42 accident. They did not let us take any pictures. Summary of my observations, - At the first glance it's big but not so organized factory. At that time they were having some issues on maintaining standard on finishing. I saw same line of boats with different quality of workmanship. Later same year, a friend got his boat delivered with two different wood finish in the interiors. - They have an accelerated Hull/deck manufacturing process. At that time, they were laying fiberglass layers wet on wet and Drying the hull/deck in a gigantic oven. Some seasoned sailor friends thinks it's not the best way to make fiberglass hull/deck. May cause osmosis problems in the future. (I don't actually know how other mass boat producers are manufacturing the hull. This is just and observation and comment) - The Hull/keel joint did not seem strong enough. There were no structural reinforcement in joint area. (I have to admit, we were still under the influence of Match 42 accident) - Like other mass boat producers, they use market proven brand name components for electronics, plumbing, engine, running rigging, sails etc) I've only sailed a 42 cruiser for a day trip in light air. So I have very very limited personal experience on performance. But everything on the boat worked properly on that short daysail. Here's my 2c Tafa  

Tafa said: - They have an accelerated Hull/deck manufacturing process. At that time, they were laying fiberglass layers wet on wet and Drying the hull/deck in a gigantic oven. Some seasoned sailor friends thinks it's not the best way to make fiberglass hull/deck. May cause osmosis problems in the future. (I don't actually know how other mass boat producers are manufacturing the hull. This is just and observation and comment)Tafa Click to expand...

Tafa, Putting the hull/deck in an oven is many times a pretty common thing to do these days. I personally would not worry about that part of a boat I was going to buy. Many also heat and put some of the parts in a vacuum bag to help the resin get thru the cloth/glass part too. This helps keeps the hull/deck light, along with being strong. But as we all know, the human factor can be an issue with all manufacturing processes, so while something maybe a great way to build, if the humans do not do it correctly.....might as well be the worst way! then again, the worst way done with great care, may be better than the Best way with no care! marty  

Paolo, That's a LOT of boat. What model is that? I know what you mean about some boats feeling impersonal. It's something that can be hard to judge from pictures. But it's something you definitely FEEL when you step below. Jim  

Jim, that is the new Bavaria Vision 46. I will bet that it will be nominated to next year European Boat of the year contest and it is a very innovative boat and one that seems to be made with living aboard on mind without compromising too much sailing potential. As you say the interior looks good, at least on the photos, and it seems a big improvement over what Bavaria used to offer. When they have photos of the boat in the water I will post about it on the interesting sailboats thread. I will be following this one and I will be interested in knowing if its sailing performance is as good as the last Vision series. You know, the Vision series surprisingly sailed better than the Cruising series even it its looks suggested otherwise. Regards Paulo  

Honestly, I'm a bit miffed. At 3:12 in the video I find that I must choose between an on-demand coffee maker OR beer on tap. I fail to see the humor.  

We boarded the 2012 36ft'er at the Toronto Boat Show, and I swooned over the (BMW) interior...Maybe it was just the show boat, but the fit and finish were beautiful, and I liked it over the Bennie and the Dufour that were nearby. Schwing!!!!  

SloopJonB said: That is an incredible boat, no doubt about it. Comparing it to my 1970 43' is laughable - you'd need an old Columbia 57 to even come close to that level of spaciousness. The bosun's locker is wonderful - almost as big as ONE of my cockpit lockers. I have a couple of questions - how much $$$? .. Click to expand...

Fuzzy, If you have a truck stop around there, run into the store part some time, all kinds of 12V stuff you can buy that might work for a boat. As a lot of the truckers with sleepers need to work off of 12V just as boaters, RV'rs etc. Even an RV place may have a 12V coffee/espresso machine. Marty  

Paulo and Marty, There are 12v espresso machines but they are not perfect if you like an Italian style espresso, simply do not produce enough pressure. The only ones that work really well are the pump types and they are pretty power hungry. I was thinking/hoping that maybe someone had finally come up with a goodun. Cheers Andrew  

Hey guys, take a look here: http://www.sailnet.com/forums/boat-...rums/boat-review-purchase-forum/62341-interesting-sailboats-239.html#post849780  

What is going on in the US with the dealer network?  

