Bavaria Yacht Info
Member Forums => Polls & Yacht Opinions => Topic started by: vikinglish on September 02 2011, 21:34
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Here's a forum in which an experienced, owners point of view can be gained on these 'affordable' yachts. They generate a great deal of discussion in yachting circles but those qualified to give their opinion are Bavaria owners. So, as a Bavaria owner the question is... Would you buy one again?
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Hi All, my first yacht was a 50% share in a Bavaria 42, after 2 years i sold out and bought a 30 cruiser for myself, so yes i did buy another. The main reason was value for money, and a forward facing chart table, all the other makes/types of this size had rear facing.
Would i buy a third, i don't think so, only because i would like something different, i would recommend Bavaria.
Skip
(I SPENT 3MONTHS LOOKING FOR ANOTHER YACHT AND I BOUGHT MY 33333333333RD Bavaria, a 37 great yacht, had it almost a year now no problems apart from maintenance).
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We owned a 1991 320 sportline for around 5 years a good boat , and having just sold it are looking at the Cruiser 38 owners version 2008-its got a more comfortable forward cabin. We are also considering a1997 Moody 36 cc. So yes woudl buy another and probably ahead of a Jenneau and a Benneteau
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i have owned my 36 from new 2004 model looks like new. would buy another not so sure on the new interiors but all good value for money and good resale value. And my lead keel is still intact
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I would buy a Cruiser again, but not a new model. Unfortunately new interiors are ugly and 100% laminate. At least in older models one had wood.
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I have a 2007 Bavaria30, bought new, which I sail with my wife. We have been very pleased. It has been almost faultless and looks nearly new. We plan to sell later this year and replace it with a new B32. Like most others, we consider the new interior to be awful but value for money makes it a natural replacement. This is unless another manufacturer can compete.
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I spent a year looking for replacement for my jeanneau sunrise , looked at bigger jeanneaus , benneteaus, sigmas 38/41 , Grand soleil , all for money were getting pretty old ,osmosis , dying engines etc , well used and all severely overpriced , ended up buying 2003 Bavaria 38 no brainer !!!!!! just hadn't found one I could get , at least 10 yrs younger and same price, GS was approaching 30yrs old .
Sailed boat every weekend from begin April to end October plus 6 weeks over holidays .
It has excelled in all respects , won races , fast passages , very comfortable family cruising ,great for socialising on , bad weather good weather , you name it , can even loose two bicycles and a canoe inside !! just wish we'd got it sooner
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I bought my Bavaria 36 new in 2002 and have been extremely pleased with her. She sails well and is very comfortable. I am toying with the idea of upgrading to a 40 footer and I'm afraid it won't be a Bavaria as I hate the current interiors - Ikea at its worst. In my view Bavaria have lost their way and the current range look "cheap" rather than "value" as in the past. A great shame as I've always been a great fan of the brand.
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I have had a 2006 Bavaria 30 for 3 years, excellent boat, sails beautifully, a lot of boat for its size. This year it sailed from UK to Lanzarote without any issues, where it now lives. I am looking for a Bavaria 32 to give me little more internal room as we are spending more and more time living aboard. We have spent a lot of money on equipment upgrades which makes seeking a value for money replacement difficult. What's more relevant is I don't want one of the newer versions, we find the interior very poor in comparison. It looks unwelcoming and cheap against the earlier models. An opinion shared by many Bavaria owners it seems!
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Had mine for 10 years now. It's had a hard life (8 years on charter), but I think she's not faired too badly.
I hate the new ones (the interior quality and layout, the lack of deck hardware, and the less moderate hull shape), but were I replacing now, I would seek out a 47 Ocean.
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We are considering a 2005 Bavaria 38 Cruiser. However there are not many Bavaria boats in my area - Great Lakes in USA. I've have seen a concern expressed on the internet that Bavaria boats have keel attachment problems. In fact, this boat had to have it's keel reattached. I do not know the history of this boat as it is a repossessed boat. What about construction and in particular keel attachment problems with Bavaria boats?
