Bavaria 36 - any owners opinions?

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Longshanks

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After looking at so many tired boats from the 1980s and 90s, the wife is getting quite keen on a more recent Bavaria 36. I know all the "opinions" of non-owners on the YBW forums, but are there any current or past Bav 36 owners out there that would care to give me an honest view of +/- factors and anything in particular to look out for on this model? If you had one, why did you sell it? If you currently have one, is it living up to expectations? Send by PM if you wish. Many thanks.
 
We have the Bav37 from 1999-2001 design - so a little older, but has the same hull as the post 2001 Bav36. We moored up next to a 36 in Beaulieu last year and had a quick preview ...

Very tidy boat, slightly different deck design and down below was a different layout. The only overall negative (concluded with the owners) was that the high cupboard spaces were a little short on the 36 - whereas ours are tall enough to stand a bottle in.

In sailing terms they are pretty much matched (I believe) and whilst definately isn't a hot hatch - it is a good cruising boat. I wouldn't want to besailing one in F8+ .. but then I wouldn't want to be there out of choice anyway ... being a high volume boat it would take quite a bit of attention to keep going - when I'd rather not be!

All in all Bavs are good boats for the money - but you should only get one if it suits what you want to do with it (as with all boats!) - and if you're looking at a newer 36 I would also look at the 1999-2001 models ....
 
I dont own one... though I have sailed on quite extensivley.... (I have a slightly older 31...) and have sailed the 34, 32, and 37 of around those years as well....

Here is my potted review for the post 2001 boat;

A quick and fun boat if had with the deep keel and FB main... practical interior with good use of space let down by some light fittings, in particular the overhead grab rails feel a bit light weight and only tacked on. Excellent and practical heads, good sized galley, excellent chart table.

A much better sailor than the Bene 361 or SO 37, quick to accelerate and rewards tweeking.

Cockpit let down by slightly pooor angles on the coaming making it a bit uncomfortable over long periods, but good space and easy to reach controls and winchs make it easy to short hand.... (Though could use with mainsheet and traveller in cockpit instead of on coachroof... like virtually all contemporaries.)

AVS of 112' would make me a bit nervous about extensive offshore long distance cruising.

Excellent value, nice boat, fun to sail... would be near the top of my list and ahead of SO 37 and Bene 361.

You should also look at the 1999-2001 34, and the 37... the 34 feels a bit more susbtantial and is not quite a sporty... but is very well screwed together and not far short of space... the 37 feels a bit bigger still and not as sharp to sail, but again a bit more substantial down below.

IMHO I would choose a late (say 2001) 2 cabin 34 over the 36, ( but if you are going three cabins then the 36 would probably win) for its more sustantial build. If OTOH sportiness is top of your list then the 36 is gonna be more fun.

Problems; There were issues with the holding tanks on the early boats, not draining properly at sea and getting bunged up... inparticular on the 3 cabin models.... though I have had a unpleasant experience on a 2 cabin boat as well... I suspect that poor user practice may have contributed to this..
The push buttons on the locker doors were downgraded post 2002 and tend to jam more often...

Other than that I havent heard of or had any major issues... they are pretty conventional boats, with straightforward and reliable systems sourced from the big suppliers.

Our 1999 31 has been very good.. with no real isssues... (Fridge replaced 2 years ago... )

I found the 36 a joy to sail... only eclipsed by the Elan 333 in my experience.. Try chartering Anodyne from Liberty Yachts in Plymouth for a weekend if in doubt!
 
As with photodog, I dont own or have never owned a Bav 36, but I do get to sail one, and I think the views of us who sail on other peoples boats are of a very high value, we have no commitment as owners, and so we sail on them because we want to.

I have no disagreement with what the other two have already said. the Bavaria model numbering is very confusing, I believe the Bav 36 is nearly 38 ft long.

The boat I sail on is based in the South of France and is of 1999 vintage. Nearly every time we are down there, at some stage we experience winds at the top of the 30's knots, 35 - 38knts. Making to windward in this wind is a bit of a challenge, but that is mainly because of the very short sea that develops in the Med. The previous owner of this boat changed the original sails for some nice cruiser laminate tri radial sails, these set nicely and in moderate conditions she sails very well indeed.

The only negative I would say is the light weight bow roller and what seems flimsy stanchions, pullpit and push pit. But all in all the Bav 36 is a good boat for the money.
 
I have just changed to a B32 after having had three Moody's over the last 15 yrs. Tried to find a 4th Moody but all looking very tired. My B32 is a 2003 and so far apart from being much lighter am very pleased. Storage is excellent and all technical facilities are easily accesible.
 
