Bavaria 30 Cruiser....???

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Looking to trade up soon and at the moment my wish list is Moody 31 mk2 or Moody 336......both are like hens teeth to pick up in good order....took a look at a Bavaria 30 Cruiser yesterday, not really my cup of tea these modern yachts....much prefer a vessel that was dsigned to sail before the accomodation is thought about rather than visa versa in the modern Bav's Bennie's Jennau's etc....that said she looked a nice boat with loads of space for a 31 footer.........any views and experiances of such would be appreceated??
 
A Moody 31 and 336 are two quite different boats, and you can't really compare a Bav30 to either of them, IMHO.

Skysail will be along soon to tell you how wonderful his 336 was for over 10 years - which it was. He and others raced it very well and undertook many cruises.

We have friends who have a Moody 31 Mk2 and others who have a Bav30. Moody is older, more solid and generally more comfortable down below as well as sailing. Bav is light as a feather, but it is almost new. Depends on your personal preferences.

For sailing west of Scotland there is no comparison, as I said, but unsurprisingly I am biased.
 
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.much prefer a vessel that was dsigned to sail before the accomodation is thought about rather than visa versa in the modern Bav's Bennie's Jennau's etc....

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And yet you're looking at Moodys....
Don't get me wrong they're very good boats, but they're hardly thoroughbreds.
I'm sure I'm about to be shouted down by fans of Moodys but if you really are putting performance first in that price range then I suggest looking at the Beneteau Firsts or stretching the budget slightly and looking at the Elan 333 or an older X332.
 
"Light as a feather" is very misleading. Comparisons of Moody 31 and Bavaria 31 (very similar to 30). Moody Displacement 4.5 tonnes, Bavaria 3.6 tonnes. However .6 of this difference is in ballast (1.6 vs 1). Size (LWL and beam) are the same.

So, lighter displacement and less reliant on ballast for stability, but non ballast weight less than 10% difference - therefore not lightly built.
 
So displacement of Moody is 25% greater than the Bavaria, and ballast is 60% greater - quite significant numbers in my view.

The non ballast weight may be only 10% difference but the owner of the Bav30 who I know will tell you she is "light as a feather", not my original words.
 
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you've obviously not looked at the S series 31 - 336 -38 /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

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Actually I've sailed the 31 and the 336.

Good boats, very good boats, but the OP asked for a boat for which the interior was more of an afterthought.
That's not a Moody, that's something lighter and quicker.
 
And the significance is? - other than the facts. Boats have become progressively lighter displacement and lower ballast ratios over the years. Trend started in fact by the very boats under discussion. Moody 31 ballast ratio 34% at a time when 45% was common!

Perhaps your friend's comment on lightness was more to do with ease of sailing, lightness on the helm etc which is what I appreciate about my Bavaria.
 
There are a couple of Moody 31s for charter in Scotland, how about taking the Mrs away for a weekend and see how they perform, you might be pleasantly suprised.

How do you measure performance? Flaming probably sails a yacht were the owner measures water by the egg cup full (thats one per crewman for a days racing) Our M31 is loaded for cruising so an extra tonne of stores which we could probably do without but choose not to.

Take one for a spin and see what you think.

Pete
 
Used to demo Moody yachts and prefer the M336 with wheel steering than the M31 with tiller,however if wheel steering M31 the weather helm is reduced and a more pleasant sail. I'd still choose the M336 for interior and sailing rather than Bavaria. Have not sailed the S31 Moody so have no opinion there.
 
I had a Moody 336 for 11 seasons, great boats and good passage makers.

Good examples are hard to come by, most will need some £'s spent on them unless you find one that has had a recent refit. You could buy one and live with it and then spend the winter doing the work.

The Moody 31 a different boat again, good examples are out there but most will need £'s spent on them.

I looked at Bav's in a different light when a friend, whose CV reads sailed professionally when in uniform, bought one. His view was simple that he reefs earlier than in a heavy boat but the finish is OK and the deck gear OK. I went aboard and have to say it was hard to disagree. Don't be put off by those who are sniffy about them.

After 23 years of owning Moody's I have just bought a Jeanneau and oh yes so has Skysail.

If the Bavaria mets your sailing needs go for it.

