Dougieji.
I tend to agree with Craig. Some good points well made.
I was in a sailing club on Friday night and there were three Westerly owners waxing lyrical about how well they were built and how thick the hulls were. "not like them Bavaria's", one of them said. He did not know I was a Bavaria owner or that I have owned Westerly's. I found it quite amusing. I was going to ask if he had ever sailed or owned a Bavaria or if knew his beloved boat was made from chop strand glass fibers entirely? Or if his headlining had fallen down this season yet? Or how he was getting on drying out the mushy balsa core decks..... So all boats have issues.
Production line manufacture gives a greater consistency of quality and control over the process. A Shipwrights apprentice is not going to be left on his own to drill holes in the wrong place then try to "hide it" at the Bavaria factory. The higher volume tends to improve quality not diminish it. After all, Bavaria would not want to recall 100 boats because they all came out the factory with the same fault? And they do actually like constructive criticism that improves the model. The 2000 to 2006 run of 32-34-36 is a good example of how feedback from owners improved some niggles (but not all of them) My own boat model the 2015 37c has had changes made on later boats that I wish I had.
There are also boats that I would not touch with a barge pole and some of these are production boats. I was talking to someone at the weekend about them. There is a production boats that at one time a certain marina chain would not lift without a surveyor present as the bulkheads are not opposite across the boat and the webbing slings if not placed precisely could cause hull cracking. Another type of boat is renown for falling over if the water ballast is not put in before sailing. There is a great boat made locally to me that has twin rudders. The early versions were un-steerable at low speed and all the models now have bow thrusters.
Bavaria's are not perfect. If you have owned one and your honest you will admit that. You only have to read through the forum a few times to see the same questions being asked many times.
However, you get a lot of boat for your money. You can customize the boat pre-sale or second hand, to suit your use of the boat or budget. They do tend to hold their value if well looked after and the little issues they have, are fixable or able to be monitored and prevented, given a reasonable amount of inspection and (preventative) maintenance. Generally spares are readily available from the original part manufacturers or ebay, and given some guidance most owners with some DIY skills could change almost every part if they needed to.
Most of the parts are supplied by an outside supply chain. IE Selden, Volvo, etc. My experience is that its these 3rd party parts that fail or need regular maintenance, not the parts made by Bavaria.
Lets look at a Halberg 37 as an example, just to illustrate my point.
A production boat (not on Bavaria's scale) Same Selden rigging as a fitted to a Bavaria 37. Same standing rigging size and diameters. Same running rigging spec with the same rope supplier as a a Bavaria 37. Same Lloyds approved supplier of glass fibre matting, woven roving's, closed cell foam, and other parts in hull construction. Same 316 stainless fittings in many places, same Lewmar winches, same engine and gearbox used on many models. Same hatch maker, same portlights. Same sail maker. I could go on...
Yes, the hull shape is a finer entry, making them more comfortable in heavy weather. But a wet boat. Ballast ratio slightly up on a Bavaria, a bit stiffer in a blow stops slamming but slows the boat down. Skeg hung rudder gives better protection if you have an argument with a submerged object. But they are unbelievably expensive for what they are, compared to a Bavaria, and both are Class A open ocean boats. Do Halberg's have problems? You are damn sure they do! The same as Bavaria's. The trick is to look after them the same as you would a Bavaria?
After sales here in the UK is not particularly good sometimes. Other times its outstanding. Halburg's is legendary. But does that justify the £200k difference in price you may ask?
Would I buy a Halburg Rassay over Bavaria 37? Not unless someone mysteriously added 200% to my pension pot and I won the Lotto!
Bavaria's are good solid boats. You need to maintain them, as you do any other boat. They need to used, not sit in a marina for months on end. The latter tends to cause more issues. If you asked the Bavaria owners on this forum, are they happy with their boat overall? I believe you would get the same consensus of opinion.
So,in summary. If someone would like to take this soap box off me, I will retire in to a red wine haze, and use the £200k I saved to buy more Gin and pay for the marina berth when the seas are uncomfortable to sail and I don't need to be wiping salt spray from my sun glasses.
I hope this puts a prospective on your boat purchase and is an open and honest opinion without prejudiced, you will appreciate. And most of all I hope it helps!
Fair winds and safe sailing.
Ant.
