bavaria yachts production

• Competitions
• British Yachting Awards
• Print Subscription
• Digital Subscription
• Single Issues
• Advertise with us

Your special offer

Subscribe to Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting today!

Save 32% on the shop price when to subscribe for a year at just £39.95

Subscribe to Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting!

Save 32% on the shop price when you subscribe for a year at just £39.95

Inside the Bavaria factory

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Production line

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

Machine-operated

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

A fortnight's build

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

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

Laying up the hulls

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

info heading

info content

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

New Boats: The Latest Yacht Designs Heading to the Market

Boat Test: New Bavaria C46

Multihull Show 2024: Win Tickets!

Offering a wealth of practical advice and a dynamic mix of in-depth boat, gear and equipment news, Sailing Today is written cover to cover by sailors, for sailors. Since its launch in 1997, the magazine has sealed its reputation for essential sailing information and advice.

• British Yachting Awards 2022
• Telegraph.co.uk

ADVERTISING

© 2024 Chelsea Magazine Company , part of the Telegraph Media Group . | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy

• CLASSIFIEDS
• NEWSLETTERS
• SUBMIT NEWS

Bavaria Yachts - perfectly positioned for the future

Related Articles

BAVARIA YACHTS on a direct course to the new financial year

published on 17 October 2019

Setting a course for the new season. Michael Müller (CEO), Dr. Ralph Kudla (CRO/CFO) and Jens Abromeit (COO) share a positive view of the future of BAVARIA YACHTS.

Business is running well at BAVARIA YACHTS, as summarised by the new management in Giebelstadt.

All the planned restructuring milestones were met within a year. And upcoming projects, such as two new models for 2020, are also already planned. Michael Müller (CEO) and Dr. Ralph Kudla (CRO/CFO) have now strengthened their team with Jens Abromeit as the new COO. 

BAVARIA YACHTS has begun the new production season with full order books.

“The autumn trade fairs in the Netherlands, England, France, Italy, Norway and Germany began extremely well for us. Thanks to our new working hours model, which allows us to produce more boats in our winter peak season and deplete accumulated overtime hours in the summertime, we were able to optimise production and shorten delivery times. Furthermore, our restructuring measures in the shipyard are also taking effect. This results in a better handle on costs and quicker delivery of new boats,” reports Michael Müller, who has been the CEO of BAVARIA YACHTS since February 2019.

The management team has been reinforced by Jens Abromeit as COO.

The experienced graduate engineer will support Michael Müller and Dr. Ralph Kudla as a director. “Jens Abromeit has a wealth of know-how in series production. We are thrilled to have him on board,” explains Michael Müller.

The existing product range has been reworked for the new financial year. The CRUISER line sailing yachts start the new season with a new design, while the S-line motorboats attract customers with an attractive STYLE package and a saving of 20 per cent on options included in the package. Likewise, the new sailing yachts BAVARIA C45, C50 and C57 conquered important market segments in 2019. A new C-line sailing yacht and a new motorboat are already at the prototype construction stage.

The existing product range has been reworked for the new financial year.

The CRUISER line sailing yachts start the new season with a new design, while the S-line motorboats attract customers with an attractive STYLE package and a saving of 20 per cent on options included in the package. Likewise, the new sailing yachts BAVARIA C45, C50 and C57 conquered important market segments in 2019. A new C-line sailing yacht and a new motorboat are already at the prototype construction stage.

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

Bavaria Yachts files for bankruptcy as investors pull out, but catamaran division still going strong

• Elaine Bunting
• April 24, 2018

Bavaria Yachts, one of the world's largest production boatbuilders, is in financial trouble after US investors decided to withdraw support for the company

German builder Bavaria Yachtbau sent out shockwaves among owners and the industry last week when it declared insolvency. According to German magazine Yacht , US investors Oaktree Capital Management and Anchorage Advisors pulled a day after the sacking of Bavaria’s CEO, Lutz Henkel.

The investors are said to be giving Bavaria a ‘soft landing’, guaranteeing three months of operation until the yard closes for its annual summer holidays.

The news took dealers and suppliers alike by complete surprise.

The insolvency is said to affect the manufacturing arm of the company building Bavaria monohulls. Bavaria Catamarans, formerly Nautitech, is not said to be affected. Bavaria purchased Nautitech from French owner  Bruno Voisard and partners just over two years ago.

The catamaran market has been booming with sales outstripping demand, while mid-sized production monohull sales, which slumped in 2008, have never fully recovered.

UK Nautitech dealers Key Yachting Ltd , said: ‘ To this day, the catamaran business remains in Rochefort, France. It is an independent French company with its own employees, suppliers and bank accounts. Seen as the “jewel in the crown” of the Bavaria group, the well managed and profitable catamaran business is already attracting interest from potential buyers.

