Bavaria 390 Lagoon -- anyone got one that I can look at?

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LadyViolet

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I am interested in the Bavaria 390 Lagoon as a potential next boat. The only ones for sale seem to be in places like Italy, or Odessa. Does anyone in Southern England have an example I can look at, to save me a potentially wasted journey across Europe? I have lay-out plans and various photos from the Web, but it is difficult to judge headroom in the saloon, height of cockpit sole above stern bunk, length of bunk in bow etc.

Any help would be much appreciated. I promise to wear boat shoes and I won't mention post codes!
 
Can't help directly but have you tried contacting the Bavaria Owners association - they may be able to put you in touch with an owner. The website is here
 
As I sold one just under two years ago it may still be in Devon, it was part I registered as Honey Pot.

But I can answer some of your questions....headroom in the saloon was well over 6' Space over rear bunk was probably less than 3' (you could put your knees up when lying down) but there was over 6' of headroom at the head of the bunk. And as a cabin in hot climates it was great as you can open a hatch over each side of the bunk and look at the stars.

The foreward bunk was quite tight, you tend to tangle feet with whoever you share with but it is over 6' from the pointed end. It's a cosy cabin.

Things to look out for, fixings of centre seat in Saloon, its only held to the floor by small self tappers into the floor board, which is in turn only held the same way into cross beams, and it gets lent on heavily when its rough. Check the mounts for the rear water and fuel tanks under the rear bunk they looked a little weak. The floor under the steering can leak (where wires and cables go through the floor into lazerette) leaving a damp head lining over the rear bunk right at the back.

Usual leaks on stansion bolts, some are difficult to get at , if they've had problems there may be an inspection hatch cut in the rear of the wall cabinet in the aft head/shower.

Check for leaks where the forward water filling hose is sealed at the bottom of the chain locker, if it leaks it soaks the foam surrounding the water tank.

Otherwise an excellent boat, we did 10,000miles in as many months and werer completely happy with her sailing abilities and safety, its just the usual old age problems you get. I'd happily have another one.

If you have any more specific questions feel free to ask.
 
This is incredibly useful, TigaWave, thank-you very much.

One other question (inspired by Match 42 keel fears): do you happen to know whether that model was classed by Germanischer Lloyd. I think I remember reading somewhere that the earlier Bavarias were.
 
Yep, it was classed by Lloyds...Another area to look closely at is the spreader roots, as they only have one fixing if the mast is allowed to pump, (not enough backstay tension when slamming upwind) the spreaders can pivot which will show up as gaps between spreader and mast at the front and rear of the section.

The teak decks are a marine ply laminate that can show signs of delamination or in some places wear through the teak top layer, making it an expensive job to replace the whole deck. I've seen some that have been re-decked.

If it has the original Rheisntorm heads (probably spelt wrong) they are excellent, with all metal pumps and levers. you can still get spares but they are expensive.

In a big sea you can get quite a bit of water in the deck locker behind the chain locker, this has wires going through the aft/top corners, we found ours were leaking slightly which showed up as water collecting behind the wood hull lining at the aft end of the forard bunk.

All these points were ones that are specific to this boat and missed by ours and I would think most average surveyors.

The mast is supported on a steel I section cross beam that goes across the companion way between forward heads and bunk cabin, it is supported on two ~4" square wooden posts, look closely at the bottom of these as one is next to the shower tray and if its been left wet and rotted it could pose a problem.
 
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