Bavaria 30

[kluson]

Hello everyone.
We always promised ourselves a boat . SWMBO and myself looked at a First 26 back in 84 and came very close to buying.Instead we became sensible and bought a house and got married all that sort of stuff. The time has now arrived for playtime! I sailed a lot of dingy's in my younger days , we both did our Comp Crew and Day Skipper tickets some time ago.Mrs K has done tall ships and also a few days on 70foot racing yachts. Mrs K very much likes the look of the Bav 30 Cruiser. although we saw a little ETAP28i recently which she also liked. I believe that one of her key considerations is the separate heads. The ETAP appeals in terms of overall running costs, berthing, lack of condensation , cost etc . We are fully aware that Boats are for loving and make no financial sense at all!
I'm sure the Bav would be a better boat to have , but 25k's better. ?? Maybe the ETAP would be a better reintroduction?
The Bavaria's seem to get a lot of bad press here e.g. Caravans etc. but obviously I will be under some pressure to please SWMBO.
we have a budget of up to £45k, but of course the little ETAP would be considerably less. The boat would be mainly used by the 2 of us with a few trips with friends etc. SWMBO was not crazy about the lack of headroom forward in the ETAP but I believe would be happy to make the compromise on the basis of cost. She also likes Moody 31 mk 2 , but for a good one, they do seem like a lot of money for what is an old boat!

I would be interested to hear comments

thanks in advance

 

[photodog]

You should look for something in the middle...

The 28i is pretty small in comparison to the Bav.... But the Bav is a bit of a plodder... That particular boat was only done for couple of years.. and while she is pretty cavernous... She doesn't actually offer any more useable space than the older 31. Plus she is not as good to sail, and that big binnacle eats cockpit space...

Of all the modernish Bavarias in that size... This is the best..

http://www.rightboat.com/boats-for-sale/bavaria-31-cruiser-116374

I am a bit biased as I hve run one now for 9 years...

Easy to single hand.. Fun... Good space, very good finish down below, easy to work on, As much storage as the modern ones...

With the narrower beam sheis also more attractive IMHO... Slams far less..

.

There are a few comprises,.. Small chart table.. But two good useable cabins... A big heads with a wet locker... And the woodwork is still solid.

9/10ths fractional with double spreaders.. Tweak able enough for fun..

 

[ProMariner]

Have a look at benny's again, a first 31.7, or I think the same hull for the oceanis clipper 311. Both good boats, comfy, in your budget for a 10 year old?

 

[kluson]

Thanks very much . I saw that 31 on the web but I believe it is now under offer. We are in no rush and can wait for the right one to come along

Many thanks for your comments

 

[kluson]

Have a look at benny's again, a first 31.7, or I think the same hull for the oceanis clipper 311. Both good boats, comfy, in your budget for a 10 year old?

Thanks will do

 

[Plevier]

A friend of mine bought a Bav 30 new in 2005 (or 06). Since then he has gradually taken it out as far as Crete in stages, laying up somewhere from about October to March each year, and has just got back here recently. Each year I have had a passout to do 2-3 weeks with him so have been on the boat in lots of conditions, hot and cold, windy and calm. This has included 2 Biscay crossings, one flat calm motoring almost all of it, one (this year) where we had to sit out a gale in Coruna for 3 days before crossing to Pornichet in vile strong headwind conditions, then on to Brest and across to Falmouth with hardly a let up. That was a really unpleasant trip but the boat coped with it well.
For this use it has been absolutely excellent and comfortable, sailing usually with 3 on board. Everything has lasted very well. The Volvo D1-20 saildrive (now at about 1000 hours) is incredibly quiet and smooth and economical. Personally I don't like his furling main, but it has been problem free and extremely useful to be able to reef quickly and easily on several occasions. Overall I'm really impressed with it and the standard of deck gear etc. Sailing performance is not bad at all for a cruising boat. Space and headroom are pretty good. I would rate it as better built and equipped than the equivalent Ben or Jan, I have no knowledge of ETAPs. (Except my BIL had one and sold it to get a mobo )
He's now gearing up to sell the Bav and get something more sporty for local use, no more extended cruising, but it will be a wrench to let it go!

