She wants a new boat part 2! looks like it might be a Bavaria !!

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derekgillard

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Following my previous post on this subject which attracted a lot of attention things has moved on. My much loved Sadler 29 is up for sale and attracting some interest.
Having looked at a number of possible replacements online we set out today to view a few to see which make and model would suit us.
High on the list is still the Oceanis 311 and I’m looking at one tomorrow. BUT the boat that ticks the boxes is the Bavaria. Question is which one as it’s all a little confusing. The bav 30 is actually 31ft and the 32 is 33ft, however, the 31 is who knows??
Budget is about £45k and the 30 cruiser is really looking good to me, I’ve looked at the Bav forums and folk appear to be happy with their choice.
I know it will not sail like the Sadler but this is a retirement boat so my requirements are changing and we’ve now made the decision to buy a small more modern cruiser.
I would be grateful if anyone out there can give me their experiences, 30 or 32 and how different is the cruiser range?
Thanks as always
Del Buoy
 
I have a 2005/6 Bav 30 Cruiser. She does the biz for me, and everyone who comes on board loves the accommodation and the way she sails.

In 5 years in my ownership, hardly anything has gone wrong: a couple of niggles with the Raymarine chartplotter that I fixed myself at minimal cost, a more significant issue with the Raymarine wheelpilot that cost £25 to fix once I worked out the problem, and a leaking raw water pump which required a sleeve and a new seal. Oh, and I had to replace the union on the hot water pipe on the calorifier, which is a common problem because they are only spec'd to 65deg.

The original Elvstrom sails are not the greatest, but they're white and flappy and they work. She goes really well in light airs, becomes a bit more tender when the wind pipes up, and early reefing works well. I've not gone ocean-crossing with her, but she's looked after me really well in some fairly rough stuff. The engine is quiet and refined. The bilge is bone dry. The interior finish is far better than anything else you'll get in a production boat. She was six years old when the rig tension was first checked and she was still within spec (so much for flimsy AWBs!).

If I had the money, I'd buy a Hallberg-Rassy. But I haven't, so I'm looking covetously at Bav 36s or 38s. I might even sell you my 30 if you cross my palm with enough silver.
 
The later 30 is a different kettle of fish to the earlier 31 or 32... She is more beamy and has a single spreader rig...

The 1999 circa 31 is 9.45meters in length... And is quiet narrow in the beam, so she is intially tender but settles into a groove at a fairly good angle of heel... Build quality is very good as she is CE cat a and Germanischer Lloyd's certified... Very good short handed boat which benefits big time from a deep keel and FB main... A bit dark down below, but good space and very reliable with simple systems... The 2002 circa 32 replaced both the 31 and the 34.... These were. It Lloyd's certified, and are noticeably lighter build onthe interior... But still good simple systems and good sensible use of space.. They sail well for a awb IF they have the deep keel again (IMHO..) A nice boat for a couple... Capable of long cruises and again CE a certified.. They are virtually 34 feet in length.

But... With 45k burning a hole I would actually get a 2000 circa 34.... Still German Lloyd's build, sail well, (better than the 32 IMHO again..) lots of space, a real nice boat that was put together well and is well balanced overall with good space, not too beamy... And a very capable boat in reality.

Having sailed all of these extensivley I would say get a very good 34 firstly or 32 with the deep keel.. I doubt the earlier 31 will be up your street if your keen on the later 30.
 
A friend of mine has a 2006 Bav 30 Cruiser. He has been all round the Med with it and I have spent 3 or 4 weeks each year on it.
I'm impressed with it overall. It's certainly better built and fitted out than the competing Sun Odyssey that I had. Storage space is terrific for cruising, both cabins are decent, and putting extra people in the saloon is no problem.
Like trapezeartist's, it's been very reliable. No structural problems; the Lewmar windlass and Raymarine plotter were both exchanged within warranty, I can't think of anything else. Oh yes, the hot water pipe on the calorifier, snap! I redid it for him with proper pushfit stuff. The engine (D1-20 saildrive) is remarkably quite and smooth and very economical. The interior has lasted very well. The electrical system is well put together (it was a disgrace on my Jeanneau) and it has a good charger.
It has in mast reefing which has been very useful on occasion. It sails decently and comfortably.
It is for sale at present because we have pooled resources in a different sort of boat. I can put you in touch if interested in having a look, it's out of the water at Shoreham.
 
If it is for retirement then look at the hanse 311. I say this beacuse it is easy to set up to be entirely controlled from the cockpit. the self tackong jib is really good & as the bone sget older the easier a boat is to sail the better. i am retired ( sort of) & have sailed round UK twice.
It is fast & an excellent heavy weather boat. it is every way the equal of your other choices regards construction etc but is a much more " tweekable" boat ( I have up to 26 lines leading to the cockpit for varying options, mainly because I like that . You would not need to go that far. ) Everything can be done from the cockpit which is better for the less agile - which you will become as you get older. I like the classic look as well. But then I am biased - but worth a quick look. The 320 series is a little bigger & bigger displacement etc but may exceed the budget
 
I had a Beneteau 311 for a number of years and loved her. Quite light and responsive. We now sail a 2001 Bavaria 34 which has a more solid feel to her and we enjoy sailing equally perhaps even a bit more! Latter has a bit more headroom down below and is therefore more comfortable if you are 5'11. The forward cabin berth is longer and a bit more comfortable to sleep in. I think the newer Bavs have still more headroom.
 
Instead of the 311 have you thought of a 351?. Actually only around 34ft but has more volume and is more sturdy than the 311. The owner version is ideal for retirement, with lots of locker space and a massive bathroom with separate shower area. Can be hand for less than £40000.
 
We bought our 36 farr design new about 2 1/2 years ago. At the time we did not really know that much about what we needed/wanted from a sailing boat, just the basics. SWMBO liked the Bav and Hanse out of all the diff production boats we saw in our budget and Bav offered the keenest deal and seemed to sail as well as the others - from our novice stand point. No regrets yet in terms of quality, (though they will never win the fine carpentry award) they are what they are you get a lot for your money and IMO they sail safely and well. But.... having now started race crewing and experienced a few different boats, I can see the missing 'sailing' touches and the lack of sailing tools and I just wish she was a bit quicker and more exciting. But that is just me. Would I recommend one as a starter cruiser - yes definitely. Would I recommend one as a good safe comfortable vfm family cruiser - yes definitely. IMO, unless you want performance, individuality or true blue water capability, they make a good and sensible choice.
 
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