‘While we understand that both the Catamaran division and the struggling German operation will probably soon be under new ownership, or indeed ownerships, the operation of the Catamaran business is completely unaffected by the situation in Germany. Therefore trading, delivery and after sales service continue as before.’

Bavaria has been through several chapters of ownership. Buyout firm Bain Capital bought the company in 2007 for €1.3bn and handed over two years later to debt investors Oaktree and Anchorage in a huge debt-for-equity transaction in which the two specialists wrote off 90 per cent of Bavaria’s €960m debts.

The company has sought to expand into larger yachts with the launch of two new larger and more luxurious cruisers, the C57 launched last year and C65 that on show in January at boot Düsseldorf. Bavaria is one of the world’s largest volume production manufacturers, oeprating out of a huge plant in Giebelstadt, near Würzburg, where it builds around 4,000 yachts a year.

Boatindustry.com

Bavaria Yachts, towards a very low-cost takeover of the German nautical leader

Sales prices, boat production, boat shows... Tobias Brinkmann, the director of Bavaria Yachts, the German leader in troubled yachting, spoke in the columns of FloatMagazin.

A Bavaria buyer announced at the Cannes show?

Since the announcement at the end of April 2018 of the safeguard procedure of the German boat builder Bavaria Yachts, the weeks have passed waiting for a buyer. After being scheduled for July, the selection was postponed several times. In an interview with our German colleague FloatMagazin.de, the site manager Tobias Brinkmann hopes to reveal the name of the new owner in early September. "From our point of view, the autumn trade fairs in September are a good opportunity for Bavaria buyers to publicly announce this new start. That is why we plan to participate in several trade fairs in September. We will also be present at the Cannes Yachting Festival."

Continuation of production and orders

In this interview, Tobias Brinkmann also talks about Bavaria Yachts' current and future industrial activity. "I can say that production continues at Bavaria and that the boats are under construction for August and September. We plan to complete approximately 24 motorboats and sailboats in Giebelstadt in September. This includes the full range of models." He adds that he can now guarantee the future buyer of Bavaria Yachts a 3-digit order book for 2018/2019.

Bavaria will also continue its commercial action at the autumn boat shows.

Firm offers and low prices

Tobias Brinkmann, questioned by our colleagues, confirms that firm offers to purchase Bavaria are already on the table. If he does not comment on the figure of 25 to 30 M € advanced by the journalist, he envisages a strong loss of value of the company. "The purchase price for Bavaria is determined by evaluating the prices of potential buyers. I believe that this purchase price will be considerably lower than the price obtained by the former shareholders in 2007." As a reminder, the company had been bought before the 2008 crisis by the Bain Capital fund for an estimated amount between 1.1 and 1.3 billion euros.

Bavaria Yachts is Back in Business

19 September 2018 Dominique SALANDRE News 0

Bavaria Yachts is saved !   A private equity fund advised by the German investment company CMP Capital Management-Partners will continue Bavaria Yachts. The subsidiary Bavaria Catamarans SAS is also being acquired and all 800 employees working in Giebelstadt, Germany and Rochefort, France will transfer to the purchaser.

A private equity fund advised by the Berlin-based investment company CMP Capital Management-Partners will acquire the entire business of Bavaria Yachtbau GmbH and continue its operations. It will also acquire all shares in French subsidiary Bavaria Catamarans SAS. All 550 employees of BAVARIA YACHTS in Giebelstadt and all 250 employees of BAVARIA CATAMARANS in Rochefort will transfer to the purchaser. A corresponding purchase contract between the management of Bavaria Yachtbau GmbH and CMP was concluded and notarized today. The creditors’ committee gave its approval, as did the administrator of Bavaria Yachtbau GmbH, Dr. Hubert Ampferl. The purchase will be completed after merger control clearance by the German Federal Cartel Office, which is expected in a couple of weeks. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. 

CMP Capital Management-Partners is a German investment company that has specialised in the acquisition of companies in distress in Germany, Austria and Switzerland since its foundation in 2000. CMP’s private equity funds are advised by Berlin-based CMP Capital Management-Partners. With the investment in a company, CMP employees assume operative management responsibilities on site. In the case of Bavaria, Dr. Ralph Kudla, restructuring expert and partner at CMP, will join the executive board. 

Kai Brandes, Managing Director of CMP Capital Management-Partners explains: “We are convinced of Bavaria’s global market potential and will sustainably develop the company. The restructuring measures will focus on regaining market share and improving production costs.”