Might also be worthwhile having an informal chat with a surveyor.

whatever you do good luck and enjoy
 
I assume that you are talking about the Bav 30 which was in porduction until last year, and has now been replaced with a new 31.......

There have been several boats that Bavaria have built around that size since 1998 or so... They did a 31 from 1999-2001.. replaced that with the 32 which was sort of replaced by the new 30 which you are talking about... and now the 31... In addition from 99 or so until 2002 or so they also did the ubiquitous Bavaria 34, which if you are looking at the 336 should also be looked at...

IMHO the best of these boats is the 1999 31, the 2001/2 32, and the 34.... the newer boats are a bit bloaty for me, and I suspect that they will not sail as well as the earlier 31 and 34... The 32 can be quite a surprising boat with the deep keel and a FB main... All three of these boats are best with a FB main and a Deep keel..... The best built ones IMO are the pre 2000 31 and 34 which were still Lloyds(German) certified. All are Cat A boats as well...

I note that good examples of the 34 are a bit thin on the ground this year... as well as the 31... there are plenty of 32's available.... which I really think you should look at if you are considering a Moody 31 or 336.

The early 31 does have some drawbacks... if you get serious about one of them give me a PM.... I have compared closely the 30 with our 31, and I would not swap... Less stowage, single spreader rig.... etc ...

But, in 4 seasons our 1999 31 has had almost zero problems. It comfy enough for 2 or 4 for short periods, and is well balanced and points well....


Another boat that I would add to your list is the late 1990's Hanse 331 which is really a Finngulf 331.... they can now be had for well under 40k which makes them great value for a boat that sails very well...

The Bav's are quite simple in that age and can be very rewarding to sail if set up well and properly kitted out. I suspect that we would outsail a Moody 31 any day... (And do regularly...) and could probably give a 336 a run for the money.

Ps; there is a nice 336 for sale in Plymouth with in mast.... they do have lovely aft cabins!

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
I would stay away from a 336 with in-mast. In-mast is really better with a straight mast, the 336 properly set-up has bend on it. (unless of course it has a mast fitted that is designed for in-mast but it will lose performance even with a vertically batted main like the Hood Vertec.) More than perhaps I would like but in days of old one of the riggers at Swanwick showed to how to set it up properly and it did make a difference.
 
You highlight one of the frustrating things about Bavaria. At one level there are the general comparisons that are drawn between styles of boats - such as lighter displacement designs compared with earlier heavier displacement such as Moodys and Westerlys. The generic Bavaria characteristics are diffewrent and to an extent consistent.

On the other hand, the constant changes in the model line up throw up some equallly significant differences. "Our" 37 (2001) is a very different animal from later 37s and more akin to earlier boats and particularly the 42 of the same era in terms of layout and finish. The constant change means that different models have specific characteristics that may or may not suit individual needs. So I like some of the features of later 37s, particularly the extra space that comes from longer waterline length and greater beam. I don't like the style of the accomodation. Swings and roundabouts, so you have to assess each model based on your own prejudices!
 
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There's a Moody 34 in Tollesbury that they're asking for 'offers over £32k'. Don't know what she's like now but I had a look last July and she was pretty tidy then. And a lot more expensive.

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There is a huge difference between the Moody 34 and 336 - the latter much more sailing oriented
 
And your 37 is WAY different from a late 90's 37... or a later 38!

They change their models so often... and there has been real significant change since the early 00's..... you kinda have to take each boat on its own merits... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
We have a 2007 Bav 30 Cruiser entering into our second full season. We use her as a weekend cottage/office and sailing boat, all of which she manages well and fulfils our requirements.
I accept that what suits us will not suit others but if you want a good all round boat with lots of space for a teenage family and don’t want to race I would recommend you buy the Bavaria.

If ballast ratios and other totally mystifying designer calculations are important to you then we both know you will be disappointed sailing the Bavaria.
 
There's no reason why a boat should loose its keel.After all attaching one securely is not rocket science especially on these lightly ballasted shoal ish draft boats.True, it has happened before but a lot of Westerlys also had the problem.The potential problems with Bavarias has probably to do with lifespan.A heavier built boat usually survives better than a lightly built one.So if somebody is buying new or nearly new and keeps within the boat's limits there's nothing wrong with a Bavaria.
 
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