PCP said: Well, there is something strange here: Not any of those boats was sailed by an English man or an American and only one was sailed by an English speaking guy, an Australian. It seems that Americans and English men don't trust Bavarias Click to expand...

Aahh yes, Rockter's old shoe drawing. Those were the days!  

JonEisberg said: .... As always, it all depends on your intended use of the boat... They're obviously a lot of boat/volume for the money, probably a great value for coastal/weekend/vacation sailing... But for heading off for Bermuda, particularly aboard one that might be well towards the end of its useful Shelf Life? Well, perhaps not so much... Click to expand...

John, Not sure if that pics issue would or would not be an issue. A what I would call a bigger issue, was on a Catalina 34 down the dock from me. Deck mounted traveler, with built in fiberglass risers from the factory, a deck orginize to a clutch where the halyard had to go around touching/dragging etc on the fiberglass riser, causing the raising of that halyard to probably have twice the force one needed to normally raise a sail. There was no way one could raise said sail with any amount of hand doing, a winch was always needed! Then to make things worst, the winch was so far outward, you could not turn the winch 360* with out hitting the dodger! I can fix the above pic problem easy enough. the line going thru a part of the boat.......a little harder! Marty  

I was on a coupe of Bavaria's at the Vancouver Boat show and in the 32-38 foot range I really liked the looks and use of space. They seem to have good equipment but do some things I consider dangerous. The CNG or propane stove for example has the gas shut off right above the stove in a cabinet. They would also have a gas header inside the boat rather than in a drained locker.  

manhattan08 said: What is your opinion of Bavaria's? Click to expand...

if you're in the market for a boat, ask catalna owners for reasons not to buy a catalina. you'll start looking at catalinas all over again.  

Back to Bavaria... I've own a B38 since 2010. It's the 2004 production, commissioned in 2005. The 2004 model is actually a true 40ft (12.3 meters). The 2003 & 2006 are 38ft. I own the 2-cabin owner version, with deep keel, tall rig and larger engine option (Volvo 55 hp). This boat has impressed me. Quality of wood work, of rigging (Selden), winches (Harken), etc. everything is well build. You can watch Bavaria's production videos on YouTube to convince you. Hull is reinforced with Kevlar. It's has proven to be very seaworthy even in big seas. It's keel and rig allow this boat to sail fair at up to 30 deg to the wind, though 35-40 deg is much better. It has weaknesses. For one its heavy - though for blue water cruising this can be an advantage - and thus not very fast. I mostly sail in 20-25 kts winds at a speed of 8-9 kts. The rudder itself and bearings are weak for serious offshore. I had it rebuilt and reinforced. The keel issue is not a Bavaria issue but a real concern for all modern "budget" minded sailboats. Again, on my boat I had the keel attachment redone and beefed up. Every boat has issues, know your boat and tweak it for your type of sailing. Overall I am very please with this boat. My 1st mate and I are considering a world tour in a few years and question if we invest on this hull or get a bigger boat. A 50+ foot would be nice, but the big advantage of our B38 is that it is cheap to run.  

Otia said: ........ My 1st mate and I are considering a world tour in a few years and question if we invest on this hull or get a bigger boat. A 50+ foot would be nice, but the big advantage of our B38 is that it is cheap to run. Click to expand...

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Beneteau Vs Bavaria: Which is Better?

The Bavaria Yachts has become a reality that came to claim a strong ground in boat making after its inception in 1978. Winfried Herman, a window maker, and Josef Meltl, who had some experience with boats after making a successful career in working as a broker for boat charters, started a company that is now one of the biggest boatyards in our era after just about 50 years of on the market. Bavaria Yachts started in Germany in a place called Gibelstadt, and today it has over 600 employees.

With over 7,500 employees in France, the USA, Poland, Italy, and Poland, it can truly be said that the Beneteau Group has really come a long way from 1884, when it was first started by Benjamin Beneteau in the Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie part of France. After 137 years, Beneteau has become an absolute staple in the sailboat space. Their innovations and experience are over the standards of a good boatyard. They truly are the Avant-Garde of boating.