Restructuring expert Dr. Tobias Brinkmann, Managing Director of Bavaria Yachtbau since insolvency proceedings began in April 2018 states: “Bavaria is an outstanding company with a strong brand, compelling products and a highly dedicated team. We are pleased to have found a well-known and experienced buyer in CMP who will lead Bavaria into the future. The entire management would like to thank our employees, yacht dealers, customers and suppliers. They have all supported Bavaria Yachtbau during the insolvency proceedings. The fact that Bavaria has been able to successfully build and deliver 220 yachts during the last five months shows how committed and reliable our staff is.”

Finalists nominated for Best of Boats Awards 2017 Awards ceremony on 23 November at BOAT & FUN BERLIN

• Bavaria Yachtbau GmbH
• Bavaria Yachts
• Bavaria Yachts saved
• German boat builder
• investment company cmp capital management-partners
• Private Equity fund

Related Articles

Bavaria Yachts: Production 100% “Made in Germany” and Product Range to Be Reduced

The future development of Bavaria Yachts is taking clear shape: The yacht builder, respected worldwide for its good price/performance ratio, will once again build its boats one hundred percent in Germany. Bearing the seal of […]

Be the first to comment

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

©yacht&sea

• New Sailboats
• Sailboats 21-30ft
• Sailboats 31-35ft
• Sailboats 36-40ft
• Sailboats Over 40ft
• Sailboats Under 21feet
• used_sailboats
• Apps and Computer Programs
• Communications
• Fishfinders
• Handheld Electronics
• Plotters MFDS Rradar
• Wind, Speed & Depth Instruments
• Anchoring Mooring
• Running Rigging
• Sails Canvas
• Standing Rigging
• Diesel Engines
• Off Grid Energy
• Cleaning Waxing
• DIY Projects
• Repair, Tools & Materials
• Spare Parts
• Tools & Gadgets
• Cabin Comfort
• Ventilation
• Footwear Apparel
• Foul Weather Gear
• Mailport & PS Advisor
• Inside Practical Sailor Blog
• Activate My Web Access
• Reset Password
• Customer Service

• Free Newsletter

Pearson 37 and 37-2 Used Boat Review

DIY Survey Checklist for Used-Boat Buying

Valiant 40: Reshaping the Cruising Hull

Bristol Channel Cutter 28: Circumnavigator’s Choice

Best Crimpers and Strippers for Fixing Marine Electrical Connectors

Thinking Through a Solar Power Installation

How Does the Gulf Stream Influence our Weather?

Can You Run a Marine Air-Conditioner on Battery Power?

Practical Sailor Classic: The Load on Your Rode

Anchor Rodes for Smaller Sailboats

Ground Tackle Inspection Tips

Shoe Goo II Excels for Quick Sail Repairs

Dinghy Outboard Diagnostics

Spring Season Engine Start-Up for Winterized Engines

Solutions for a Stinky Holding Tank

Diesel Performance Additives

Vinyl Boat Lettering DIY Application and Repair

Those Extras you Don’t Need But Love to Have

Hidden Maintenance Problems: Part 3 – Gremlins in the Electrics

Three-Model BBQ Test

Alcohol Stoves— Swan Song or Rebirth?

Living Aboard with an Alcohol Stove

Preparing Yourself for Solo Sailing

How to Select Crew for a Passage or Delivery

Preparing A Boat to Sail Solo

Re-sealing the Seams on Waterproof Fabrics

Chafe Protection for Dock Lines

Waxing and Polishing Your Boat

Reducing Engine Room Noise

Tricks and Tips to Forming Do-it-yourself Rigging Terminals

Marine Toilet Maintenance Tips

• Sailboat Reviews

Bavaria 38 Ocean

This german-built production cruiser has first-class construction and is favorably priced. for serious cruising, however, she does have a few drawbacks such as a small galley and marginal sea berths..

In our travels to the boat shows, we’ve noticed an increased number of German and Scandinavian boats distributed in the U.S. by American dealerships. Part of the reason, certainly, is favorable exchange rates. To get a feel for how these boats stack up to their American and French counterparts, we decided to test sail the German-built Bavaria 38 Ocean. In a nutshell, it’s a well-built, comfortable cruiser with a small sailplan that may be well suited to offshore passage-making, but will not be exactly spirited in light air.

The Company Bavaria Yachts is a family-owned operation that began as the manufacturer of glass windows. Today, it produces boats in a new, modern plant in Giebelstadt, Germany. The firm evolved into the boatbuilding business in 1970’s, and currently produces approximately 450 boats per year, ranging in size from 29′ to 50′. Bavaria builds several distinct lines. Heavy emphasis is placed on the Holiday series, multi-cabin cruisers destined for the charter fleets in the Mediterranean. The Exclusive line consists of traditional aft cockpit sloops with fewer sleeping compartments, and a large master stateroom. The 38 Ocean features a center-cockpit intended for family cruising. The first boats imported to North America began arriving in 1995, and are in service in a charter fleet in the Pacific Northwest.

