beneteau 381 v Dufour 36 v Bav 36 or 38

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ebbtide1

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Hi, An age old question, but I'd be grateful for your views.

I'm looking at buying one of the above models and would be very interested in any feedback you have.

I guess age wise the Beneteau would be 1998 onwards, Dufour and Bav 2000 onwards.

Cheers
 
Benny 381

I got back yesterday from delivering a Beneteau 381 (12 years old) from Crete to Malta, direct across the South Ionian.

We had pretty dismal weather, a F8 one night and then a F8 rapidly becoming a F9 on the last 100 miles into Valetta.

It was broad reach most of the way. The boat handled the conditions fine, although the autopilot was busy in the quartering sea. There were a few minor hull/deck joint leaks. Video clip here

ebbtide1 said:
Hi, An age old question, but I'd be grateful for your views.

I'm looking at buying one of the above models and would be very interested in any feedback you have.

I guess age wise the Beneteau would be 1998 onwards, Dufour and Bav 2000 onwards.

Cheers
Click to expand...
 
ebbtide1 said:
Hi, An age old question, but I'd be grateful for your views.

I'm looking at buying one of the above models and would be very interested in any feedback you have.

I guess age wise the Beneteau would be 1998 onwards, Dufour and Bav 2000 onwards.

Cheers
Click to expand...


Good day and welcome to the forum. If you have been observing the forum for a little while you may well know that you are touching on a very contentious subject here! Anything that involves Bavarias or AWB's (average white boats) will get a lot uninvited unhelpful comment. Shortly someone will be along to tell you that all three options are wrong and that there is some damp and cramped plastic classic from the 70's that would be far more suitable, the poster having a better idea of your own needs better than you of course.

I only have experience of the Bavaria 36. Good boat, does the job its intended to do and is well bolted together.

Whichever you finish up with, enjoy it.
 
I only have experience of the Bav 34 (minimal) and the Bav 37 from 2000 (same hull as the Bav 36 2002onwards).

The Bavs have two major types of layout - the 2 or 3 cabin - there was a discussion on here about it this or last week - it's worth a read.
The Bavs also have two major types of keel - Deep Fin or Shoal Fin ... the deep fin is 6' and the shoal is around 4' but has a big bulb on the bottom ... ours is the shoal and does very nicely.
Bavs sails are something else ... well - the originals should be somewhere else anyway! They get baggy quickly and could do with being replaced with a higher quality set.

You really need to get yourself on the types of boat you're looking at - we had a ride in a Bav 34 before getting our 37 - the rides are very comparible - and told us that the Bav range was one worth considering.
 
We used to own a Dufour 36 and found it very agreeable. IT never scared us ... even though at times we were scared! We took it (it took us?) to Holland, Belgium and France. And we got back. I don't know the Beneteau 38 but used to know quite a few people with Bavarias. Used to chat to them on their home pontoons and also abroad. The consensus was that the boats did what they were supposed to do. Bought pleasure to thousands of people with very little boat related stress.

djbreeze is absolutely right. You need to go and look at the boats. Do you want cabins for 10? Do you want a linear galley? How important is a large chart table vs. a large galley? (Ask your partner!)

How important is sailing performance? I would suggest that when cruising most modern boats are similar.

I have started the process of choosing my next boat (38 foot +/-) for when we return to the UK. First step is to look at the broker sites. Many now post LOTS of photos .. Appollo Duck, Boatshed, Rightboat and of course the YBW one will give you lots of information.

My choice will be from Bavaria, Beneteau Dufour or Jeannneau. I don't know Hanses but will possibly have a look at one.

A couple of warnings.

A thread like this is often seen as a troll meaning that you aren't looking for information, you are trying to stir up what is called the MAB brigade. That is a shame as many genuine queries seem to get buried under 'my boat is better than your boat spats'

SOME MAB owners (that is owners of older boats) seem to find nothing better to do than criticise modern designs. I'm not going to get involved in that. It doesn't happen over here or in France where we worked for several years. It seems a uniquely British thing. I can only assume that all their cars have starting handles and wind-down windows.

Galadriel makes a similar point.