 

[kluson]

Thanks very much, they do seem to be loved by those who have them. And looked on with scorn by others
I find that a bit difficult to understand, or am I being too simple. We are looking for something to be fun , not a pain . I guess the difficult bit is where the compromises sit. At least we will not have to justify the cash. We've worked hard enough.
This year my Father died in July and my Boss of 20 years three weeks ago. For sure we have realised that if we don't spend it we can't take it with us and who knows what is around the corner!!

 

[Bav34]

We have a couple of friends with Bav 30's and they love them.

Both are their first boats and at different times both have made their first channel crossings with our boat in company. It's lovely to see newbies kissing the pontoon in Cherbourg

The cockpit table is a mixed blessing, it takes up a lot of cockpit space but is a real benefit when moored up. It also gives the crew something to brace against.

Neither boat has had to go back to the dealers for any warranty work, but both have suffered from a blocked outlet on the holding tank. I was at the waterline when we cleared one

One of the boats has in-mast reefing and seems very slow in light airs. The sail is cut very flat and is difficult to trim. Having said that, the wife is adamant that she wouldn't go onto the coach roof in a blow so for them it's ideal.

Ignore any caravan comments on here ... I remember people saying that when the chunky Westerly's were first built

We've moved on from cave dwelling ... haven't we?

 

[kluson]

thanks , We are looking forward to a channel crossing but all in good time, It's on the goal list!

 

[Plevier]

The cockpit table is a mixed blessing, it takes up a lot of cockpit space but is a real benefit when moored up. It also gives the crew something to brace against.
### The locker in it is very convenient for binoculars, torches, foghorn etc when sailing.

Neither boat has had to go back to the dealers for any warranty work, but both have suffered from a blocked outlet on the holding tank.
### Absolute rule on my mate's 30 NOTHING to go in heads without being eaten first. You don't want that problem! Stock of small plastic bags in the head for paper (blue nappy bags very good). There is a 90 degree elbow on the seacock, not a good idea.

One of the boats has in-mast reefing and seems very slow in light airs. The sail is cut very flat and is difficult to trim.
### Yes avoid if poss!

.

 

[roblpm]

Hello everyone.
We always promised ourselves a boat . SWMBO and myself looked at a First 26 back in 84 and came very close to buying.Instead we became sensible and bought a house and got married all that sort of stuff. The time has now arrived for playtime! I sailed a lot of dingy's in my younger days , we both did our Comp Crew and Day Skipper tickets some time ago.Mrs K has done tall ships and also a few days on 70foot racing yachts. Mrs K very much likes the look of the Bav 30 Cruiser. although we saw a little ETAP28i recently which she also liked. I believe that one of her key considerations is the separate heads. The ETAP appeals in terms of overall running costs, berthing, lack of condensation , cost etc . We are fully aware that Boats are for loving and make no financial sense at all!
I'm sure the Bav would be a better boat to have , but 25k's better. ?? Maybe the ETAP would be a better reintroduction?
The Bavaria's seem to get a lot of bad press here e.g. Caravans etc. but obviously I will be under some pressure to please SWMBO.
we have a budget of up to £45k, but of course the little ETAP would be considerably less. The boat would be mainly used by the 2 of us with a few trips with friends etc. SWMBO was not crazy about the lack of headroom forward in the ETAP but I believe would be happy to make the compromise on the basis of cost. She also likes Moody 31 mk 2 , but for a good one, they do seem like a lot of money for what is an old boat!

I would be interested to hear comments

thanks in advance

I looked at a few moody 31 mk 2s. Difficult to find a good one.

If you have 45k why not look at a moody s31. Out of my budget so I haven't looked at any but you can get a more recent boat and by all accounts fast and comfortable?

 

[jordanbasset]

friend of mine single handed his 2006 Bavaria 30 from the U.K. across Biscay, etc into the med. He loved it, I think it is a lot of boat for the money. If we buy a boat again it is likely to be a Bavaria 30, will not be living full time aboard it but will use it for a few weeks at a time, probably in Greece.

 

[kluson]

Thanks to everyone for their kind replies, no comments about the Etap though, perhaps I should raise a different thread, thanks again though it has been helpful.