Beneteau Vs Bavaria – Comfort

All Beneteau boats generally come equipped with the extra comfort and luxury for cruising or even daysailing but to really explore their hallmark of comfort, we shall take a look at the perks that define the Oceanis 41.1. The Oceanis 41.1 offer the most when it comes to comfort in mid-sized boats, with a cockpit larger than any boat in the range of 40’9″. The transom can also be lowered to be used as an elite swim platform.

In the interior, she offers two or three cabins with one or two heads with six large portholes where natural light can’t stop flooding in from. At the salon, it has a U-shaped bench that efficiently utilizes space. There is also the option to customize finishes with this boat, a perk that gives it a limitless threshold for luxury. The master cabin holds the most sway in this topic, with its double door, a forward-facing bed, extra headroom, and a private head.

A contender and constant champion that has afforded the Bavaria Yachtbau bragging rights in luxurious boats is the Cruiser 37. The length is 35’76”, and cabin-wise it comes in two variants; the 2-cabin or 3-cabin. This offers to sailors a sportiness that is only second to the luxury and pleasure boating it provides. The saloon, which can contain up to six big persons, is customizable and solid wood is used to make every corner, edge, and door frame. Panoramic windows are employed to shine light into the interior of this beautiful floating vessel. The forward cabin sports a bed the size of a king’s and its own personal bathroom. Headroom in the aft cabin is also worthy of note. Exteriorly it is equipped with the necessary handrails to make easy safety movement around the boat while sailing, and its transom can be used as a boarding step from a port.

Seaworthiness

Yachts and boats today are said to be seaworthy enough if they can be handled easily and can provide speed, sailability, and comfortable living. 

Bavaria customers all around the world in marinas we have visited have testified to the seaworthiness of the boats and their ability to handle fairly well in rough gales, although some boats do not have an inner forestay which is needed if some serious sailing has got to be done.

The Beneteau Swift Trawlers is renowned for its seaworthiness, safe sailing, and comfort. It is a very reasonable choice for going on long ocean adventures. The Beneteau Barracuda 8 is a sport Fisher with many perks, especially with the innovation of the Airstep hull.

Sailing Performance

For the BAVARIA Yachtbau boats, this can safely be said of them- they combine authenticity with their sailing characteristics and smooth maneuvering while maximizing their use below the deck space. Innovations in the way of very distinctive design features like the BAVARIA V-bow and the Chines at the stern all contribute to guarantee safe and fast sailing and also afford an incredible amount of space below the decks of the boats. 

The following features add up to boost the Beneteau boats’ performance abilities- an extra-long mast delivering additional sail area in high-tech materials, Harken deck fittings, and a deep lead-bulb keel which serves to reduce drag in this performance cruiser. These features may well be prominent among the Oceanis First Lines, but they can also be seen in almost all the models. The sail materials employed by the Beneteau boatyards also improve the performance of these boats as they tend to take any wind, any kind of wind without giving way to spoilage. 

Since performance isn’t all about how fast a boat sails, how smooth it maneuvers, or how well it goes with the wind. It is also about how good the luxuries and comfort aboard serve the people it is carrying, how well the gadgets, appliances, and the chart table equipment are performing, and generally how well the boat points. Indeed a lot of consideration ought to be factored in before the overall performance of a boat is determined, but this is very clear, the Bavaria and Beneteau in no way lack in this aspect.

>>Also Read: Beneteau vs. Catalina , Beneteau Vs Jeanneau , Beneteau vs Hanse

Overall Design and Build Quality

The Bavaria Cruiser 45 is used as a case study for this topic, mainly due to its exceptional real-life reviews. This Bavaria has a hull that was laid up by hand and composed of materials like chopped strand mat and stitched biaxial mat set in isophthalic polyester resin and then interiorly strengthened using a grid frame. Dacron Polyester Fabric is their favorite sail material for their sailboats. Because of its resistance to UV light, its near-indestructible texture, and being affordable. As an equal alternative, polyester Laminate DCX is employed because of its low-stretch, durability, and high resistance to tearing. 