Though the company may not have the decades-old pedigree of some competitors, it enjoys among Europeans a reputation as the builder of sturdy, seaworthy boats. Bavaria funds the cost of two Lloyd’s inspectors who are permanently on site to inspect each boat as it works its way through the production line. Consequently, boats aren’t simply “built to Lloyd’s specifications,” but are issued a Germanischer Lloyd A5 certificate that covers hull, rig, engine, electrical system and locking devices.

Design Bavaria yachts are designed by the J and J design office, a relatively obscure firm founded by brothers Jernej and Japec Jakopin in 1983. Their first yacht, the Elan 31, was an immediate success, winning the 3/4 Ton world championships; more than 700 were produced. The firm subsequently formed a boat engineering company, Seaway, that offers marketing, design, tooling and prototyping services.

J and J works with more than 20 production yards in Europe, and has designed boats for Jeanneau, Bavaria, and Dufour, in collaboration with Bruce Farr, Doug Peterson and the Jeanneau design team. Three designs received Boat of the Year awards at the 1997 Dusseldorf boat show.

The pleasing lines of the Holiday and Exclusive models are similar in appearance to many Baltic, Swan, Wauquiez and Swedish Yachts.

The Ocean 38 Ocean, because it is a center-cockpit design, presents a different look. Its beam is considerable (13′ 2″), which gives us some concern regarding inverse stability and upwind performance. On the other hand, it makes for a large interior and increases initial stability.

The displacement/length (D/L) ratio is 217, and the sail area/displacement (SA/D) ratio is 17.8, numbers that are reasonable for most coastal cruising conditions. The D/L is a bit low for what most people would consider suitable for blue-water cruising.

The whale’s tail fin keel and spade rudder represent current thinking to improve lift and control. The boat is available with either 5′ 1″ or 6′ 5″ draft.

We think that one of the major drawbacks of a center cockpit arrangement is the height above the water, which can translate to mal de mer in heavy seas when the boat pitches and rolls; the tradeoff is a drier ride, even when pounding to weather, as we learned on a trip from San Francisco to Hawaii.

Construction The firm boasts that most of its employees have been working for Bavaria for more than 10 years, most having come through its formal apprenticeship program. A video we reviewed showed the operation to be highly efficient. Wood is brought into the wood shop as logs and milled; workers in the lay-up process are presented with shopping carts filled with numbered sheets of fiberglass that have been precut to specific sizes by a computer, and premixed containers of resin, so there is no deviation in the lay-up.

The downside to this rigid approach is that no customizing is possible. As Henry Ford said, “You can have any color you want as long as it’s black.”

The lay-up methods are fairly straightforward. The outer skin is powder-bonded glass mat and isopthalic resins. The hull below the waterline is solid fiberglass laid up to a thickness of 32 mm with alternating layers of 15-ounce and 20-ounce Verotex woven roving. The forward section of the hull, from the bow aft to the first bulkhead, is reinforced with a 2-mm thick layer of Kevlar. Additional strength is provided by double layers of fiberglass extending 12″ to either side of the centerline from the bow to the rudderpost, and a double lamination on the keel flange, a Lloyd’s requirement.

The hull is additionally strengthened by solid fiberglass stringers, and beams running athwartships that are bonded to the hull with S-glass. The engine bed is also laminated to the hull, and an aluminum engine bracket is glassed to its timbers so that engine bolts are lagged through the metal piece to the bed.

All of the interior bulkheads, as well as cabinetry and closets, are bonded to the hull before the deck is laid on. Areas around hatches are reinforced with marine-grade plywood.

A company video shows the boat sailing at full speed into a seawall. After the third collision, the boat is hauled, revealing only scrape marks in the bottom paint.

The hull above the waterline as well as the deck are cored with 15-mm Divinycell to provide strength, warmth, and a noise barrier.

The method of attaching deck hardware is unique. Winches and cleats are mounted to 3/4″ thick aluminum backing plates bonded into the deck.

Deck Layout Because the boat is targeted for cruisers who are more likely to hoist a reacher or drifter than a spinnaker, the deck arrangement is rather simple. In fact, there are only four winches. The primary sheet winches are Harken 44 self-tailers, and on the coachroof, to handle halyards, reefing and furling lines there are two Harken 40’s aft of Rutgerson rope clutches. Track for the jib cars is located at the base of the deckhouse and is equipped with Rutgerson cars, as is the mainsheet, which is located at the aft end of the cockpit.