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We bought Freebird of Largs, 2006 Bav 30, this April. She's our first "big" boat, although at Largs Marina she's now known as "the wee Bavaria"! Previously we've owned (for many happy cruising years around Oban) a Seamaster Sailer (19ft sailing cruiser) and have sailed a lot in Westerleys of various types, as well as Mirage 28 and Cobra 27.
We have (as you do) spent rather more than we expected sorting her out this season, and there is still work to do. However, we've really enjoyed our sailing around the Firth of Clyde. She feels a safe boat, and her sailing performance is better than the other boasts we've enjoyed.
Yes, she is built to a price - but we have shortish pockets! And our "wee Bav" happily takes the two of us, two large dogs, two folding bicycles and various toys. For a 30 footer, she is commodious inside, and well set up in terms of deck and cockpit layout. So - yes, we'd buy a Bav again - but we have no plans to upgrade. We kept Kitten !! for twenty years: let's see if we can do the same with Freebird!
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My first encounter with a Bavaria was in helping a friend sail a secondhand Bav 37 he had just bought. We took the boat from Carlingford Lough to Douglas in the Isle of Man, and the boat sailed like a dream. I was so impressed with it that I decided to sell my own boat, a Leisure 27, and to look out for Bavaria as a replacement. A charter boat in the shape of a 2002 Bavaria 36 came up and I bought it, and have been immensely pleased with my choice. I allowed the boat to continue to be chartered, but a group of people holding a stag party in 2011 hired two boats from the same charter firm and through the incompetence of both skippers, they allowed both boats to collide. Mine needed to have the bow rebuilt where damage extended back almost to the chain locker bulkhead. The other boat, a Bavaria 47, was also extensively damaged and as a result of this incident I chose to remove my boat permanently from the charter scene. Despite the damage which has since been repaired the boat has seen and stood up to two further years of use with no problems at all from the repaired area. I know about the damage that happened and I am convinced that a lesser boat would probably have sunk that day. My experience has convinced me that Bavarias, no matter what their detractors may say, are built with the lasting qualities of the proverbial outhouse. I'd buy another, and I'm only too pleased to recommend them to anyone looking to buy.
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. . . with an unconditional YES. :tbu
Although my Bav 38 / 2004 was in Charter for almost 10 years, she is in surprisingly good working shape. One can see the use but all things are working without limation, including the engine with 3500 hours. There is work to be done, but after 10 years of heavy usage it is still worth doing it.
Now I am looking forward to retirement (in 3 years) and hope to make most use of the boat in the Adriatic and further south.
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Yup, just done it! Owned a Bav 30 from 2005-2014, just bought a 2006 Bav 37.
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Very nice feedback. Im considering a 2003 37' B .. gives me comfort that all have good feedbavk...
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I am on my third. All bought new. 2005 Cruiser 42, 2010 Cruiser 35, 2014 Vision 46 (current boat, liveaboard in Caribbean 6 months of the year. Like all models Bavs have their pros and cons but I think the build quality is better than the Ben/Jean and design is better than Hanse/Dufour for the money.....
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I bought my bavaria 34 cr 2001 in 2007 second owner, first owner crossed the Atlantic to Saint Lucia, I love the boat love the wood Interior . The thickness of the fibreglass at the front its a inch thick. She is roomy, dry, (So far) accommodates 4 person's no problem.
Today's boats whether its Bavaria or another they are cost cutting unless you are spending serious money.
I think I will stick with my B34.
Rgds
Mike
Artemis
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I'm with Artemis on this. I have virtually the same boat and am constantly surprised by how good she is when compared with the equivalent opposition.
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Mines a 36/2002, and I'm wholeheartedly in agreement with Artemis and Mark. At a recent Boatshow I looked (out of curiosity) at a couple of new Beneteaus (a 35 and a 42), and if what I saw was definitive, then I'd say they have lost their way. Not interested, not even in a straight swap.
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[I'm a spammer and have been banned.]
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[Removed quoted spam]
Good try at useless spam!