Below the Deck

The rooms are inlaid with wood from these options: mahogany, walnut, and white oak, while for the furniture covers the use of lush leather is preferred for its toughness, durability, and luxurious outlook.

Beneteau’s boat-building quality has been and is a role model for other boatyards. Resin is a constant in the materials used for every Bavaria hull, but then balsa core is used for its strength, thickness, and relatively lightweight. Their center of gravity invalidates the use of lead for the keels. All the trimming and hole cuts on decks and hulls are done by computerized robots, and thus the high level of precision is evident. 

By using Alpi Wood, Beneteau creates different kinds of interior design finishing, which can also be renewed and used for other reasons. The wood panels that are produced using the Alpi Wood are notable for their high resistance to warping. 

Beneteau Vs Bavaria – Conclusion

Bavaria and Beneteau boats stand out due to the exceptional performance delivered while under greatly unpleasant weather conditions to cruise-seekers and owners while at sea. These companies make seaworthy boats of different kinds by combining materials that assure durability while retaining comfort and elite taste.  There is no doubt that the Beneteau is way ahead in terms of experience, labor force, and innovation. Still, Bavaria is not far behind them in these aspects.  The Bavaria Yachts boatyard can also be seen as a hallmark of exceptional nautical engineering thanks to their German tech genius. However, it is worth noting that both Bavaria and Beneteau are mass-produced sailboats, and any problems that may come up are fixed early on in a model’s life.

To sum up, Bavaria and Beneteau produce very comparable sailboats, and it all comes down to personal preference ; you can’t go wrong with either one. Prices are also very comparable, and when looking at two similar boats to buy, make sure sure you compare each boat with the same extras before deciding.

Peter is the editor of Better Sailing. He has sailed for countless hours and has maintained his own boats and sailboats for years. After years of trial and error, he decided to start this website to share the knowledge.

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Bavaria C46 review: Space and performance

• Theo Stocker
• January 30, 2024

Massive bow sections create a huge amounts of space on board, and in theory, a powerful hull to give lively sailing. Theo Stocker sails the Bavaria C46 to see if the reality matches up

Product Overview

Manufacturer:, price as reviewed:.

There’s no denying that the Bavaria C46 is a beast of a boat. Bluff bowed, big and powerful, she has more volume than almost any boat her size. In some ways, it’s no surprise as this is the direction boat design has been going for years, underlined by Bavaria’s motto of ‘Further and more’.

In the Bavaria C46, then, we’ve certainly got the ‘more’, but the question I was keen to answer when I headed down to Hamble one beautifully blustery autumn day was whether this boat also has the ‘further’. Has she sacrificed sailing ability for her size, or have Bavaria pulled off the trick of also making her a better sailing boat?

Alongside the continuing move to ever greater volume, there has been a more recent and more subtle shift in naval architecture – one that explains why bows are also getting fatter. It’s not just a grab for accommodation space, though they help of course, but a bluff bow also helps make a beamy boat more balanced to sail.

Much like the development of scow bows trickling down from development race classes such as Mini Transats and IMOCAs, ultra wide and flat-sectioned hulls offered steroid-boosted amounts of righting moment and power, allowing them to ditch a whole load of ballast. But if you don’t want your flying saucer to nose-dive, you need to inject some volume hormones up forward as well.

Twin composite wheels drive a single rudder. Photo: Paul Wyeth

As the hull heels, the canoe body remains more closely symmetrical, so requiring less rudder-power to keep the boat on the straight and narrow, where earlier designs became unbalanced wedges with a tendency to aerate their rudders and spin up into the wind. Funnily enough, the lines of Thames barges, Dutch skûtjes and Yankee catboats have long proven that powerful hulls don’t need to be narrow and pointy even for heavy displacements.

Best of both worlds

It is a convenient truth that the wide transoms and broad bow sections also lend themselves quite nicely to the high volumes demanded of cruising boats these days. D

Designers have found that you can, in many ways, have the best of both sailing performance and cruising comfort. The critical factor in a race boat is keeping the displacement light enough to let the boat get up on the plane. That’s not going to happen with an out-and-out cruiser, so I was keen to see if the hull concept still works on cruising boats.