Though there’s adequate room in the cockpit to seat six passengers, and enough length for a 6-footer to stretch out for a nap, we discovered that the steering pedestal can inhibit crew work. The helmsman will find the mainsheet, which is located on the aft coaming of the cockpit, and both jib winches, to be within close reach from the normal steering position. However, because jib winches are well aft, crew will soon discover that moving from windward to leeward will require navigating forward around the front of the pedestal on tacks, or aft of the cockpit. Our test boat was equipped with a storm dodger that extended aft from the five-piece windshield. This arrangement kept us out of the wind on a cold winter day. When tacking, however, we found it difficult to make the trip across the boat in the space between the dodger and front of the pedestal.

With 16″ of pathway between the teak toerail and the cabin trunk, movement fore and aft is easy; additionally, boats are equipped with double lifelines, stainless steel stanchions, a bow pulpit and pulpits on each corner of the stern. So, with the addition of jacklines, a crew can operate in relative safety, even at night. The boat is a 9/10 fractional rig, which we think performs more like a typical masthead rig. The mast is a tapered, double spreader Selden spar supported by 3/8″ wire standing rigging. Standard equipment includes a Furlex headsail furler, hard vang, topping lift, and hand-cranked backstay adjuster. The sail inventory consists of a 5.7-ounce Dacron Elvstrom mainsail with car sliding system and two reef points. Buyers can opt for a conventional, fully-battened main, or an in-mast furling mainsail at no additional cost. Selection of the furling mainsail reduces the size of the mainsail by 75 square feet, and the ability to shape the sail.

Stowage on the deck is in several large areas. The bow area has a chain locker large enough for an electric winch, as well as 100′ of 3/8″ chain, and rope. The stainless steel double roller, which houses a 44-lb. CQR anchor, is designed to can’tilever downwards when the anchor is lowered. This simplifies the task while avoiding damage to the gelcoat. A second stowage area aft of the locker is large enough for dock lines and fenders, and the windlass motor.

Stowage to starboard in the stern is designated for fire extinguishers; to port is a locker for propane tanks. European boats are typically plumbed for butane, so the aft compartment of boats headed for North America must be modified to provide space for propane tanks, since sizes and shapes are dramatically different. The compartment is properly vented overboard.

The stern is clearly designed for the casual cruiser. It houses a two-step swim platform equipped with a stainless steel ladder hinged to go in the water, and a freshwater shower. The emergency rudder mounts outboard on the platform. Long-distance cruisers will be challenged by the engineering necessary to mount a mechanical wind vane.

Belowdecks The generous beam of the Bavaria 38 Ocean provides large, comfortable spaces in which to lounge and sleep. The workmanship is of a quality found in boats costing considerably more.

The layout of the saloon is fairly typical, with the galley and the engine compartment beneath the companionway. A folding dining table and 6′ 6″ settee are located to port. A similarly sized settee is to starboard, forward of the nav station. The head, with doors from the saloon or the skipper’s stateroom, is to starboard.

The boat is particularly well ventilated by four deck hatches, three forward and one in the aft stateroom, and four opening ports on each side of the deckhouse. We found the boat to be well lighted, even on a cloudy, rainy day.

The master stateroom spans the stern and has a 6′ long, 5′ 6″ wide berth in the center of a compartment having 6′ feet of headroom that is surrounded by finely finished mahogany closets and cabinetry, and heavy, 3″ cushions. Because boats seem to shrink in size in proportion to the number of people aboard, we liked the fact that both staterooms have sitting areas that, albeit small, provide some private space.

The head, which is subdivided by a plastic curtain, is equipped with a single stainless sink, hot and cold water, and a medicine cabinet. The shower area has 6′ of headroom and 30″ of elbow room.

The V-berth measures 6′ 4″ on the centerline, and is 6′ wide at the head, tapering to 18″ at the bow. Cabinetry includes a 43″ tall hanging locker to starboard and a similarly sized cabinet with three shelves to port.

About the only drawbacks we noted were the lack of a good, tight sea berth or two, and the size of working space available in the navigation station and galley, which oppose each other amidships near the companionway. But while one might wish them larger, the space would have to be subtracted from the dining area and head. One must remember that despite its great beam, this boat is still just 38′ LOA. The working surface on the nav station is only 22″ deep and 38″ wide. The galley runs fore and aft, and is equipped with a double stainless steel sink, two burner stove, and an L-shaped countertop. There’s adequate working space on the 24″ x 66″ countertop when the stove is covered. However, when the stove is in use, 24″ of countertop are lost, so the cook may have to use the dining table for preparations.

