Bavaria Yacht Info

Member Forums => Bavaria Yacht Help! => Topic started by: bert on June 01 2012, 08:24

Title: bavaria 30 cruiser
Post by: bert on June 01 2012, 08:24
Good day , thinking of buying a bav 30 cruiser 2006, have you experienced any pros and cons of the boat itself or its equipment ?
Title: Re: bavaria 30 cruiser
Post by: Trapeze Artist on June 10 2012, 23:56
I have a Bav 30 Cruiser built in 2005 and commissioned in 2006. As she is my first big boat, I don't have a lot to compare with. But I'll have a go:
Broadly speaking, I'm very happy with her. She is very well built and as tough as old boots. MAB owners who criticise modern boats don't know what they are talking about.
The Volvo D1-30 is very smooth and quiet. I've just had to overhaul the raw water pump after 250 hours (which didn't amuse me) but the poor thing does spend it's life pumping a pretty muddy concoction so I suppose there is some excuse.
The space inside is huge for the size of boat. The only aspect I would change would be to give up some chart table space in order to get a bigger heads.
My own opinion is that she sails quite stiff initially (form stability) but then becomes a bit more tender when pushing hard (25% ballast ratio). Reef early.
My genoa didn't have a sacrificial strip and it shredded all down the leach. The standard Elvstrom sails are not the boats best feature.
I would prefer not to have the fixed cockpit table, in order to make more space.
The side decks are quite narrow. Watch where you put your feet.
The canvas work supplied by the dealer from new (wheel cover, sail cover, sprayhood) is not very good. All the stitching has gone. It seems they've never heard of UV in Scotland!
Fantastic value-for-money.
Title: Re: bavaria 30 cruiser
Post by: Bronco 30 on June 12 2012, 15:30
I bought a second hand as you plan to do, but poorly maintained. I have a B30 Cruiser Built in 2005 commissioned in 2006.
Issues:
-Main Sail Bag "dissolved"
-Not so fast as I would expect. This is my first boat and I've already identified the problem. (Skipper)
-Many water leaks. (Not Structural - poorly maintained)
-Volvo Engine Rev/Hour Counter. (Check it. Its expensive).
-Main Sail control System. Not the best solution. Solved in last versions.
-As said "The side decks are quite narrow. "
-Hilarious WC
Title: Re: bavaria 30 cruiser
Post by: Trapeze Artist on June 12 2012, 22:52

-Main Sail control System. Not the best solution. Solved in last versions.


What was the solution? I'd quite like to improve the main sheet, although I do a lot better at centring the boom now than I used to.
Title: Re: bavaria 30 cruiser
Post by: Bronco 30 on June 13 2012, 11:35

-Main Sail control System. Not the best solution. Solved in last versions.


What was the solution? I'd quite like to improve the main sheet, although I do a lot better at centring the boom now than I used to.

Not really a solution but perhaps a better way to handle it.
I'm not able to describe it but take a look at this video (Bavaria 32 Cruiser Sailing). There was another one with a guy explaining the virtues of this new way but not able to find it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=GOpuWeyc46o