Thanks guys. I appreciate the views of those that sail on them as well as owners.

To answer some of the points made, we're looking for a comfortable summer liveaboard cruiser for use around the UK, Ireland and maybe Brittany. Can be handled by two, have space for guests and entertaining, and probably won't be sailed in anything above F6 unless we get it badly wrong! Most nights in harbours, anchorages and marinas, with the occasional over-nighter at sea in settled weather. That's why in reality we don't need the likes of a Rival 38 (which I did consider last year!!) as much as I really love these older designs. Although, the ability of the Bavs and other AWBs to comfortably handle wind over tide conditions and short steep seas does raise a few concerns in my mind, it's all compromises at the end of the day, and living comfort / newness / value for money is beginning to take priority.

The Bav 36 we've looked at has the deeper keel, which I assume is the better choice.

I'd welcome any further comments by the way...
 
We have the shallow keel 37 - so not 1.8m ... this is the 1.4m version - with a bulb on the bottom.
Like PD says - its not sharp to sail (I also race RS400's) - but it is good. Again - we specifically wanted a shallower keel having come from another boat with a 6' draft which we found a little restrictive around the solent and poole.
Bav34 of this parish also has a shallow keel and gave us a test ride before we bought ours - which is what convinced us a shallow keel was acceptible - having sailed out in a F6 with cross sea with no dramas ....
 
Other than the linear galley that looks pretty much identical to ours ...
Ours has a U galley a bit further aft and 2 'captains' seats where this one has it's galley - thus we don't have the bench in the middle of the saloon either. The rest looks the same.
 
I have the 3 cabin 37 shallow keel from 2001. Support all the previous comments. I have in mast furling and performs well with new, flatter sails.

Layout not so good for lounging as 36 but cabins a bit more spacious and storage better. Everything has stood up well to 7 seasons chartering and 2 less hectic private use. Weakest points of gear are wobbly stanchions (only 2001), poor cabin lights and poor cooker. Everything else is at least as good as competitors and better in many respects.

Fewer on the SH market in UK (plenty in the Med) compared with 34s and 36s and many were sailing school boats.

If the volcano lets me escape, I shall be sailing mine back from Corfu to UK round the outside in a couple of weeks time. No concerns about her ability to do the passage.
 
A friend has a Bav 36 with deep keel. If I could choose, I would make this option an absolute for a boat I would own.

My own boat is a Bav 46 exclusive.. (1997 before they invented the wobbly keels). I have raced against a friend's First 45.5 and another friends F47.7 and I certainly hold my own especially upwind. I have deep keel and tall rig.

OOOPs. Late addition: try for a 3 cabin boat. The 4 cabin versions are typically former charter boats... and when you get 4 cabins in a 37 footer, you end up sleeping in cupboards (Opinion) :-)

GL with your search!
 
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390 Lagoon

Ive sailed a couple of thousand miles on B36 and B38SC. Im not sure on the second hand prices, but I would consider going slightly older (I know you are tired of looking at tired old boats), but bear with me. The Bav 390 lagoon should be considered, the ones I looked at were pristine. The first one I saw looked like it had just come off the production line. It was built very well, carried the Lloyds certificate, and and ouzed quality on all aspects. By the time I had done my research, someone else had paid the deposit. I then travelled quite a long way around Europe looking for one, and eventually bought an Oyster. I still get pangs when I see a Lagoon 390 though, and the feedback from other owners is 100% positive. There was a broker selling a Westerly that I looked at, he asked me what else I had looked at, when I told him about the 390, he said "snap their hands off, its a much better built boat than the Westerly or Moody it was competing against".
 
Moodymike said:
I have just changed to a B32 after having had three Moody's over the last 15 yrs. Tried to find a 4th Moody but all looking very tired. My B32 is a 2003 and so far apart from being much lighter am very pleased. Storage is excellent and all technical facilities are easily accesible.
Click to expand...

As a Bav owner, I think this comment is what it comes down to. And Lowestoft yawls sit out a F8 easier, but then the downsides will fill the rest of this page.

You spend more time resting on the boat than beating into strong winds, so the priorities are pretty clear.

Some raise their eyebrows over Bav's "wobbly staunchions" and characterise the boat accordingly. This design is actually superior to the through-bolted variety just because it yields on impact and doesn't lift a chunk out of the deck (had that on my Westerly!) in so doing. The staunchions are, after all, there to support the safety lines......not serve as handles!

Finally, Bav fit quality gear for the most part that is easy to replace at the end of its (long) life.

Good hunting!

PWG
 
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