The boat’s mechanical systems are well-conceived and executed.

The engine compartment is accessible by removing the companionway steps, and via a removable panel in the galley. This permits one to work on all four sides of the engine. The Whitlock cable steering system is directly overhead and easy to inspect or service.

Wiring and plumbing are accessible by removing wooden panels in the back of stowage compartments. We found all wiring to be bundled and wrapped every 6″, which reduces the possibility of chafe. Through-hulls are bronze with stainless steel ball valves, and all hoses and manifolds are accessible and double clamped. Though the headliner is not removable, deck hardware fasteners can be inspected by removing mahogany covers attached to the overhead.

Performance We tested the boat on a rainy day on flat water in wind speeds ranging from 15-22 knots. Whether you like the looks of the five-section permanent windshield is a personal matter, but it certainly affords superior protection from the weather and is easy to see through. The center section opens to provide ventilation. There certainly is a trend amongst cruisers toward hard dodgers or at least hard-top dodgers, and a permanent windscreen is a good foundation from which to design an all-weather enclosure.

Under power, the 50-hp. Volvo Penta, equipped with a fixed, 3-blade prop, powered the boat into 10 knots of wind at 7 knots at 2,500 rpm. We noticed that at 2,100 rpm the noise level belowdecks allowed conversation at normal voice levels; at 2,500 rpm engine noise was more noticeable.

The saildrive has pros and cons. Its horizontal thrust is efficient, but the aluminum housing is vulnerable to corrosion, particularly from stray AC currents in marinas. Owners should monitor the unit carefully. The Wauquiez Pretorien 35 reviewed last month also has a saildrive, and owners were cautioned to regularly replace the zincs and to dive on it for a visual inspection every 90 days.

The boat proved responsive to the helm, and easily turned a tight 360°. She also tracked well in reverse, even in gusty conditions.

Our test boat had both furling main and jib, which will simplify sailhandling for cruising couples. The furling main looked disproportionately small for this size boat. We also learned rather quickly the importance of fully hoisting the main; if there’s a scallop at the tack, the sail will not furl into the mast.

We began the test sail with a full main and 150% genoa and discovered very quickly that we were overcanvassed. We shortened the jib to about 90% and in this configuration we sailed comfortably to within 40° of the apparent wind at just less than 6 knots. The boat tracked well. Because the jib sheeting angle is 16°, it is unlikely the boat will sail closer to the wind. Speed increased to 7.5 knots when we footed off and sailed at 85°, but she became less stable so we further reduced the headsail. She proved more manageable at 120°.

We suspect that owners will be motoring until wind speed reaches 6-8 knots, and using the 150% genoa until wind speed reaches 10 knots. In stiffer breezes, she’ll need a shortened headsail or reef in the main. However, with a properly balanced sailplan, we think most cruisers will find the boat manageable and comfortable.

Sailors in gusty conditions, such as San Francisco Bay, will find a sail inventory consisting of main and genoa to be adequate; the need for a light air drifter or reacher will become apparent where winds are lighter.

Conclusion We think the Bavaria is an exceptionally well-built boat. She’s finely finished; gelcoat surfaces are smooth; and joinerwork is of the highest quality. Crew and guests will find accommodations below to be spacious and well-appointed.

The Bavaria 38 Ocean comes well-equipped with brand-name hardware, Par head, Espar forced-air heater, and a Coolmatic 12-volt refrigeration system that fared poorly in our December 1, 1996 test. Though securing foreign replacement parts can be a headache, the North American distributor maintains a modest inventory of post-1992 parts for all Bavaria yachts.

The boat comes with an extensive list of standard equipment such as teak cockpit seating and sole, ICOM VHF radio, Autohelm ST 50 instruments, dodger, windlass and anchor with 165′ of chain.

Given current exchange rates and a sailaway price of $189,900 (US), fob Seattle, or $182,990 (US), fob Annapolis, we think the boat is a very good value. For comparison, the somewhat larger Jeanneau 40 Deck Saloon 40 lists at $190,000 and the superb but somewhat smaller Halberg Rassy 36 at a bit under $200,000. A more run-of-the-mill production boat, such as the Beneteau Oceanis 381, starts at $138,000.

Contact- Yacht Sales West, Unit B, 2144 Westlake Ave. N, Seattle, WA, 98109; 206/378-0081. In Canada, Yacht Sales West, 1523 Foreshore Walk, Vancouver, BC, Canada; 604/488-1202.