The Bavaria C46 joins the Bavaria C38 and the Bavaria C42 as the second generation of C-line from Bavaria from Cossutti Yacht Design, distinguishable from the first generation (C45, C50, C57 and C65) by their bluff stems, beamier bows and hard hull chines up forward. The slick styling and angular coachroof and windows otherwise remain much the same.

There’s space for a table either side of the vast cockpit without taking away from the side decks. Photo: Paul Wyeth

Below decks, accommodation benefits from the extra space of the new hull shape. Remarkably, given many other builder’s rush to twin rudders, Bavaria have stuck with a single rudder, both for simplicity of construction (and with it, cost), as well as a more direct helming experience. One less visible element that has changed, however, is the ballast.

Our test Bavaria C46 had a ballast-displacement ratio of just 20%, compared to the C45’s 26%, losing half a tonne from the keel while adding almost a tonne to her displacement, all against an approximately similar sail area. Either Cossutti have got their sums very wrong, or this new hull shape really does makes a difference to the form stability of the boat.

I was pleased to find we would have a decent, if blustery breeze from the WNW blowing Force 4 to 5 for most of the day, as cumulus clouds scudded overhead, casting cool autumnal shadows amidst the stubbornly warm sunshine. It was hard to decide whether to wear a t-shirt and shorts, or full foulies.

Article continues below…

Beneteau Oceanis 40.1 – the spacious family cruiser

The 40ft yacht market is fierce, so has the Beneteau Oceanis 40.1 got what it takes to make an impact…

The most boat for your money? Bavaria C38 yacht test

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Clear of the shelter of Southampton Water and out in the Solent, we were hardening up onto the wind, beating in 15-21 knots of true wind (Force 4 to 5), with 18 to 25 knots across the deck. Under full canvas, we were soon sitting in the mid sixes, with 6.2-6.7 through the water at 30-35º to the apparent.

Steering from the twin composite wheels felt controlled and assured, even when deliberately overpressing the boat in the gusts. It was only under real duress that the boat began to round up to the wind, and slowly at that, giving plenty of warning that the mainsheet needed easing, which quickly returned the boat to a steady course.

In normal sailing, there was little weather helm, and the steering was precise and direct. My only gripe was that the rudder felt a little heavy, though whether this was due to the balance of the rudder, some other issue, or simply a fact of the boat’s 13 tonnes displacement, I wasn’t sure. She was otherwise without foible, responding obediently to the helm.

Tick the option and you’ll get a grill and a fridge under the aft helm seats. Photo: Paul Wyeth

With a bifurcated backstay and mechanical tensioner, it was pleasing to note that adjusting the backstay did make a difference to the feel on the helm, helping balance it and increasing forestay tension in the breeze – it’s a nice bit of control that you don’t get on backstayless rigs.

In the conditions we had, it felt like we had a good amount of power from the self-tacking jib and vertically battened Elvstrom furling main (slab reefing is standard). We even needed to tuck a furl into both sails as the wind crept up to a steady Force 5 true. Having tested the performance version of the C38 a couple of years ago, with its roached, fully battened slab-reef main, this furling main C46 actually felt like a better-balanced sail plan.

The larger performance main was just a bit too much for the deck gear on the C38, at least in windy conditions, and I found myself enjoying the ease of sailing on the C46 more. The 4:1 mainsheet purchase uses blocks either side of the companionway, and there’s no traveller, which makes it harder to centre the boom sailing upwind, costing a few degrees of pointing.

A proper bridle here might be a better system, but at 35º to the apparent, few cruising sailors are going to lose any sleep over it.

A 106% genoa is an alternative to the self-tacking jib. Photo: Paul Wyeth

The deck layout benefits from the boat’s significant beam, with loads of space to move about and relax as well as sail. As with most twin-wheel boats, the helms are right aft and outboard, but still feel secure thanks to broad side decks taken all the way aft and generous transom seats, which house either more stowage, or a fridge and grill for use in harbour.