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Yes. Without a doubt and I am going to buy another soon. Probably a 46 or newer 47 and we are going to start our world tour!
Ant.
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Weather we would by a Bavaria again or not is not a straightforward question to answer:
- Are we currently happy with Bavaria 40 (2001) - definitely yes
- Would we buy the same boat again with current needs - definitely yes
- If we needed a bigger and newer boat, would we consider Bavaria - maybe not... and the same would apply to many other modern production boats
We just kind of like the big and hefty rounded edges in interior design and the fact that there is not so much "free floor space". Just looking at the latest bigger Bavaria (as well as Hanse) models, I don't want to imagine myself inside while close reaching in 2m waves.
Tommi - sy Anniina
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Tommi,
Having spent several days and nights swinging from the ceiling in challenging weather I agree that many of the new cruisers on the market are a large open world of pain! Oh the initial flight would be exhilarating, just the stop at the end would take the shine off it. Though it could be used to practice flying the art of throwing oneself at the ground and missing!
Cheers
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I did recently buy (June2017) my B35E - 1997 after having sold my Beneteau Oceanis 323 - 2005.
I am now retired and was looking for a slightly larger boat. I decided to buy a boat older than the previous one because i liked her classic hull shape, the moderate freebord, good sail performance, the warm interiors with plenty of stowage and her pristine conditions in general.
Build quality well above my earlier Beneteau.
Well built electrical and water systems, interiors are nearly perfect notwithstanding the age.
Definitely I would buy another Bav with similar build quality again.
Cheers
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Would I buy another Bavaria after the issues I've had with Bavaria USA being fired by Yachtbau? Unfortunately, yes, without a doubt. I would, however, hit the market looking for a reputable, honorable and trusting dealer. Perhaps in the Caribbean. NOT PYS, however.
Boat, after commissioning issues, A/C mods, being shafted by Yachtbau, has been fantastic. The Germans do build a great boat. Yes, they cut some corners but not where it counts: hull, partner selection, OEM parts selection, fit/finish, functional design.
Was is "sail away ready" as advertised, no way. But, after a season of fixes and upgrades, it is now.
Could have purchased a local boat (Tartan 43), but would have paid lots more. In fact, a fellow on our dock sold his and his "depreciation" loss was greater than the cost of my Vision. So, even if mine is 100% depreciation, I wouldn't have lost what he did. Crazy. He did have a sweet ride, but I wouldn't trade mine for his.
So, while I may bash the manufacturer due to warranty issues and firing their dealer, which basically left me on my own, I can't bash the boat.
Really wanted to see the C57 in Miami though!
Great to see the forum up and running again.
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Tommi,
Having spent several days and nights swinging from the ceiling in challenging weather I agree that many of the new cruisers on the market are a large open world of pain! Oh the initial flight would be exhilarating, just the stop at the end would take the shine off it. Though it could be used to practice flying the art of throwing oneself at the ground and missing!
Cheers
Tommi, I debated the open saloon in our Vision 46, but with our type of sailing, it's perfect. I do question whether I would need to bring those jack-lines down below on a passage, but I'll consider that when/if I decide to attempt a passage. We have hit 55 knots in heavy seas and with the boat heeled, it's so far been safe. Though the grab rails on the ceiling are somewhat high, we are both tall so no issues. At 5'6" or shorter, those hand rails on the roof would be useless and then the boat would be totally unsafe. Once in the galley (or the head), you are locked in.
We have never sailed in tight quarters but I would image it would be safer, but I would image more banging into stuff but shorter and therefore slower speeds when you hit. With longer ways to travel and acceleration, less bangs, but more pain with each. Got it. What do you sail?
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I took a look at the brochure photos of Vision 46 and have to admit that Vision range is definitely a major step up from current Cruiser range in terms of hefty rounded edges in interior woodwork.