Ignore them. They are entitled to their opinions but do themselves a disservice by not 'getting' the big picture. Most people don't go out in extreme weather. Most people sail within 12-24 hours of a safe refuge. Most modern boats are faster than their similar sized (older) counterparts. Most people want SPACE. Most modern boats sail well. A FEW older boats might be more sea-kindly in significant weather conditions, but how often is that a factor? How many modern boats fail to make it to port, founder, have increased insurance premiums due to be high risk? I would venture none.

Enjoy your search. Mine begins in earnest next year.
 
moonshine33uk said:
We used to own a Dufour 36 and found it very agreeable. IT never scared us ... even though at times we were scared! We took it (it took us?) to Holland, Belgium and France. And we got back. I don't know the Beneteau 38 but used to know quite a few people with Bavarias. Used to chat to them on their home pontoons and also abroad. The consensus was that the boats did what they were supposed to do. Bought pleasure to thousands of people with very little boat related stress.

djbreeze is absolutely right. You need to go and look at the boats. Do you want cabins for 10? Do you want a linear galley? How important is a large chart table vs. a large galley? (Ask your partner!)

How important is sailing performance? I would suggest that when cruising most modern boats are similar.

I have started the process of choosing my next boat (38 foot +/-) for when we return to the UK. First step is to look at the broker sites. Many now post LOTS of photos .. Appollo Duck, Boatshed, Rightboat and of course the YBW one will give you lots of information.

My choice will be from Bavaria, Beneteau Dufour or Jeannneau. I don't know Hanses but will possibly have a look at one.

A couple of warnings.

A thread like this is often seen as a troll meaning that you aren't looking for information, you are trying to stir up what is called the MAB brigade. That is a shame as many genuine queries seem to get buried under 'my boat is better than your boat spats'

SOME MAB owners (that is owners of older boats) seem to find nothing better to do than criticise modern designs. I'm not going to get involved in that. It doesn't happen over here or in France where we worked for several years. It seems a uniquely British thing. I can only assume that all their cars have starting handles and wind-down windows.

Galadriel makes a similar point.

Ignore them. They are entitled to their opinions but do themselves a disservice by not 'getting' the big picture. Most people don't go out in extreme weather. Most people sail within 12-24 hours of a safe refuge. Most modern boats are faster than their similar sized (older) counterparts. Most people want SPACE. Most modern boats sail well. A FEW older boats might be more sea-kindly in significant weather conditions, but how often is that a factor? How many modern boats fail to make it to port, founder, have increased insurance premiums due to be high risk? I would venture none.

Enjoy your search. Mine begins in earnest next year.
Click to expand...

Not one MAB owner has entered this thread yet, but the AWB brigade are already on the defensive.
 
BlueTwo said:
Not one MAB owner has entered this thread yet
Click to expand...

If they don't it will be unusual. And refreshing. Let's see who is first.

The OP is asking about MODERN boats, not asking for a comparison between old and new.

I see nothing defensive about cautioning a new(?) poster that there are some people on here with seemingly hidden agendas.

I used to own a Westerly Centaur, then a Moody 31. Fine boats. Just not for me or my partner anymore.

What I DON'T read on these forums is people asking for advice on such an older boat and being inundated with owners of newer boats sneering at their choice.

I have read here previously that it seems to be a one-way street and couldn't agree more.

Apologies to the OP.
 
I would reiterate what some others have said... you need to sail as many of these as possible...

I really like the Dufour 36... a very nice boat that looks well screwed together... but it is more comparable size wise to the Bene 362... or the Bavaria 34 or 36.... It does have a very nice forward cabin.. and I think is better in a 2 cabin config...

In terms of Bavarias... the 36 replaced the 34 in 2002... the 34 is a big 34.... there is also a 3 cabin 37 available from that 2000-2002 era... and a bigger still 38... So I would say look at the 34 as well as the post 2002 36 and the 2000 era's 37 and 38's....

The Dufour 36 is still fetching pretty good money... you may want to look at the 35 classic as well is you are looking at that size range... though this has a smaller heads.....

The Bavarias will probably present the best value... You can get a good 34 for under 50k... and a good 37 for not much more.