With no dinghy garage, I’d imagine the optional retractable dinghy davits will be popular, though fold down the bathing platform and you’ll find a cubby hole big enough for a folded up dinghy or paddleboard, and a built-in air compressor to blow it up. There’s further stowage in a plywood-lined lazarette between the helm seats, plus sole-depth lockers beneath the cockpit seats.

Simple sail handling

All lines, including sheets and halyards, are led aft to two powered winches outboard of the wheel, with push-button control next to the rope bins just aft of them (also home to a gas bottle locker either side). This makes singlehanding the boat extremely easy.

Lift-up foot chocks help the helm feel secure. Photo: Paul Wyeth

The only niggle is that it all gets rather busy for the helm if you’re steering, adjusting the main and the headsail at the same time, so it was easier for the helm to move to the other wheel while a crew member came behind the wheel to handle the lines. The only exception to this is the extra set of primary winches on the cockpit coamings if you opt for the 106% overlapping genoa.

All this leaves those in the cockpit to relax without having to lift so much as a finger, other than to sip their drinks. In fact, we didn’t pick up a winch handle for the whole test sail, and tacking with the self-tacking jib was effortless.

With L-shaped seats, there’s plenty of space to sit back, while split cockpit tables provide bracing for each side.

Aft of the rope bins is stowage for gas bottles on both sides. Photo: Paul Wyeth

The pedestals have been redesigned, giving space for 12in B&G plotters, as well as an electronic throttle, thruster controls and all the other modern gizmos like stereos and phone chargers. Best, though, was the side panel which housed an extra repeater and autopilot controls so you can still see the numbers when helming sitting down without needing to stand up. It’s clear Bavaria has worked hard to make the Bavaria C46 a more user-friendly boat.

Step over the low coamings and you’re onto the side decks inside deep moulded bulwarks. It wasn’t a rough edge exactly, as it was very neatly done, but I did wonder about the wide bonding join between deck and hull moulding atop the bulwarks – it would have been nice if this had been a little better hidden.

Otherwise, Selden deck gear was all of a decent size and spec, with coachroof-mounted genoa car tracks, grab rails from forward of the sprayhood to the shrouds, loads of opening hatches and a large single forepeak for fenders and offwind sails, through which you get access to the chain locker. The windlass is mounted on deck, with a control unit stowed inside the forepeak, and the anchor stows under the chunky moulded bowsprit with tack points for Code Zero and gennaker.

This level of space and comfort in a boat that is enjoyable to sail is a real achievement. Photo: Paul Wyeth

Construction is the tried-and-tested Bavaria method, with all laminates laid up by hand, a moulded keel grid bonded into the hull, and deck and hull bonded together. We didn’t have big seas, but things seemed quiet down below even when sailing hard, and it was also noticeable that the boat didn’t slam as it took on the wind-against-tide Solent chop.

Heading below, there is a ridiculous amount of space, allowing Bavaria to offer a large number of standard layout options of three, four or five cabins, sleeping up to 12 on board if you include the saloon.

Our test boat was the four-cabin version, each with its own ensuite heads, which will be popular with charter companies. The starboard aft heads can also be a Pullman bunk cabin for an extra two beds, or the port heads can become a utility space.

The large saloon is dominated by the C-shaped seating to starboard, a generous galley and the raised chart table. Photo: Paul Wyeth

In our layout, the forward cabin is split into two. They’re not huge cabins, but perfectly comfortable, especially as they are ensuite. Most owners will, however, probably go for the single cabin forwards, which gives a palatial amount of space with a massive island berth, and comes all the way aft to the mast support,with the option of split shower and toilet compartments.

Whatever you opt for, all berths are over 2m long and the narrowest is 147cm wide at the head end, even if they narrow towards the feet. Furthermore, there’s never less than 193cm of headroom throughout thanks to the high topsides. In the saloon, the C-shaped seating takes pride of place to starboard with a large single-piece dining table, around which you’ll easily fit eight or more for dinner. One neat touch was the sliding box seat which can be tucked under the table or pulled out, and can be secured for sea with a screw-knob at each end.