We are sailing a 3-cabin layout Bavaria 40 (2001 vintage) Aft Cockpit - from the era when there were no separate Cruiser, Match, Holiday, Vision or C ranges - just Bavarias with either aft cockpit and some models available as center-cockpit (Ocean). We are a family sailing with two kids and every now and then also my mother-in-law. Currently we would have two members in our crew with serious trouble reaching the ceiling grab rails. While in the relatively shallow Baltic Sea the waves are often steeper than in ocean, we are currently more than happy with the "old-fashioned" cramped design. Similar boat seen in https://www.devalk.nl/images/thumbnails/website/bavaria-40-3-32323_20e.jpg (https://www.devalk.nl/images/thumbnails/website/bavaria-40-3-32323_20e.jpg). Experience (one tired falldown) from last summer in 2m+ waves told me to add a vertical grabrail opposite to chart table between heads door and pentry.
Ocean waves and taller crew - yes I see perfectly how a Vision could be nice as well.
Happy sailing,
Tommi / sy Anniina
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My wife is 5'2" and cannot reach the overhead grab rails on our V46. We solved this by making subway train type hanging straps which loop on easily. I made them from strong line and the handle kits that are intended for carrying kayaks. They hang about 12" down at regular intervals.
The other point on the V46 is that the companionway if offset from the centre line so the galley area is essentially a wrap around style with the sink along the centre line of the boat and much safer for working in than the inline galleys in many cruiser range boats like my old C42.
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I just bought my third Bavaria. First one was a B37 from 2005. Bought it new and sailed it for 10 years in North Western Europe. Lots of fun and a great boat. Never any trouble. Then changed to a 2004 Bavaria 38 in Greece. Fantastic boat as well.
Now recently bought a 2008 44 Vision and we can’t wait to sail that round Europe to Greece.
The fun in owning a Bavaria is in all the negative comments that people have for your boat. Often even from people that don’t even own a boat themselves. So it gives you great insight in the character of many people. I find that very useful.
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I BOUGHT MY 1998 BAVARIA OCEAN 38 NEW AND SAILED AS FAR AS THE FAROES AND ALMOST EVERYWHERE IN NORTHEN AND EASTER EUROPE. FANTASTIC BOAT NO MAJOR FAILURE OF ANY TYPE. IF ONLY THEY MADE NEW ONES LIKE THIS. HAD TWO DIRECT OFFERS BUT ONLY MY AGE WILL MAKE ME SELL HER AND I AIN'T THERE YET.
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...........BUT ONLY MY AGE WILL MAKE ME SELL HER AND I AIN'T THERE YET.
Yes, me too and I’ve added another five years since my reply no 12 to this thread.
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I have been on quite a lot of Boat models throughout the years and chartered many different brands before finally deciding on Bavaria two years ago. I am still super happy about this decision! Spent so much time on board during this special year, it feels like home. Hardly ever had any troubles with her :) So yes I'd definetly buy it again and recommend it to others.
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We have owned Zephyrus, a 1998 Bavaria Ocean 38, for 4 years. We have lived aboard for 2-1/2 years. The boat has many sunny ocean miles on it and the UV has caused some damage that we hope to address soon. All said, we are extremely pleased with the boat and would definitely buy one again. It sails like a dream, it solid and is built with fine woods and craftsmanship not generally found any more. Though we would like a cutter rig or removable inner forestay, we have no complaints.
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I have a 2007 Bavaria30, bought new, which I sail with my wife. We have been very pleased. It has been almost faultless and looks nearly new. We plan to sell later this year and replace it with a new B32. Like most others, we consider the new interior to be awful but value for money makes it a natural replacement. This is unless another manufacturer can compete.
I have the same boat, same year as you so am pleased to read your comment. We've had ours for three months and having spent that time crawling around it everywhere I'd say compared to the previous 5 boats we've owned, the access to every area and system in the boat is appreciated. I also think the German engineering shines through in ways; there's just enough room (by centimetres) to effectively support the two stateroom layout in a 31' LOA. I've also recognized that the fittings, systems, hardware etc., are of a decent quality throughout as Bav didn't source the cheapest junk to fit out the boat. Like other comments, I do not like the new design or interiors of the Bavs and would pick our '07 over new even at same price.
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I've now had my one for just over 18 years. How time flies.