Title: Re: bavaria 30 cruiser
Post by: chrisdaykin on June 14 2012, 08:32
I can definitely recommend the Bavaria 30, but it all depends on what you want out of your boat ? and let?s face it everyone is biased to an extent!  I am slightly surprised with the occasional bad/mediocre press that I read about Bavaria, maybe we just got lucky.   We got our 2007 model about 18 months old but with a genuine 8 engine hours on the clock ? so good as new.  We use it as a family coastal cruiser and, to an extent, a floating holiday home as well ? ideal with 2 young children.  For our circumstances, we have no regrets at all and still get the same buzz out of as we did 3-4 years ago.  We are fairly recent converts to sailing so there will be more experienced views out there, particularly on the finer points of sailing. 
We looked at a range of 29-32 footers and, given the budget, ended up narrowing the choice to a nearly new Bavaria 30 or a 10 year old Moody S31.  Whilst the Moody won in some respects, ultimately it would have required more upkeep than a nearly new boat.  We soon ruled out a raft of French or East European boats on build quality and robustness.  Yes, some have slightly better sailing performance, but having been on a few, unless you are racing the difference was not huge. In essence, and with gross simplification, the extra tonne displacement loses a bit on performance but gains on solid construction ? which with a young family when out at sea is quite comforting!    Yes the odd QA issue emerges as with all boats (except the Hallberg-Rassys of the world no doubt), but the only snags we had was a one-off (hopefully!) engine cut-out due to the tang on the starter solenoid breaking off and the wheel steering developing a tight spot ? which cleared itself (probably some fouling or inevitable bits of swarf migrating onto the grease in the gears).  The 2 common Bavaria issues, but not major ones, are fading blue stripes and listing to starboard.  We sort the former with rubbing compound and the latter is just not an issue to us (other than the need to raise the antifouling line a little!) ? with an outboard in the cockpit locker ours is probably worse than others, but don?t see the problem.  Talking of outboards, I made up a bracket that fits over the stowed bathing platform ladder which you can fit an outboard to as an emergency backup ? never needed it but a good ?design and make? project for an afternoon! Finally, it looks as the boats hold their value pretty well, so some assurance there.
If your circumstances are anything like ours, go for it.  As always, seek a few opinions and look over and sail a few different types. 
Trust helpful
Chris
Title: Re: bavaria 30 cruiser
Post by: willfinch36 on June 14 2012, 14:08
What is the best product to bring the faded blue strips back to life again?

Is there any product that works?

Cheers

Will
Title: Re: bavaria 30 cruiser
Post by: Moodymike on June 14 2012, 18:16
I used vinyl striping  over the top cured the problem.
Title: Re: bavaria 30 cruiser
Post by: Trapeze Artist on June 14 2012, 22:15
Not really a solution but perhaps a better way to handle it.
I'm not able to describe it but take a look at this video (Bavaria 32 Cruiser Sailing). There was another one with a guy explaining the virtues of this new way but not able to find it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=GOpuWeyc46o

That's a radically different mainsheet system. Not really retrofit. I found that a bit of judicious playing around with mainsheet tension v kicker has helped a lot to get the boom more central upwind. And in very light winds we have just stuck a bit of rope on the preventer loop and pulled the boom across by hand.
Title: Re: bavaria 30 cruiser
Post by: Dek on June 30 2012, 12:04
Mine made it from Southampton to Lanzarote this year.  Only real problem was Raymarine 4000 autopilot couldn't cope adequately and ended up knocking the gear box out.  Main cause (according to Raymarine) is the steering on the Bav30 (one turn of the wheel from full starboard to port putting too much strain on it)
Looks like a Hydrovane for any more ambitious trips!
Title: Re: bavaria 30 cruiser
Post by: Trapeze Artist on July 01 2012, 22:41
Mine made it from Southampton to Lanzarote this year.  Only real problem was Raymarine 4000 autopilot couldn't cope adequately and ended up knocking the gear box out.  Main cause (according to Raymarine) is the steering on the Bav30 (one turn of the wheel from full starboard to port putting too much strain on it)
Looks like a Hydrovane for any more ambitious trips!

That sounds a lame excuse from Raymarine. They must have a range of actuators, and should be able to specify the right one for the job. We then have to assume that someone fitted the right one, of course.

I'm not a fan of wheel pilots, although that unfortunately is what I've got. I use it as little as possible when sailing because of the noise. If the engine's on, I'll let Volvo and Raymarine fight it out to see who can make most noise.  >:D
Title: Re: bavaria 30 cruiser
Post by: zeka on January 20 2014, 22:58
"Talking of outboards, I made up a bracket that fits over the stowed bathing platform ladder which you can fit an outboard to as an emergency backup ? never needed it but a good ?design and make? project for an afternoon! "

Can you send some information and picture how you made bracket.
I looking for this solution.

Regards.