The galley is bestowed with a large drawer fridge as well as top-opening fridge/freezer. Overhead lockers provide lots of stowage and there’s an air filter above the hob. Photo: Paul Wyeth

Light and airy spaces

To port, Bavaria have gone back to a proper chart table (huzzah!), raised above the level of the galley for imperious views and loads of space, while the galley is a large L-shaped arrangement forwards. You’ll want a bum-strap if cooking underway as there’s nothing to brace against on port tack, but in harbour you’ve got all the creature comforts of massive fridges, lots of stowage, including a fiddled shelf outboard of the work surface, and even a cooking fumes filter (not a full extractor), which folds out above the hob.

With multiple opening hatches, big coachroof windows and four hull windows along each side of the boat, there’s no shortage of light or air below. Bavaria have worked hard to raise the level of finish on this boat, and while many of the features are on the options list, leather covers for stainless steel handrails, fabric bulkhead detailing, and proper hull and deckhead linings all make this boat feel more luxurious.

In the single forward cabin version, a huge island double takes pride of place and the door bulkhead goes aft to the mast support. Photo: Paul Wyeth

There are grab holds where you need them on the whole, including at the companionaway, on the inboard end of the galley, and a central grab rail along the deckhead to help traverse open spaces when underway. Solid wood edges and corners have been used on all the joinery, which will help protect veneers from knocks and bumps in years to come.

There’s oodles of stowage below the seating in the saloon, in the bench seat and in overhead lockers on either side. Tankage is reasonable too, with up to nearly 800 litres of water (554 litres is standard) and 245 litres of fuel – more than enough to keep the Yanmar 50hp (or optional 80hp) ticking along nicely for a while. Of course, if you run the generator or air-conditioning, which this boat is fitted with, you’ll get through it slightly quicker, but there’s plenty of water for showers for everyone.

Access to the engine is pretty good, though with the genset on this boat mounted on a steel frame above the engine, things in the engine compartment are fairly cosy.

Bavaria have done a good job with this boat. The concept of high-volume, extra comfortable cruising platform works well, and the C46 has the muscle to back up the volume. The finishing touches on our test boat made this feel like a place you’d enjoy spending time. When I was poking around on board I was impressed with the quality and level of finish to which this boat was put together. You’d hope so, given that you can easily spend well over half a million pounds by the time you’ve finished with the options list, though for a standard UK spec you’ll be about on par with a Dehler 46SQ and Hanse 460 for price.

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Sailboat Review: Bavaria C38

• By Mark Pillsbury
• April 20, 2022

For the past several years, practically all of the design surprises that have caught my eye on new sailboats have been abaft the mast. In no particular order, these innovative features include hull chines, twin rudders, pop-up TVs, house-style refrigerators, galleys forward in the saloon, sinks and grills on the stern, sun beds between a ­monohull’s twin wheels, and lounges on the coachroof to either side of the companionway. Some of these make the boat sail ­better, while others make it a more comfortable place to enjoy life on the water.

But this past fall, it was the pointy end—or, should I say, the not-so-pointy end—of the Bavaria C38 that stood out. It made an impression from above, as I looked across the broad foredeck, and down ­below, where the builder’s in-house team and Cossutti Yacht Design somehow found a way to install a king-size berth in the owner’s stateroom, while still leaving room for a hanging locker and a head-and-shower compartment, all forward of the mast.

For a decade or more, even as beam measurement amidships has steadily increased and been carried aft to allow for ever more spacious twin staterooms, most boats still have been built with a bow that’s shaped like an arrow point. The Bavaria V-bow, as the company calls it, has a more radial shape and ­hullsides that flare out above the waterline, creating all that living space in the interior. 

In a briefing with CW ’s Boat of the Year judges, a ­company representative described the 38 as a family coastal ­cruiser. I thought that design brief seemed pretty accurate as we went through the boat, and later took it out for a sail. If kids and their friends are the crew, you could pack a pile of them into the two aft cabins, and the dining table in the saloon drops down to form a third double berth. And they could all share the head and shower compartment to starboard, at the foot of the companionway. Meantime, mom and pop can escape to the big forward stateroom. 