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Log in to leave a comment

Latest Videos

Hanse 410: What You Should Know | Boat Tour

Sailboat vs Fishing Boat – Rules of the Road

Catalina 445: What You Should Know | Boat Review

How to Wax and Polish Your Boat

• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell My Personal Information
• Online Account Activation
• Privacy Manager

'Hawaii Five-0' Star Taylor Wily Dead at 56

Strike A Yoga Pose With These Bendy Babes ... Happy Yoga Day!

Chicago Homeowner Fights Off Alleged Intruder with Frying Pan in Security Video

Guess Who This Curly Cutie Turned Into!

Bianca Censori's Breasts Nearly Spill Out of Barely-There Top in Paris

Rfk jr. campaign paid russell brand's production co. $68k for appearance, rfk jr. campaign paid $68k for russell brand appearance ... covered travel, etc..

Russell Brand 's production company got paid a nice chunk of change for performing at a Robert F. Kennedy Jr. event earlier this year ... and we're talking tens of thousands.

TMZ pulled Team Kennedy's FEC filings ... and it shows the campaign shelled out more than $68,000 to Russell's production company for "Event Entertainment - Travel Expenses" after he appeared at a campaign event for RFK Jr. and his running mate Nicole Shanahan .

Russell performed at RFK Jr.'s event in May out in Nashville -- and it was called "Night of Comedy," alongside other comedians including Rob Schneider , Dave Landau , Jim Breuer , Katherine Blanford , Jeff Dye , and Mike Binder . Russell reportedly did a filmed set where he went after legacy media and scoffed at coronavirus mandates and vax requirements.

Now, if you're wondering why an RB appearance might be this damn expensive -- amounting to $68,417.96, specifically -- we've talked to sources who tell us the money covered not just Russell's travel expenses (like the docs indicate) but also ... touched other elements of his performance, including paying for the transportation of his crew, equipment, etc.

Mind you ... the guy is reported to be living in the UK these days, so that explains a lot.

Anyway, it's clear Russ didn't give Kennedy and co. a friendly discount -- even though they are pals and RFK Jr.'s been featured on RB's podcast "Stay Free Russell" a handful of times now.

Interestingly, a few weeks after the RFK campaign event ... the comedian sat down with RNC spokeswoman Elizabeth Pipko , where he encouraged Americans to vote for Donald Trump over Joe Biden . Granted -- he was asked about the hypothetical between just the two of them .. and he didn't outright endorse Trump here.

Then again ... he hasn't outright endorsed RFK Jr. either -- despite being cozy with him.

Nonetheless, RFK Jr. has nabbed a number of celebrity endorsements, including Alicia Silverstone , Kevin Spacey , Jenny McCarthy and Donnie Wahlberg , among others.

We've reached out to Team Kennedy for comment ... so far, no word back.

• Share on Facebook

related articles

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Says Biden Fears Debating Him More Than Trump Does

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Says a Worm Ate Part of His Brain Years Ago

Old news is old news be first.

Are Bavaria Yachts Still Worth The High Price?

Bavaria Yachts is a German boatbuilding company with one of the world’s most modern boat manufacturing facilities.

It has become one of Europe’s leading yacht builders and the biggest boatbuilding yard in Germany since establishing itself in 1978. The company builds a range of sailing and power boats from 29 to 57 feet and has been the owner of Nautitech catamarans since 2014.

In addition, Bavaria Yachts are built using the best quality materials, and the boats come with premium hardware, deck ware, and electronic packages.

The company is also known for its uncompromising approach to quality and high standards, which means using only the best as its standard for building solid, long-lasting, great-value yachts.

But are Bavaria Yachts worth their high price?

Here’s Why Bavaria Yachts Are Worth Their High Price:

Bavaria Yachts are worth the high price for boaters looking for a high-quality craft. Bavaria offers an uncompromising approach to top-notch materials and construction standards and their commitment to achieving the highest possible standards in terms of style, performance, durability, and value.

Table of Contents

How Much Exactly Do Bavaria Boats Cost?

How much a Bavaria boat coast will come down to your choice of motor or sail, plus the size of boat you are interested in purchasing.

There are currently 38 Bavaria models to choose from, ranging in size from 29 to 57 feet. The models include 16 sailing yachts plus a choice of 12 motor boats in the current Bavaria line-up.

Prices start from €98,900 for a new Bavaria Cruiser 34 and go up to €455,500 for the Bavaria Virtess 420 Fly; however, some models are POA (price on application), so they could be even higher.

We’ve put together the following tables as a quick reference as to exactly how much each new Bavaria boat model costs:

Bavaria Sailing Yacht Prices:

[Info courtesy of itboat.com]

Bavaria Motor Boat Prices:

Please note these are the base model prices only. When you add optional extras, safety equipment, or any upgrades such as bigger engines, additional sails, or canvas work, you can easily expect to pay a few thousand euros more.