I would have thought that it would take at least 65k to get a dufour 36 classic... and around the same for the Ben 381....

Hanse had the 37 from that era... and you may want to look at the 40 as well... they are a bit narrower in the beam, and some aspects of the interior.. in praticular the wicker and the shiny finish... I would have to think twice about... but they are a bit more sporty.

You may want to add the Jenneua 362 from the late 90's or the SO37 to the list... the 37 is not a particularly sporty boat... but has a great interior and is pretty solid.

At the top of the price range you may even wish to add the Jennaue SO40 deck saloon from say 1998...
 
ebbtide1 said:
Hi, An age old question, but I'd be grateful for your views.

I'm looking at buying one of the above models and would be very interested in any feedback you have.

I guess age wise the Beneteau would be 1998 onwards, Dufour and Bav 2000 onwards.

Cheers
Click to expand...

I used to own a Dufour 36 and later a Dufour 38 both good boats for their money and have stood up well to the charter market. The Dufour 36 is still with Hamble School of Yachting after 12 years 40 weeks a year use!!

The Dufour 38 is a lot better sailing boat with an AVS of 131 deg and sails really well ( I wish my current Jeanneau sailed as well). The Dufour Classic range was a good solid boat with the 41 being an even better sailing boat than the 38 but never sailed one myself.

Personally I dont like the egg crate bonded to the hull method of giving strength and forming a grid of stringers and beams used by Beneteau as much as the more traditional GRP way as you cannot examine for hull damage very easy but it is cost effective and more manufacturers are now using this method.

I have chartered Bavarias and they do everything they say on the box for very little money. They are strong on the charter market and are a better boat than it is reasonable to expect for the price. As with all AWB's they are the equivalent to the Ford motor car and as such its hard for many to identify what you get extra for your money when you buy say a Swedish boat at twice the price - yes they are better built but not twice as good.
 
The Dufour 36 classic has a keen following. It's a roomy, well fitted out, (woodwork is very good) responsive cruiser.

There is a review of one here

And a good one (low engine hours and brand new sails and standing rigging) for sale here.

Dufour set out to build a classic cruiser , and I think they achieved it. At least two have crossed the Atlantic. There is also a 38 and 41 version, and rarely availiable a 38 centre cockpit.

A couple of forumites have them, and I know one sucessfully charters his out.
 
Another vote for Bavaria. My 2001 37 has been excellent both as a well used charter boat and a private boat.

However, your choice is a bit like Ford, VW, Toyota etc. All competing in the same market so tend towards a mean. However, the variations in layout and gear permutations mean that there is a lot of choice that enables you to find one that suits your needs best.

Value for money, Bavaria is probably slightly better as it was when they were new. Most of the popular models are in good supply so you should have no difficulty in seeing a good sample before you buy.
 
I think the Dufour is the best of the bunch but it is quite a different boat to the others. The Bavaria 36 is an excellent choice if you need more accommodation than the Duour but do not buy a shallow draft version, they fall over when the wind blows.

If you want to compare the performance of these boats go to the RTI web site and download the previous results. You will see some amazing times for the Bavaria 36 (lead keel versions).The Bavaria 37 is a different animal offering better accommodation at the expense of performance.
 
moonshine33uk said:
. It doesn't happen over here or in France where we worked for several years. It seems a uniquely British thing. I can only assume that all their cars have starting handles and wind-down windows.
Click to expand...

Most AWBs were / are French and the French are nothing if not patriotic. Why else would they buy Renault cars?

The Brits. Well we like nothing better than to knock British products.
 
Bosun Higgs said:
Most AWBs were / are French and the French are nothing if not patriotic. Why else would they buy Renault cars?

The Brits. Well we like nothing better than to knock British products.
Click to expand...

Really, how many here would rather have a French AWB than a british boat...

Southerly
Rustler
Oyster
Bowman
Starlight
Vancouver
Spirit
 
Me. I would rather have an AWB (in my case German) and many £10k's in the bank.

To answer ebbtide1, I bought a Bav 36 new in 2002 and love it. Perfect for the coastal sailing and channel hops that we do (although many have taken them much much further - including the ARC). I would highly recommend it and would certainly buy another Bav.
 
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