The forward stateroom’s en suite head compartment does cut into a corner of the berth, but couples who plan to only occasionally have grandkids or friends aboard can ­forgo the forward head. They also could turn one of the aft cabins into a workspace or stowage, which is standard.

In all three configurations, the saloon stays unchanged. A settee, with a nav desk forward of it, is to port, opposite the dining table and a U-shaped, cushioned seat. The tabletop folds open to handle a crew of six or more. Abaft the ­settee is an L-shaped galley with a sink, fridge and three-burner gas stove. The boat we visited ­also had a microwave. Stowage seemed adequate for coastal-­hopping, and the counters had fiddles to keep things from sliding off when heeled.

Topsides, the cockpit ­coamings make good backrests on the benches forward of the twin wheels. The seats are a bit too short for sleeping, the judges noted, but stepping out over the coamings isn’t ­difficult when headed forward.

Having owned (and ­sanded and varnished) a boat with exterior wood handrails and trim, I appreciated the C38’s low-maintenance exterior finish. The raised bulwarks and deck are fiberglass, and handrails on the cabin top are stainless steel. The only exterior wood is on the centerline table in the cockpit. That table’s after end doubles as a nifty place to mount a plotter because it’s visible from either helm. Far forward, there’s a chain locker with good access to the windlass and anchor rode. The anchor itself is stowed on a roller that extends forward, and the bow is further ­protected from accidental dings by a stainless-steel plate. Aft, there is equally good access to the emergency steering and ­quadrant for the single rudder.

A base-model C38 has a price tag of $248,000, but a model that’s well fitted out, like the one we visited, goes for $350,000, delivered to the United States, East Coast. Among the options ­included on the C38 we sailed were three air-conditioning units, a Fusion sound system, and synthetic teak called Esthec on the cockpit seats and sole, and the swim platform. Hardware and electronics were from Seldén, Lewmar and B&G. Sails were from Elvstrøm.

Bavaria builds 500-plus sailboats a year at its factory in Germany, and the C38 is the smallest in the five-boat Cossutti-designed C line; the flagship is a 57-footer. The company builds two other lines of cruising sailboats—the Cruiser and Vision ranges—for a total of 16 models starting at 32 feet.

Bavaria’s hulls and decks are all hand-laminated, with foam coring between inner and outer layers of fiberglass. Aluminum plates are in the composite sandwich wherever hardwaare is to be ­mounted. Hulls and decks are joined with adhesive and screws.

Underway, the C38 is a relatively simple boat to sail, with in-mast furling for the main and a self-tacking jib, also set on a furler. The boat doesn’t have a traveler, so when beating upwind, tacking requires just a turn of the wheel.

A double-ended mainsheet is led back to winches ­within reach of either of the twin wheels, and sail control lines are all led across the coachroof to clutches and a pair of winches on either side of the companionway. There are also genoa tracks mounted on deck and sheet winches on either coaming, should an owner opt for an overlapping genoa.

Underway, I found that visibility from either wheel was good, thanks to the low-profile cabin. The stainless-steel stern pulpit makes a good backrest when sitting down to steer.

We had moderate conditions the day we took the boat out for a sail on the Chesapeake Bay, right after the close of the United States Sailboat Show in Annapolis, Maryland, in October. Sailing hard on the wind in 15 or so knots of breeze, we saw a steady 5.5 knots on the GPS. The track for the self-­tending jib’s car lacked stops, so we weren’t able to get the headsail in as far as we might have liked to, but that’s an easy fix. With the sheets eased a bit for a close reach, our speed jumped to 7 knots and change. ­Under power, the 40 hp Yanmar pushed us along at just over 6 knots, at a fuel-sipping 2,300 rpm cruising speed.

The skipper who ­delivered the boat to the show was along for the ride. He said that they’d encountered a variety of conditions on the ride up from St. Augustine, Florida, and the boat took them all in stride—just as a family cruiser should.

Bavaria C38 Specifications

• More: bavaria , print 2022 april , sailboat review , Sailboat Reviews , Sailboats
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