If these new boat prices seem quite daunting, then another option is to look at the used boat market. Here you may find a relatively new boat with many optional extras and upgrades already added for a more affordable price.

At the time of writing, a quick search on yachtworld.com, one of the world’s biggest secondhand boat market websites, came up with 723 Bavaria Yachts for sale. These include 231 new vessels and 492 secondhand models, all listed by experienced yacht brokers and boat dealerships worldwide.

Prices start from US$31,247 for a Bavaria 30 produced in 1987 and go up to just over US$1 million for a 2020 Bavaria R55 Fly.

Do Bavaria Boats Cost More Than Similar Brands?

Bavaria Yachts are classed as mass-production boats, meaning they are produced on an assembly line and are considered ‘off-the-shelf’ boats. Other similar brands include Beneteau, Dufour, and Hanse, amongst others.

But do Bavaria boats cost more than these similar brands? As new boat prices are difficult to find for some brands, we’ve made a quick price comparison on one of Bavaria’s most popular models, the Bavaria C38, with similar models from similar years on the secondhand boat market.

Here’s what we found:

At first glance, the Hanse 388 is more expensive than the other three brands, which compares favorably.

However, to get an idea of the real value, you would need to compare the detailed inventories of each boat to see what is included.

For example, engine sizes, sail inventories, and electronic packages can all vary, as can things like in-mast furling mainsail systems and overall sailing set-ups (blocks, winches, spinnaker poles, etc.).

Why Do People Choose Bavarias Over The Competition?

As we can see from our quick price comparison, the cost of a Bavaria Yacht is very competitive, so people are not choosing a Bavaria based on price alone.

So why do people choose Bavarias over the competition? We’ve established the following reasons:

• Bavaria Yachts are built to the exact standards of German engineering;
• They have a modern, clean look and are very spacious down below;
• Bavaria Yachts are known to offer great value for money;
• Both motor and sailboats are designed to be easily handled by both novice and experienced boaters alike;
• As they are a top choice for the charter market, many people are familiar with the brand;
• Despite building and selling a lot of boats, Bavaria Yachts offer a great resale value on the used boat market.

Do Bavaria Boats Keep Their Value Better?

Many reviews quote Bavaria Yachts as ‘the most boat for your money.’ While this may be true for new boats, do Bavaria boats keep their value better than other brands or depreciate faster?

Generally, any new boat will depreciate quickly within the first five years of ownership. Plus, you have to factor in maintenance and mooring costs, and unlike property, you will seldom sell a yacht for more than you paid for it. This is also true for Bavaria.

However, as Bavaria Yachts are a popular brand, they are known to have a good resale value. Like any boat, this will depend on how well you maintain it and each boat’s overall condition and inventory.

What Are Typical Alternatives To Bavaria Boats?

The closest alternative to Bavaria Boats is Beneteau or Jeanneau, which also offer a range of yachts, both motor and sail, in a similar length and price range.

If you are looking for other alternatives, it will depend on whether you are looking for power or a sailboat.

• Sailing boat alternatives to Bavaria Yachts include Beneteau, Jeanneau, Dufour, and Hanse.
• Motorboat alternatives to Bavaria Yachts include Beneteau, Jeanneau, Sealine, and Sunseeker.

These brands manufacture high-quality production boats that are stylish, spacious, easy to handle, comfortable, and affordable.

Do You Pay Full Price Or Do Dealers Offer Discounts?

When ordering a new Bavaria Yacht, you will pay the full price, and the sale agreement will be fixed and binding.

However, if you are looking for a boat through an official Bavaria dealer, they may have a stock of boats they are willing to negotiate a deal on.

Don’t count on this, the boating industry has been experiencing a boom in the last couple of years, and most factories have full order books with waiting times of up to 2 years.

The charter market is a good option if you are looking for a great deal on a Bavaria yacht. Most charter companies have a turnaround time of 5 years on their boats. While charter boats get used and engine hours can be high, they also get well maintained.

A good tip is to look for a secondhand charter boat with a smaller cabin configuration, as these are generally in less demand, equating to less usage. Depending on your buying power, you may be able to negotiate a good discount on a secondhand ex-charter boat.

Final Thoughts:

While Bavaria Yachts sometimes get a bad rap on the various boating forums, they have many more fans than detractors.

The boats are classified more as coastal than blue water cruisers, but many Bavaria Yachts have safely crossed oceans.

If you are looking for a lot of boat for your money, then you won’t go wrong with a Bavaria Yacht.

References:

Bavaria Yachts

Bavaria Models Available on itboat.com

Bavaria Yachts For Sale – Yachtworld

Click to share...